The Living Daylights Cast

The Living Daylights Cast

The Living Daylights Cast

The Living Daylights cast marked the biggest upheaval in the franchise history to date. It marked the end of Roger Moore’s reign and introduced a new, younger James Bond – Timothy Dalton.

It wasn’t only Bond that was new in the cast of The Living Daylights, as Lois Maxwell bowed out, and so we had a new and completely different Miss Moneypenny in the guise of British actress Caroline Bliss.

At the fourth time of asking, Timothy Dalton was eventually cast as Bond, James Bond and his debut movie was a memorable one. Dalton introduced us to a new, more dynamic and more grounded 007, one that was more akin to the character in the Ian Fleming novels.

Dalton performed many of his own stunts, much to the despair of the producers, and his action scenes are up there with some of the very best in the whole franchise catalogue.

For some, Dalton was a bit solemn, but the high standard of his acting brought a new level of intensity and gravitas to the iconic role, making his mark on the franchise in a highly memorable performance.

The plot is built on the relationship between Bond and cellist Kara Milovy. Played by Maryam d’Abo, a cellist who finds herself caught up in the world of espionage. Maryam d’Abo’s portrayal of the character is a standout in the film, as she plays a larger part than most previous Bond girls and is critical to the plot.

Jeroen Krabbé gives a noteworthy performance as General Georgi Koskov, a former Soviet General. Like the movie, Koskov’s plans are more grounded than previous Bond villains, which some disliked, but Krabbé’s devious and cunning performance was worthy of a Bond villain,

Koskov’s main henchman Necros is another standout character of The Living Daylights cast. Played by Andreas Wisniewski, the assassin Necros is a quiet but deadly operative who’s tasked with eliminating Bond.

Wisniewski’s performance is chillingly convincing, and acting in disguise as a few characters such as a milkman, cockney runner and a doctor, he perfectly embodies the character’s deadly precision and cold demeanor.

Brad Whitaker is yet another towering character in the cast, in performance not size. Played by Joe Don Baker, Whitaker is an American arms dealer who is connected with Koskov.

He’a a ruthless and cunning businessman, living out his fantasies obsessing over historical warlords and reliving wars of years gone by. The larger-than-life character  proves to be a formidable opponent for Bond and was played perfectly by Joe Don Baker.

Watch Inside The Living Daylights Documentary

Art Malik delivers a strong performance as Kamran Shah, a wealthy Afghan prince who is locked up by the Soviets. Malik brings a sense of wit, humour and unpredictability to the character, and teaming up with Bond towards the end it makes for a great battle between the local mujahideen and the Soviets, reflecting the actual war going on at the time.

John Rhys-Davies is also noteworthy as General Leonid Pushkin, a high-ranking Soviet military official who’s investigating Koskov’s activities. Rhys-Davies is an important member of the film’s cast and his portrayal of the character is commanding and authoritative, adding another layer of intrigue to the film’s complex web of characters.

Thomas Wheatley plays Saunders, a British intelligence agent who works with Bond. Saunders is key to helping Bond, and Wheatley imbues the character with a sense of determination, and certainly adds to the standard of acting.

Desmond Llewelyn returns as Q, the gadget master who provides Bond with the tools he needs to complete his missions. Llewelyn’s performance is always a highlight of the Bond films, and The Living Daylights is no exception.

Robert Brown is back as M, Bond’s superior in the British intelligence service. Brown is now established as Bond’s boss and his appearance of authority and gravitas, conveys M’s unwavering commitment to the mission.

Finally, Caroline Bliss rounds out The Living Daylights cast as Miss Moneypenny. It must have been such a difficult role to take on after Lois Maxwell’s 25 year reign as Bond’s trusted confidante.

Caroline Bliss is a completely different personality to the Canadian Lois Maxwell, and her pompous British accent stands out, as does her wearing glasses, something Bliss decided on to ensure the character was different. She only plays a small part, but Bliss brings a sense of charm and wit to the role.

The Living Daylights cast was the biggest upheaval to date. A new Bond, a new Moneypenny, and a new grounded personality of the world’s most popular charmer. It was a lot for Bond fans to absorb in one sitting, but The Living Daylights was highly successful and much of it was down to the cast.

Watch the official trailer for The Living Daylights

Other Members of The Living Daylights Cast and Crew