Lois Maxwell Biography
Lois Maxwell was an iconic actress best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in fourteen James Bond films, starting with Dr. No in 1962 and ending with A View to a Kill in 1985.
She was born Lois Hooker on February 14, 1927 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Maxwell’s career began while she was still at school and she made her professional stage debut at the age of 15 in a play called Bittersweet, which traveled around Ontario’s townships before coming to New York City.
After numerous other theatrical credits across North America, Maxwell moved to England in 1951 and quickly established herself as a television starlet by landing a number of leads in shows such as Sunday Night Theatre and Z Cars.
In 1962, Maxwell became synonymous with Miss Moneypenny after appearing alongside Sean Connery for the first time in Dr. No – although her name wasn’t actually given until Thunderball (1965). She went on to appear opposite George Lazenby and Roger Moore. It would be Moore who would portray James Bond when Maxwell said her goodbyes following A View To A Kill in 1985.
Away from the big screen, Maxwell enjoyed huge success on television as well as theatre performances internationally. Her most memorable television performance came in 1983 when she starred alongside Barbara Eden in Harlequin Romance: I Dream of Jeannie… Fifteen Years Later. Onstage she toured the world with productions including The Grass is Greener and appeared on the London West End stage throughout her entire career.
Sadly, Lois Maxwell passed away aged 80 after suffering from cancer on 29 September 2007 leaving behind over six decades of incredible work that will never be forgotten by fans across the globe.