Samantha Bond confirms she won't return for Bond 21

[Jojo Bond]

I WON'T BOND WITH NEW 007

MONEYPENNY ACTRESS WILL MISS NEW MOVIE AND BOW OUT WITH BROSNAN

By Samantha Booth

MISS Moneypenny actress Samantha Bond refuses to be shaken or stirred
with anyone other than veteran 007 actor Pierce Brosnan.

The 41-year-old, who has been in the last four Bond movies, reckons
it's the end of the line for her association with the spy now that
Pierce has handed in his licence to kill.

The sexy mum-of-two thinks love scenes with actors young enough to be
her sons would be just ridiculous.

'I just don't want to go on being Moneypenny if Pierce isn't there,'
she said. 'I really don't. It's an age thing, for a start.

'Pierce is just that little bit older than me - eight years - - and
when he's doing all that saucy flirting with Moneypenny, it looks OK
and a lot of fun, which it is. And she, of course, has her fantasies
about being with him, having a romance. It's a gift of a role.'

But Samantha, mum of Molly, 13, and Tom, 11, said that, if they
brought in a younger guy to play 007, the sizzling sexual chemistry
just wouldn't look right.

'I think it's going to look a bit off having a nod and a wink and a
flirty moment,' she said. 'Not very tasteful, to my mind. In fact, it
could look a bit gruesome and icky.

'Older lady, much younger bloke - I don't think so. There is one guy
who I might consider as an exception if he was to be cast.

'But I am not going to reveal who he is, and wild horses won't get his
name out of me.'

Big names being linked to the role include Hollywood hotshots Ewan
McGregor and Colin Farrell. But Samantha wondered whether either would
actually want the role at this stage in their careers.

'They both have highly successful careers,' she said. 'Would they
really want to become linked to someone like Bond, who is really such
a very strong image and identity?

'Those two guys can do big earner films in their own right. They don't
need it.

'And from what I hear of Mr Farrell's rather salty, non-compromising
language, I wonder if they might have to bleep out a lot of the
expletives? I'm Bond, James bleep Bond. Perhaps not.

'The other name being mentioned is James Purefoy.

'But he's got a contract to play Mark Antony in the BBC's TV
production of Rome which will occupy the next five years, so that
could be difficult to get around.

'And all those guys are younger than me, so . . .'

Samantha had heard rumours that Irishman Pierce was retiring as Bond,
but it wasn't until she heard it from his own mouth she believed it.

'When I first heard that Pierce was supposed to be calling it a day, I
honestly wondered if the rumour was all part of a terribly elaborate
publicity stunt,' she said.

But one night Samantha and her actor husband actor Alex Hanson were
watching TV when Pierce was a guest on Parkinson and confirmed it was
true.

She said: 'We both looked at each other and said: 'Well, he's just
said it himself, so that's the end of the line'.'

But Samantha isn't bitter. She's very grateful to have had the chance
to be in the Bond films, although she does admit playing a key
character like Moneypenny can be a bit of a poisoned chalice.

She said: 'The role might well be the only one that you are ever known
for. I know that dear old Desmond Llewelyn felt that way.

'He believed the public only ever thought of him as Q, and that they
knew nothing about his amazing body of work before he joined the 007
team.

'And what about the two actresses who played Moneypenny before I got
the role?

'If you're not very careful, playing a part as high-profile as that
over a long time can put the kibosh on your career.

'Which is why I've been very careful to do a lot of other work on
stage, in films and on TV. I don't want to be typecast as Moneypenny
for the rest of my life, much as I adore the lady.

'I've just been very lucky to play her in four box-office successes,
and that's it. It's been 10 years and maybe enough is enough?'

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/feature...name_page.html

Jojo

[Will]

I'm not too sure about this being a rock hard confirmation, as the daily record hasnt been known to be the most accurate source of news out there. Actually, many of these quotes I remember seeing in artciles over the years about Bond's desire to be 'Brosnan's Moneypenny.'

If anything, it only adds fuel to the already blazing fire.

[George Lazenby]

People spent well over a year saying all the articles about Pierce being out were not true either.

[Team24YOBAW]

That entire page looks like the check out at the store. Appears to be a bunch of tabloid pages, but you can never really be sure.

[Jojo Bond]

I buy into this story. We all know Brossy is out so we are going to get a younger Bond. How young no one knows, but it's understandable Samantha Bond would feel a little bit uncomfortable flirting with a younger Bond. I know it's acting but perhaps she doesn't want to be seen as looking older than the new Bond. Lois Maxwell left the series when Timothy Dalton became the new Bond so Samantha's departure should not be seen as that surprising.

