Lois Maxwell, the Canadian-born actress, whose movie and stage roles ranged from high drama to campy comedies has died of cancer at the age of 80.
Maxwell, had a vast film career, even starring opposite the late President Ronald Reagan in the 1950’s comedy film “Bedtime for Bonzo,” but will be remembered most for the one role she owned for 23-years and the one she originated — Miss Moneypenny in the early 007 movies.
“It’s rather a shock,” former Bond Roger Moore told BBC Radio 5 Live. “She was absolutely fun and she was wonderful to be with.”
Maxwell played Moneypenny in the first 14 Bond movies, starting with the very first in 1962’s “Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as agent 007.
“It was a great pity that, after I moved out of Bond, they didn’t take her on to continue in the Timothy Dalton films,” Moore said, adding that “I think it was a great disappointment to her that she had not been promoted to play M. She would have been a wonderful M.”
Maxwell’s Moneypenny gained popularity with fans because of her innocent flirtations with 007 everytime he came to M’s office for his next assignment.
Her last appearance as Miss Moneypenny was in the 1985 film “A View To A Kill.” Maxwell was 58 at the time and when Timothy Dalton took over as the new Bond, she was replaced with the younger 26-year old actress Caroline Bliss, who herself was replaced by Samantha Bond when Pierce Brosnan took over.
There has never been an actress who could fill Maxwell’s shoes in that role, which she was able to turn from a small bit part into a major important and fan-loved character in the Bond legacy.
Maxwell was so great in her role as Miss Moneypenny. She also played Miss Holland for 2 episodes on the TV series U.F.O.