Lois Maxwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lois Maxwell
Lois Maxwell in The Dark Past (1948)
Born	Lois Ruth Hooker (1927-02-14)14 February 1927 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Died	29 September 2007(2007-09-29) (aged 80) Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Education	Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1946–2001
Known for	Portraying Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond film series (1962–1985)
Spouse(s)	Peter Marriott ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 1973)​
Children	2
Awards	Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress (1947)

Lois Ruth Maxwell (born Lois Ruth Hooker; February 14, 1927 – September 29, 2007) was a Canadian actress. She is best known for playing Miss Moneypenny in the first fourteen James Bond movies. She was the very first actress to play this famous role.

Lois Maxwell appeared in many Bond films, including Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), and Thunderball (1965). She also appeared in You Only Live Twice (1967), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Later films included Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Her last Bond movies were Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), and A View to a Kill (1985).

She started her acting career in the late 1940s. She even won a Golden Globe Award for her role in the movie That Hagen Girl (1947). After many small roles, she moved to Italy and worked in films there. Later, she moved to the United Kingdom and appeared in several TV shows.

In her later years, Maxwell lived in Canada, Switzerland, and the UK. In 2001, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She then moved to Western Australia to live with her son. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 80.

Life and Career Highlights

Early Life and Acting Start

Lois Maxwell was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Ruth Adelaide Wells, was a nurse, and her father, William Victor Hooker, was a teacher. Lois grew up in Toronto and went to Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. Her first job was working as a waitress at a large summer resort called Bigwin Inn.

During World War II, when she was 15, Lois joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps. This group helped the war effort by doing non-combat jobs. Lois became part of the Army Show, performing music and dance for soldiers. She even performed in the United Kingdom.

When her real age was found out in London, she left the army. She then enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. There, she became good friends with another student, Roger Moore. Years later, Roger Moore would play James Bond alongside her in many films.

Hollywood and European Films

At age 20, Lois moved to Hollywood. She won a Golden Globe Award for her role in That Hagen Girl (1947). This award recognized her as a promising new actress. In 1949, she was part of a famous photo shoot for Life magazine. She posed with other rising stars, including Marilyn Monroe. Around this time, she changed her last name from Hooker to Maxwell.

Most of Lois Maxwell's early work was in smaller movie roles. She decided to move back to Europe and lived in Rome for five years. There, she made several films and even tried amateur race car driving. One of her Italian films was Aida (1953), where she played a main role. She appeared in scenes with the future star Sophia Loren.

While in Paris, she met Peter Marriott, who worked in TV. They got married in 1957 and moved to London. They had two children, Melinda and Christian. Lois appeared in many TV shows in the 1960s, both in the UK and Canada. She guest-starred in The Saint and The Persuaders!, both with her friend Roger Moore. She also voiced a character named Atlanta in the children's show Stingray.

Playing Miss Moneypenny

Lois Maxwell really wanted a role in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962). Her husband had been ill, and they needed the money. The director, Terence Young, offered her the part of Miss Moneypenny. This role only required two days of work. Lois even brought her own clothes for the filming.

She also played Miss Moneypenny in a special TV show called Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond in 1967. She appeared with Bernard Lee, who played M in the Bond films.

The role of Moneypenny was almost given to someone else for Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Lois had asked for more money. But the producers decided it was important to keep her character. They added a scene where Moneypenny, dressed as a customs officer, gives Bond his travel papers. Lois and Sean Connery filmed their parts separately for this scene.

Lois continued as Moneypenny when her friend Roger Moore became James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973). Her last appearance as Moneypenny was in A View to a Kill (1985). The producer, Albert R. Broccoli, noted that they were the only two people left from the very first Bond film. Lois asked for her character to be killed off, but the role was simply given to a new actress instead.

Later Years and Passing

Lois Maxwell's husband passed away in 1973. He never fully recovered from his earlier illness. Lois then moved back to Canada. She wrote a weekly newspaper column for the Toronto Sun under the name "Miss Moneypenny." She also worked in the textile business. In 1994, she returned to the UK to be closer to her daughter.

After having surgery for bowel cancer in 2001, Lois moved to Perth, Western Australia. She lived there with her son's family until she passed away on September 29, 2007.

Her friend, Sir Roger Moore, spoke about her death. He said she was "always fun" and "absolutely perfect casting" for Miss Moneypenny. He also felt it was a shame she wasn't asked to play M, the head of the secret service, after he left the Bond films.

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Other Appearances

Images for kids

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  Lois Maxwell in The Dark Past (1948)

See also

In Spanish: Lois Maxwell para niños