41 replies to this topic

[Greene217]

Moneypenny continues to be a template of Bond and alonside Q is one of the most beloved characters created by the franchise.

While ideas of Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie and Michael Gambon are continually used for Q, who do you think has what it takes to play the new, modern moneypenny.

Futhermore, in relation to Craig's commments on discovering were Q and moneypenny came from and finding actors to portray them with their own version, how should moneypenny act or even look like next to Craig's realsitic Bond. Should their relationship be playful, bitter, tense,sexual or even profesional? and should her arrival be spontanoueous or brought in gradually?

[danslittlefinger]

Moneypenny continues to be a template of Bond and alonside Q is one of the most beloved characters created by the franchise.

While ideas of Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie and Michael Gambon are continually used for Q, who do you think has what it takes to play the new, modern moneypenny.

Futhermore, in relation to Craig's commments on discovering were Q and moneypenny came from and finding actors to portray them with their own version, how should moneypenny act or even look like next to Craig's realsitic Bond. Should their relationship be playful, bitter, tense,sexual or even profesional? and should her arrival be spontanoueous or brought in gradually?

Good question.
Well taking into today's climate for sexual limitations in the workplace, the old "slap and tickle" banter might not be appropriate but then without it, what is left?
Very clever scripting is involved here and a very good actress is needed to boot to hold her own against Craig and to have that "connection".

There again, they could meet at a party, end up in bed and then the next day he discovers who she is:
Bond: "Why didn't you tell me?"
MP: "Why didnt you ask?"
Sorry, I'm no help at all am I?

[JimmyBond]

Someone said it as a laugh, but I quite liked the idea. I think Billie Piper would make for a good Moneypenny.

[Vanya86]

Maxwell speculated that she and Bond once spent a romantic weekend together, and while I don't want to see that exact scenario played out I would like to see their first meeting.
As for the casting, I think it will most likely be someone we've never heard of. Most of the names that come up on casting threads are internationally recognised actresses who simply won't take a supporting role in an ongoing franchise.

[DamnCoffee]

I think I suggested before that Bond and Moneypenny should be sent out on a mission together and when they come to have sex, they are rudely interrupted, and she is sent back to england the next day. I think since both characters never come to have sex, the sexual tension will be charged and it will explain why they are so flirtatious.

[danslittlefinger]

I think I suggested before that Bond and Moneypenny should be sent out on a mission together and when they come to have sex, they are rudely interrupted, and she is sent back to england the next day. I think since both characters never come to have sex, the sexual tension will be charged and it will explain why they are so flirtatious.

You know, maybe an older Miss MoneyPenny? Much more than a "secretary"..how about Joanna Lumley?

[Joey Bond]

Said it a hundred times before, saying it again

Rachel Weisz

Btw Greene217, you forgot Caroline Bliss, which is considered a blasphemy to Dalton fans like me

[quantumofsolace]

Martine McCutcheon . Not my idea as she was mentioned some years ago on these boards. Whoever did so was spot on.

[quantumofsolace]

Rachel Weisz is a famous star. I can see why you think she would be suitable but there is no chance she would take it.

[danslittlefinger]

Rebecca Hall
http://worldfilm.abo...rebeccahall.htm

or

Amanda Burton as a little more mature portrayal. This woman is so sexy and one of the UK's best actresses and has that sexy Northern Irish accent.

http://www.tmaw.co.uk/amandab.html

or another young UK actress - Lauren London

[tdalton]

I think that Kelly Reilly (Eden Lake) would make a great Moneypenny if they decide to bring the character back.

[mister-white]

My theory for Moneypenny is that we've already seen her in the "Craig universe," now this is just my thought, but here's what I thought was happening in between scenes on CR:

As Bond left M's apartment, M clearly looked at the computer and saw that Bond had been using, now could she easily look and see what Bond was doing on her computer, and saw that Bond was going to the Bahamas (hence, why she was not surprised when Villas told her later on), so she sent Miss Moneypenny down to check up on Bond? Wouldn't it make a whole lot of sense for M to send someone on Bond's trail to see what he was up to?

So, my theory is that the Ocean Club receptionist (who told Bond about the Aston Martin's owner) was in fact Moneypenny.

[Turn]

I've said before and will here again that the last two films have worked just fine without token appearances from Moneypenny and Q. There are better avenues to be explored as far as Mi6 office personnel goes. M had her best role yet in QoS and Tanner had his best portrayal, something I never felt with previous versions.

Do we really want a return to the bogged-down office of the Brosnan years with more characters than necessary?

