Lois Maxwell, the actress who first played original long-suffering admirer of super spy James Bond, passed away yesterday at 80.
In my world, this is pretty significant news. But then, I am a movie geek.
And like many who appreciate the spy movies, most of us remember the older James Bond flicks (particularly the Sean Connery era) as the best of the Bonds. And Lois Maxwell was the best of the Moneypennys.
That’s not to say that subsequent Moneypennys weren’t good, it was more an issue of the appropriateness. The newer Moneypennys were sexy. That’s not to say Lois wasn’t, but that she wasn’t as “dolled-up”. That was intentional — the smart, witty, and strong in herself sort of person.
She set a pattern that lasted almost as long as the original Q (Desmond Llewelyn), featuring in every James Bond movie until (and including) View to a Kill.
The fact that she was Canadian just made it all the more appealing. At least for us Canucks.
Best wishes to her family, friends, and fans.