I thought she was a very fine Moneypenny, but it sort of makes sense to have a new Moneypenny with a new Bond. Dalton, Brosnan had new Moneypennys, so it seems the right thing to have a new actor in the role when we get the new Bond.

The big question is with Sam Bond leaving, will Judi Dench feel inclined to go to? Hmm..

Jojo

[Will]

Ive checked with my sources, this story checks out, I assume its fitting, but rather unfortuneate. I am a big fan of Sam Bond's Monepenny and consider her combination with Brosnan to be the series best. I love her dry crisp witty delivery, and I have no doubts about her feelings for Bond, never did, even pre-DAD, which was the best Bond/Moneypenny scene in the series without a doubt.

She like Brosnan will be tough shoes to fill.

[George Lazenby]

She was a good MP, and her and Brosnan did have pretty good chemisty, but better than Connery and Maxwell? Come on now.

[JohnCleese]

Originally Posted by George Lazenby

She was a good MP, and her and Brosnan did have pretty good chemisty, but better than Connery and Maxwell? Come on now.

Moore and Maxwell beats Connery and Maxwell

[Max Zorin]

I think that Samantha Bond made an excellent Moneypenny and I think its a shame that she won't appear in the next Bond film. From many articles and interviews I've read and seen, she has a great respect for Brosnan and I commend her for sticking up for Brosnan and keeping true to her word.

I think that casting a new James Bond is a waste of time. The Broccoils already have (should I say had) probably the most sucessful Bond actor of all time. He proved to be a sucess in every Bond film he starred in, he was extremely popular and could play the part very well. I don't really like any of the rumoured next Bond actors and I especially dislike Colin Farrell. After Brosnan recommended him for the role, Farrell swore and said the F word about Brosnan. I mean, what a complete and utter jackarse.

You may say that Pierce Brosnan is too old, but does he look it? Brosnan could make one more Bond film to finish of his era. Die Another Day was a disappointment for me, and I would like to see Pierce go out in a Bond film as good as his first.

Just my thoughts on the whole situation...

[Will]

Originally Posted by George Lazenby

She was a good MP, and her and Brosnan did have pretty good chemisty, but better than Connery and Maxwell? Come on now.

Her chemistry with Connery was excellent, and I would never argue their chemistry to be unromantic or bad.

Lets not forget, Lois Maxwell stayed on for 14 films, thus if were going to evaluate her Moneypenny we must consider those 23 years. In general, for as great as she was, I dont think she ever equaled the great chemistry she had with Connery. I could do without the needy wedding ring rings jokes. She's alost motherly with Lazenby for obvious age reasons, crying at his wedding included, and with Moore there was much more a sibling vibe. She simply stayed on for too long.

SB's Monepenny is the most attractive out of the three, actually got a date (good for her ) and her smirk to Brosnan in so many instances is the most enjoyable physical hint at an attraction she has below the surface. Not to mention, she was given some of the best dialouge for a Moneypenny and relished in it.

All things considered, I put Maxwell as a close second.

[George Lazenby]

I'm sorry but I just can see that at all.

[Will]

Originally Posted by George Lazenby

I'm sorry but I just can see that at all.

No worries, just my take on things, which might change as the marathon comes along, we will have to see.

[Mav]

I have always though the Connery / Maxwell partnership held that perfect balance where Moneypenny has a school girl crush and Bond is always the fish that gets away.

I think the Brosnan / Sam Bond chemistry is also excellent but definately a different dynamic. Sam Bond's Moneypenny dosn't seem to hang on Bond's every word and can be quite brutal at times (throwing the cigar canister in the bin in TWINE / the 'you've never had me' line in GE). I always get the idea that Brosnan's Bond knows he'll never have a chance at consumating the flirtation where-as Connery's Bond probably only needed to click his fingers.

Personal choice I guess.....here's two of my favourite Connery / Maxwell exchanges:

Dr. No
Miss Moneypenny: James! Where have you been? I've been searching all over London for you. [Picks up phone.]
Miss Moneypenny: 007 is here sir. [Slaps Bond's hand away from the papers on her desk.]
James Bond: Moneypenny! What gives?
Miss Moneypenny: Me, given an ounce of encouragement. You've never taken me to dinner looking like this. You've never taken me to dinner, period.
James Bond: I would, you know. Only I would be court-martialed for tampering with government property.
Miss Moneypenny: Flattery will get you nowhere... but don't stop trying.

You Only Live Twice
MoneyPenny: Oh, by the way, how was the girl?
James Bond: (turns the lamp towards her, interrogation style) Which girl?
MoneyPenny: The...uh...Chinese one we set you up with?
James Bond: Another few minutes and I would have found out.

Over & Out: