A Personal Rememberance by Lee Pfeiffer
Lois Maxwell, the actress who initiated the role of Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films beginning with Dr. No in 1962, has passed away at the age of 80. She had been battling cancer for the last few years and had moved from England to Australia to be with her son and his family. For millions of Bond fans worldwide, the death of one of the original key cast members came as a terrible blow. For this writer, it also is devastating news on a personal level. Throughout my years of association with the Bond franchise and Eon Productions, I have been honored to know Lois Maxwell and to call her my friend. She was a unique woman in every way: steadfast, humorous, and extremely witty. I first met Lois when I appeared on The Geraldo Rivera Show in the early 1990s to promote a Bond book I had co-authored. She was in rare form and stole the spotlight from an array of other, younger Bond girls. She later agreed to be a guest at a film convention I sponsored in New Jersey in 1993. She regaled the crowd with wonderful anecdotes and signed autographs for hours. Afterward, fellow Bond book authors Dave Worrall and Graham Rye joined me in escorting Lois around New York City where we spent a memorable afternoon showing her the sights and dining at Planet Hollywood.
In 1995, my partners John Cork and Mark Cerullli and I went to visit Lois at her home in Frome, in the British countryside near Bath. We were shooting documentaries for MGM on the making of the Bond films. Her brassy nature and disarming wit were on display throughout and the wonderful anecdotes she related are preserved forever on the DVD special editions of the films. I next saw Lois at the James Bond Jamaica Festival in 1996 where we were invited as guests. This was an extraordinary event that brought many of the prominent alumni from the series to the island where the movies were launched with Dr. No. It remains one of the most enjoyable holidays I've experienced, as I was able to relish the company of Ursula Andress, George Lazenby, Richard Kiel and so many other actors and technicians from the series. At night, Lois led everyone dancing to steel drum bands under a crisp, clear Jamaican sky. The highlight was a private party at Ian Fleming's home, Goldeneye. Here the event took on a special resonance as the actors and crew members were entertained in the home of 007's literary creator. Lois was one of the few who had come to know Fleming and told wonderful tales that seemed all the more moving because of the setting.
When Lois' favorite Bond co-star Roger Moore retired from the series in 1985, producer Cubby Broccoli personally called her to tell her that she would not be returning to star as Moneypenny opposite new Bond actor Timothy Dalton. Lois said it would have looked ridiculous for her to making "goo-goo eyes" at a much younger man but suggested to Cubby that she be allowed to play M. Cubby dismissed the idea, saying audiences wouldn't accept a female head of MI6. Lois got no end of satisfaction when Judi Dench was cast in the role of M years later - she felt her instincts had been proven correct.
I last saw Lois in January, 2002 when Dave Worrall and I were invited by Eon to attend a private party at Pinewood Studios to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Bond film franchise. The room was packed with alumni from the series, from actors to technicians. Cubby's widow Dana Broccoli presided over the festivities along with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and Pierce Brosnan, who was about to start filming Die Another Day. It was a truly wonderful affair capped off by the dedication of a plaque to Cubby Broccoli. We had a drink with Lois at the historic Pinewood bar where so many screen legends had socialized. We both realized this event was a bittersweet occasion. Lois lamented the loss of so many of her colleagues from the series and said, "Soon we'll all be gone, Lee". True enough, since that wonderful day a number of other prominent Bond veterans have passed away including Dana Broccoli. Like Lois, she was one of those women you came to believe was immortal. Now Lois is gone, too. For millions of 007 fans, however her work will live on and for those of us who considered her a friend, she'll always be our Number One Bond Girl. Rest in peace, Miss Moneypenny. (For additional details click here)
PERSONAL PHOTOS OF LOIS MAXWELL