Miss Moneypenny is the private secretary and personal assistant to M, the head of MI6. Although she has a small part in the films, it is always highlighted by the underscored romantic tension between herself and Bond - something that is virtually nonexistent in Ian Fleming's novels, though somewhat more apparent in the novels of John Gardner and Raymond Benson. On that note, she is not always considered to be a Bond girl, having never had anything more than a professional relationship with Bond, to her dismay. According to You Only Live Twice, she holds the rank of second officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service.
In the films, she was portrayed by the late Lois Maxwell (1962-85), Caroline Bliss (1987-89), Samantha Bond (1995-2002), and Naomie Harris (2012-21).
In the non-Eon films, she was portrayed by Barbara Bouchet (Casino Royale) and the late Pamela Salem (Never Say Never Again).
Biography[]
Miss Moneypenny holds the rank of second officer in the Wrens, which is a prerequisite rank for this position. She is cleared for top secret, eyes-only, and Cabinet-level intelligence reports, the last of which she is often required to prepare, and in some cases present. She is utterly dedicated to her work, which means she has little time for a social life. A close confidante of her boss, she also enjoys a flirtatious, yet ambiguous relationship with James Bond, whom she understands perfectly.
Craig timeline[]
Moneypenny was never given any backstory until the 2012 film Skyfall, when she was re-introduced to the series following the series' 2006 reboot. Moneypenny, now played by Naomie Harris and given the first name "Eve", is originally a field officer assigned to work with Bond on an operation in Istanbul. It ends in disaster when she is ordered to shoot through Bond while he is engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the mercenary they are chasing. She hits Bond, who falls off a bridge and is assumed dead. She is temporarily suspended for this and reassigned to desk duty, assisting Gareth Mallory, the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, who has been assigned to watch over MI6. When Bond resurfaces and returns to duty, she meets with him in Macau and aids in locating an agent of main villain Raoul Silva's before returning to London. Later in the film, she is a participant in another shootout with Silva, when he ambushes a public inquiry into MI6. By the end of the film, she decides to retire from fieldwork and becomes Mallory's secretary once he takes over the role of M.
Moneypenny Diaries[]
She is the protagonist of Kate Westbrook's The Moneypenny Diaries, consisting of three novels and two short stories, all taking place in the same continuity as Ian Fleming's novels. The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel fills in the gaps between a number of Bond's missions, including the period between On Her Majesty's Secret Service and You Only Live Twice, but also includes an entire backstory for Moneypenny. Here, her name is revealed to be Jane.
Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries summary: From saving spies to private passions, this book covers the secret adventures of James Bond's right-hand woman. Jane Moneypenny may project a cool, calm and collected image but her secret diaries reveal a rather different story. In the grip of an uncertain love affair and haunted by a dark family secret, the last thing she needs is a crisis at work. But the Secret Intelligence Service is in chaos. One senior officer is on trial for treason, another has defected to Moscow and her beloved James Bond has been brainwashed by the KGB. Only a woman's touch can save them. Moneypenny soon finds herself embroiled in a highly charged adventure infused with the glamour of the Cold War espionage game. Alone on a dangerous Russian mission she turns, with breathless intimacy, to writing a truly explosive private diary.
The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling summary: From saving spies to private passions, this book covers the secret adventures of James Bond's right-hand woman. Jane Moneypenny may project a cool, calm and collected image but her secret diaries reveal a rather different story. Kate Westbrook is trying to publish Miss Moneypenny's diaries, but everyone she speaks to about them is trying to stop her. Whilst in consultation with Tanner it is hinted to Westbrook that her aunt was murdered because she was searching too hard for the MI6 mole.
