Lois Maxwell Canadian actress Date of Birth: 14.02.1927 Country: Australia

1. Biography of Lois Maxwell
2. Joining the Canadian Army
3. Discovering Acting
4. Moving to Hollywood
5. Italian Film Career
6. Marriage and Return to London
7. Miss Moneypenny and Bond
8. Later Life and Passing

Biography of Lois Maxwell

Lois Ruth Hooker, better known as Lois Maxwell, was a Canadian actress, most famous for her role as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond film series. She was born on February 14, 1927, in Kitchener, Canada.

Joining the Canadian Army

At the age of 15, Lois ran away from home to join the Canadian Army during World War II. Initially accepted as a soldier, she was later transferred to the Army Entertainment Corps. She traveled extensively with the troops in Europe, performing musical and dance numbers.

Discovering Acting

While in London, it was discovered that Lois was underage, and to avoid deportation to Canada, she enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. There, she befriended Roger Moore, who was also studying at the academy.

Moving to Hollywood

In her twenties, Lois moved to Hollywood, where she quickly found work as an actress, changing her last name to Maxwell. In 1948, she won the Golden Globe for Best Newcomer for her role in the film "That Hagen Girl." In 1949, Lois participated in a photoshoot for Life magazine alongside Marilyn Monroe.

Italian Film Career

In 1950, Maxwell tired of working in Hollywood and moved to Rome for five years. She appeared in several Italian films, with her most notable role being in the adaptation of the opera "Aida," where she shared the screen with Sophia Loren.

Marriage and Return to London

During a trip to Paris, Lois met television producer Peter Marriott, whom she married in 1957. After their wedding, they settled in London, where they soon had two children. In the UK, she continued her acting career, with numerous roles in television and film.

Miss Moneypenny and Bond

In 1962, Lois played her most famous role as Miss Moneypenny in the first James Bond film, "Dr. No." She reprised the role in 14 Bond films over the next two decades, with her final appearance as Miss Moneypenny in 1985's "A View to a Kill." Although she requested her character's death during filming, producers decided against it, and other actresses portrayed Miss Moneypenny in subsequent Bond films. Despite appearing on screen for less than 20 minutes and speaking fewer than 200 words, her portrayal of Miss Moneypenny brought her immense popularity.

Later Life and Passing

After her husband's death from a heart attack in 1973, Maxwell returned to Canada and settled in Toronto. There, she became a columnist for the "Toronto Sun" under the pseudonym Miss Moneypenny and also ventured into the textile industry. In 1994, she moved back to England to live with her daughter in Somerset.

In 2001, Lois traveled to Australia for an operation related to colon cancer. She remained in Australia with her son's family in Perth, where she passed away on September 29, 2007, at the age of 80.