While mostly thrown in for his beloved nature, Q at least has some indirect role in moving the films along, supplying gadgets or something to help Bond track down his enemies like the Identigraph. The jokes come in from there.

Moneypenny is just there. We've heard all the banter that worked in the first 20 or so years of the series, but it went south after that. Samantha Bond was fine as far as filling the role, but the character was transformed into a hybrid of a feminist modern woman and a sitcom character with a smart mouth, spouting one-liners left over from Sex and the City scripts. We've got M to chastise Bond, do we really need her exec to as well? It's another reason the Brosnan eara is one of my least favorites.

The final Moneypenny insult was the fantasy sequence scene toward the end of DAD, where she transforms from this modern woman into a cheap joke that would have been stale 20 years before. Interesting how people point to Halle Berry and the ice surfing being distastrous in DAD, but never that scene.

As the series continues to somewhat set itself apart from past adventures, I hope they don't revert to what people expect. If they bring back Moneypenny, leave some mystery in that relationship (no mission backstory, please, that would be awful), no feminism and no cheap double entendres.

As for Q, make it something more than what can Bond do to irritate him if at all. After all, Q himself said it best, "If it hadn't been for Q branch, you'd have been dead long ago."

[MajorB]

Good points, Turn. Dramatically, you only need one person functioning as M's right-hand person. In CR, it was Villiers (who I guess was her executive assistant?), and in QoS, of course, it was Tanner.

I could see Moneypenny being brought in as a Villiers-level character, with real operational responsibilities. (In which case Tanner would need to be relegated to a walk-on or dropped completely, which would be a shame, since I liked him in QoS.) She could be a more formidable character that way, and it might make it possible to resume the flirtation with Bond, but on a more equal level--even one in which we suspect they might actually get together off-hours.

It might even make more sense from a real-world perspective: I have no idea if the head of SIS actually has a chief of staff, but if so, I would think of that person as more of a deputy director who coordinates operations, rather than someone functioning as M's personal adjunct. Having Moneypenny serve the latter role would make a degree of sense.

As for Q, I really don't want to see a return to the old grumpy-professor schtick, much as I loved those scenes in the "Bond 1.0" universe. I could see a younger, sharper person whom Bond openly respects, though perhaps Bond might tease him for being a bit of a nerd. Or someone a little waspishly arrogant and annoying, who talks down to Bond, giving Bond a reason to take the wind out of his sails.

Whatever the approach, I'd rather the character weren't called Q. It's hard to see how you'd reintroduce a character with that name, without making him something like the Q of old. Besides, in the more modern, less corny "Bond 2.0" universe, you can more or less justify calling M "M," but assigning letters to annyone else just seems silly.

(Actually, I've never been completely convinced that Fleming meant Q to be the name of a person. Apart from one sentence in Casino Royale--"Have a talk to Q about rooms and trains, and any equipment you want"--I think he always referred to Q Branch in the books. Since no one called Q ever appeared in the books, I've tended to assume that the reference in Casino was a shorthand for "Q Branch." But that's just a theory, and I don't think there's a way we'll ever know.)

[danslittlefinger]

Kelly Brook as Moneypenny?
Sexy, young and British.

[Dr.Mirakle32]

Is it wrong that I would rather have a North American Moneypenny?

I always felt Canadian-born Lois Maxwell is the definitive Moneypenny, and her mid-Atlantic/almost American accent was a great contast to her more British sounding co-wokers. The other Moneypennys were just too English for me. Yes, I know the character is supposed to be English, I just never cared for anyone other than Maxwell.

[K1Bond007]

I'd rather not bring Moneypenny back for awhile. Leave her absent. Instead I think they should bring back Tobias Menzies as Villiers and then introduce Loelia Ponsonby (Bond's 00-secretary) or someone similar (Mary Goodnight - though they'd have to use a different name, or Helena Marksbury).

I fear bringing back Moneypenny will be a return to formula and I'd rather not see that because a lot of times Moneypenny's role was too forced. Ushering in a Ponsonby character would be unique albeit similar experience and it would make Moneypenny a stronger character in the long run. Bond dated Marksbury and we all know what happened with Goodnight (though she was also supposedly involved with 006). Give Bond a taste with one secretary then bring in another that is more strong-willed (i.e., Moneypenny). The writers could probably fit all 3 secretaries in the same movie. Bond involved with the 00-secretary at the beginning, Villiers leave, and Moneypenny hired toward the end that presents a far bigger challenge to Bond than the 00-secretary. I think I like the idea of Moneypenny being introduced towards end anyway.

Since I'm on the subject. Q should be kept in check by making him more Flemingesque. He should be the Armourer, not Q.

