Miss Moneypenny

Lore & Background

In Ian Fleming's original novels, Moneypenny appears in a small capacity, often overshadowed by Bond's own secretaries like Loelia Ponsonby or Mary Goodnight. She is described as smitten with Bond, occasionally dreaming hopelessly about him in works like Thunderball (1961), yet she never explicitly voices these feelings. The films expanded her role significantly, introducing a recurring scene where Bond exchanges flirtatious quips upon arriving at M's office.

In Die Another Day (2002), Samantha Bond's portrayal took this further when she used Q's virtual reality glasses to simulate consummating their relationship with Pierce Brosnan's Bond before being interrupted by Q. The character received a substantial backstory only in Skyfall (2012), set in the continuity opened by Casino Royale (2006). Here, named Eve Moneypenny and played by Naomie Harris, she is revealed to be a former field officer who was temporarily suspended after accidentally shooting Bond during an operation in Istanbul.

Following his return from presumed death, she aids him in Macau before retiring from the field to become the secretary of new M, Gareth Mallory.

Reader's Guide

Miss Moneypenny holds the rank of Second Officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service, a prerequisite for her position which grants her clearance for Top Secret, Eyes Only, and Cabinet-level intelligence reports. She is often required to prepare these documents and present them to senior officials. While she generally never directly participates in Bond's missions in the novels or most films, Skyfall (2012) reimagined her as an active field officer who assists Bond before a tragedy forces her back to administrative duties.

In the 1967 film You Only Live Twice, Lois Maxwell's Moneypenny is explicitly identified with this naval rank. Her professional dedication leaves little time for a social life, yet she remains a close confidante to M. In the Octopussy film, her assistant Penelope Smallbone appears equally smitten with Bond despite a briefing from Moneypenny. Additionally, in the 1983 role-playing game James Bond 007, she is described as a crack shot who once placed six shots into an assassin within the space of a tea saucer, earning her the reputation that even M uses to rebuke agents with poor marksmanship.

Career and Professional Duties

As the private secretary to M, Miss Moneypenny manages the flow of high-level intelligence. She holds the rank of Second Officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service, a requirement for her role, and is cleared for Top Secret, Eyes Only, and Cabinet-level reports which she prepares and sometimes presents. In Ian Fleming's novels, her role is minimal compared to the films, where she often absorbs lines originally intended for Bond's own secretaries. The 2012 film Skyfall introduced a significant career shift: Eve Moneypenny began as a field officer assigned to work with Bond in Istanbul.

After an operation ended in disaster when she shot Bond during hand-to-hand combat with Patrice, she was suspended and reassigned to desk duty under Gareth Mallory, then Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. Following Bond's return, she assisted him in Macau and later participated in a shootout against Silva before retiring from fieldwork to become M's secretary once Mallory assumed the role.

Romantic Dynamics and Characterization

The relationship between Miss Moneypenny and James Bond is characterized by an enduring romantic tension that is highlighted in most films but virtually non-existent in Ian Fleming's novels. In the books, such as Thunderball (1961), she is described as dreaming hopelessly about Bond but never voicing these feelings or engaging physically. The films, however, establish a pattern of witty, flirtatious conversation upon Bond's arrival at M's office.

Early installments featured Sean Connery often kissing or caressing her sensually. In Die Another Day (2002), Samantha Bond's Moneypenny used Q's virtual reality glasses to simulate consummating their relationship with Pierce Brosnan's Bond, only to be interrupted by Q and claim she was running a combat simulation. Despite this tension and being smitten, she is not always considered a 'Bond girl' because their relationship remains strictly professional and never consummated in the narrative reality of most films.

Evolution and Naming Conventions

Ian Fleming never gave Miss Moneypenny a first name; he referred to her as 'Miss Moneypenny' or by the nickname 'Penny'. In an early draft of Casino Royale (1953), her name was 'Miss Petty Pettaval', inspired by Kathleen Pettigrew, MI6 director Stewart Menzies' assistant. The character received a first name in later spin-offs: The Moneypenny Diaries named her Jane, while the film Skyfall (2012) introduced her as Eve. This change coincided with the new continuity opened by Casino Royale (2006), which provided her with a backstory absent from previous works. In Skyfall, Eve Moneypenny is revealed to be a former field officer who worked with Bond before a disastrous mission in Istanbul led to her suspension and reassignment. The 1967 film You Only Live Twice established that the character played by Lois Maxwell held the rank of Second Officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service.

Real-World Inspirations and Legacy

Miss Moneypenny was inspired by several real women who served as secretaries or assistants during Fleming's life. Her original draft name, 'Miss Petty Pettaval', came from Kathleen Pettigrew. Other candidates for inspiration include Vera Atkins of the Special Operations Executive, Paddy Ridsdale (a Naval Intelligence secretary), and Joan Bright Astley, whom Fleming dated during World War II. Joan Howe, Fleming's red-haired secretary at The Times who typed the manuscript of Casino Royale, is another potential influence.

Additionally, Jean Frampton, who typed later manuscripts and suggested plot ideas, was referred to by the BBC as 'Fleming's Miss Moneypenny' despite never meeting him. In the non-Eon film Casino Royale (1967), Barbara Bouchet plays M's current secretary, identified as the daughter of the original Moneypenny. Actress Lois Maxwell reportedly expressed a desire to become the new M after Roger Moore's retirement but was turned down, a disappointment she held regarding her career trajectory.