James Bond is one of the most iconic movie franchises ever. So it’s no shock that it has launched several movie stars careers and produced some of the most iconic characters in the history of film. There’s the star of the films himself James Bond, then there’s a list of nemesis’s including Goldfinger and Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and then there’s M’s secretary Miss Moneypenny… Excuse me, the always beautiful Miss Moneypenny… That’s who were going to be talking about today.
Not really considered a Bond girl because she never had more than a professional relationship with Bond, but it’s clear from their flirtatious interactions that she’s smitten by him. First introduced to movie watchers in 1962’s Bond film “Dr. No” Miss Moneypenny has been played by a list of actresses since her debut. For this article, we’re going to rank the top 5. It’s not an easy task at all, but we’re going to give it a try.
Ready?
Okay, let’s begin.
5. Pamela Salem (1983)
Pamela Salem’s only appearance as Miss Moneypenny was in the unofficial James Bond film “Never Say Never Again” alongside the original James Bond, Sean Connery. Since then she’s maintained a relatively low profile. Her last film role was in 2003’s “April’s Shower.”
4. Caroline Bliss (1987–1989)
Appearing in two Bond films during the Timothy Dalton era Caroline Bliss at 25 is the youngest actress to ever play the role of Miss Moneypenny. You would think that would lead to a successful acting career, but unfortunately, it didn’t. After a stint of low profile roles in the 90’s Caroline has fallen virtually off the radar.
3. Samantha Bond (1995–2002)
For Samantha Bond playing Miss Moneypenny was the role of a lifetime. In fact, when it comes to her film career it’s what she’s most known for. Playing Miss Moneypenny through the Pierce Brosnan years, Samantha Bond appeared in some of the franchises most successful films including “Goldeneye” and “Die Another Day.” Currently, the actress plays Frances Barden in the British television drama “Home Fires.”
2. Naomie Harris (2012–present)
As a rule, Miss Moneypenny never directly participates in Bond’s missions. That all changed when Naomi Harris took the role in 2012’s James Bond film “Skyfall” which ended up being the highest grossing Bond film ever. In the movie, Moneypenny is an MI6 agent who is given the duty of assisting Bond in the field before later taking on the job of being the new M’s secretary. Yes, we officially got to see Miss Moneypenny doing some serious damage. The role is played to perfection by actress Naomie Harris who began her film career as a child. Her credits include The second and third Pirates of the Caribbean movies, James Bond films “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” and the critically acclaimed “Moonlight.” Expect to see more from her in the future as her name in Hollywood is undoubtedly on the rise.
1. Lois Maxwell (1962–1985)
Coming in at number one is the first actress to play the role of Miss Moneypenny on screen, Lois Maxwell. Not coincidentally she also held the longest tenure in the role of Miss Moneypenny, appearing in 14 Bond films from 1962 to 1985. Undoubtedly Lois Maxwell’s on screen chemistry with the various actors that played James Bond during her time helped make the Moneypenny character a staple of future Bond films. That’s why Lois Maxwell is number 1 on this list. After being the face of Miss Moneypenny for over 20 years, it’s well deserved. Unfortunately, Mrs. Maxwell died of cancer in September 2007 at the age of 80. She is greatly missed by her family and friends and will always be remembered as the original Miss Moneypenny. R.I.P
Conclusion
The James Bond franchise isn’t going anywhere, and if history is any indicator, Miss Moneypenny isn’t going anywhere either. Good luck to the actresses that will step into the legendary shoes of the actresses that came before her as Miss Moneypenny.
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