[tdalton]

I'd rather not bring Moneypenny back for awhile. Leave her absent. Instead I think they should bring back Tobias Menzies as Villiers and then introduce Loelia Ponsonby (Bond's 00-secretary) or someone similar (Mary Goodnight - though they'd have to use a different name, or Helena Marksbury).

I fear bringing back Moneypenny will be a return to formula and I'd rather not see that because a lot of times Moneypenny's role was too forced. Ushering in a Ponsonby character would be unique albeit similar experience and it would make Moneypenny a stronger character in the long run. Bond dated Marksbury and we all know what happened with Goodnight (though she was also supposedly involved with 006). Give Bond a taste with one secretary then bring in another that is more strong-willed (i.e., Moneypenny). The writers could probably fit all 3 secretaries in the same movie. Bond involved with the 00-secretary at the beginning, Villiers leave, and Moneypenny hired toward the end that presents a far bigger challenge to Bond than the 00-secretary. I think I like the idea of Moneypenny being introduced towards end anyway.

Since I'm on the subject. Q should be kept in check by making him more Flemingesque. He should be the Armourer, not Q.

Completely agreed. I would prefer not to see the Moneypenny character for a while. If they had to bring her back, I'd like to see her played by Kelly Reilly, but then again she could just as easily be cast as any of the characters you mention in your post that could fill in for Moneypenny. Out of those choices, I'd like to see Ponsonby make an appearance in the franchise.

[BlackFire]

Someone suggested Emily Blunt some time ago, and I concur

[ACE]

Kelly Brook as Moneypenny?
Sexy, young and British.

yeah!

[Royal Dalton]

Jordan should play Miss Moneypenny. With Peter Andre as Q.

[Zorin Industries]

Rebecca Hall.

[dinovelvet]

Shall we get just a little bit realistic here...Rachel Weisz, Rebecca Hall or Emily Blunt aren't going to play Moneypenny in a 45 second scene when they can all command lead roles in Hollywood. If there is a new Moneypenny, it'll be a barely known actress with a couple of BBC credits, someone like Christina Cole who played the hotel receptionist in CR.

As for Kelly Brook(!), you probably don't want to get too sexy with the casting, or Bond would find an excuse not to go on the mission and stay at MI6 the whole time!

[Royal Dalton]

Shall we get just a little bit realistic here...Rachel Weisz, Rebecca Hall or Emily Blunt aren't going to play Moneypenny in a 45 second scene when they can all command lead roles in Hollywood. If there is a new Moneypenny, it'll be a barely known actress with a couple of BBC credits, someone like Christina Cole who played the hotel receptionist in CR.

Yeah, that's right.

In reality, it'll probably be somebody like Lucy Liemann.

[Vauxhall]

Rebecca Hall.

Yes, please. If Jeffrey Wright can happily be part of Bond movies and only appear for about 5 minutes, I'm sure Rebecca Hall or Emily Blunt could be persuaded.

The major problem with suggestions such as Kelly Brook (although admittedly a lovely girl) is a distinct lack of acting ability.

[DavidSomerset]

Whats happening here - why no mention of Shilpa Shetty as Moneypenny or Gulshan Grover as Q?

[Mister Asterix]

For reason stated in a previous thread. Liz White.

[danslittlefinger]

Rebecca Hall.

Yes, please. If Jeffrey Wright can happily be part of Bond movies and only appear for about 5 minutes, I'm sure Rebecca Hall or Emily Blunt could be persuaded.

The major problem with suggestions such as Kelly Brook (although admittedly a lovely girl) is a distinct lack of acting ability.

sorry but Gemma and Olga were better were they?

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Has to be Emily Blunt for me.

[Zorin Industries]

Rebecca Hall.

Yes, please. If Jeffrey Wright can happily be part of Bond movies and only appear for about 5 minutes, I'm sure Rebecca Hall or Emily Blunt could be persuaded.

The major problem with suggestions such as Kelly Brook (although admittedly a lovely girl) is a distinct lack of acting ability.

sorry but Gemma and Olga were better were they?

Er - yes. They were. There is a reason Kelly Brook has been quite publically "moved on" from at least three projects that I can think of... (she's naff).

The likes of Rebecca Hall, Kelly Reilly and Emily Blunt are perfect. The fact that they are solid and great actresses works in their favour for an iconic bit of fluff such as MONEYPENNY as they know their careers are not predicated on the role and that the work will be there afterwards (and, more importantly, during).

Another one I would add to the mix... Jodie May.



And another name..

Olivia Colman.