--- name: "Lois Maxwell" canonical: "https://film.one/person/lois-maxwell" roles: ["Actor"] born: "14 February 1927" died: "29 September 2007" reviewed_on_fi1m: 13 average_fi1m_score: 69 average_as: "actor" average_over: 12 updated: "2026-09-18T11:29:11.587116+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Lois Maxwell Actor. Born 14 February 1927 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Died 29 September 2007. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 14 February 1927, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada - **Died:** 29 September 2007 - **Active:** 1962–1985 - **Also known as:** ロイス・マクスウェル, Lois Ruth Hooker, لوئیس ماکسول - **Titles on Fi1m:** 13: 12 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Albert R. Broccoli](https://film.one/person/albert-r-broccoli.md), [Harry Saltzman](https://film.one/person/harry-saltzman.md), [Richard Maibaum](https://film.one/person/richard-maibaum.md), [Roger Moore](https://film.one/person/roger-moore.md), [Sean Connery](https://film.one/person/sean-connery.md), [Lewis Gilbert](https://film.one/person/lewis-gilbert.md), [Terence Young](https://film.one/person/terence-young.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 12 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 92 (1), 1960s 76 (6), 1970s 64 (3), 1980s 59 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 65 across 12 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 9 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 12, Thriller 12, Adventure 11 - **Screen time:** 25 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,532m across 12 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Maxwell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232860, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0561755/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9878 ## Fi1m on Lois Maxwell > Lois Maxwell played Miss Moneypenny fourteen times over twenty-three years, seldom for more than a few minutes, and made M's outer office feel like a room with a history. It is a small thing done well, which is rarer than it sounds. In *Dr. No* (1962), Bond comes in from the casino and has to get past a desk before he gets to M. Bernard Lee is sour behind his own desk, Lois Maxwell is flirting in the outer room, and between them and Connery they sketch a whole civil service in about four minutes. Maxwell plays the flirting as a routine both parties know by heart. She wore her own clothes for the part, and it shows: Moneypenny dresses for the office, not for the camera, and that is half of why we believe she runs it. The career before that was a wander. Hollywood in the late 1940s, with *That Hagen Girl* (1947); Italian films through the 1950s; British television after that. Then 1962 gave her two parts, a nurse in Kubrick's *Lolita* and Moneypenny, and she asked for the second. Offered the choice, she took the secretary over Sylvia Trench, the woman at the card table in our *Dr. No* review, because Trench came with a scene she did not want to play. Fourteen films followed, *Dr. No* to *A View to a Kill* (1985), opposite three Bonds, seven of them with Roger Moore, whom she had known since RADA. What made it work was a decision she and Connery took off screen. "Sean and I agreed that we wanted to give Bond and Moneypenny a background... they'd had a marvellous affair when she was in the typing pool." The scripts never mention it, but the playing does. The teasing has the tone of two people who have been through something and agreed not to bring it up, and Maxwell lets the disappointment sit just under the wit without ever reaching for it. In *From Russia with Love* (1963) we found ourselves fonder of her few minutes than of Daniela Bianchi's whole part, because Moneypenny is the only woman in the film allowed to want Bond and be dry about it. The honest caveat is size. Across fourteen films she is on screen for under an hour in total, with few lines, and the exchange barely changed; our review of *From Russia with Love* notes that she and Lee "do what they will go on doing for a decade", and that steadiness is both the pleasure and the limit. The role typecast her and the industry did not find much else for her to do. Beyond Moneypenny there is not a great deal to judge, and we will not pretend the *Lolita* nurse is more than a footnote. Where she went next tells you how the part stuck. From 1979 to 1994 she wrote a newspaper column in Toronto under the byline "Miss Moneypenny". The films let her go in 1985. The name never did. ## Biography Lois Maxwell was a Canadian actress best known for portraying Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 Eon James Bond films, from *Dr. No* (1962) to *A View to a Kill* (1985). She appeared in the role opposite Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore. Born Lois Ruth Hooker in Kitchener, Ontario, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She made her film debut in the late 1940s and won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Actress for her performance in *That Hagen Girl* (1947). Other credits include a role in Stanley Kubrick’s *Lolita* (1962). Maxwell was married to Peter Marriott from 1957 until his death in 1973; they had two children. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (13) ### Performed in (12) — the average rests on these - *A View to a Kill* (1985), Fi1m 46, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/a-view-to-a-kill.md) - *Octopussy* (1983), Fi1m 64, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/octopussy.md) - *For Your Eyes Only* (1981), Fi1m 68, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/for-your-eyes-only.md) - *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977), Fi1m 77, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/the-spy-who-loved-me.md) - *The Man with the Golden Gun* (1974), Fi1m 56, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-with-the-golden-gun.md) - *Diamonds Are Forever* (1971), Fi1m 58, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/diamonds-are-forever.md) - *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* (1969), Fi1m 83, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/on-her-majestys-secret-service.md) - *You Only Live Twice* (1967), Fi1m 62, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md) - *Thunderball* (1965), Fi1m 66, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/thunderball.md) - *Goldfinger* (1964), Fi1m 82, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/goldfinger.md) - *From Russia with Love* (1963), Fi1m 84, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love.md) - *Dr. No* (1962), Fi1m 77, as Miss Moneypenny — [page](https://film.one/film/dr-no.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92, as Actress (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md) ## Complete filmography (75) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Stingray: The Reunion Party* (2008), as Lieutenant Atlanta Shore (voice) - *The Fourth Angel* (2001), as Olivia - *Hard to Forget* (1998), as Helen Applewhite - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Acting - *In Search of James Bond with Jonathan Ross* (1995), as Moneypenny - *Lady in a Corner* (1989), as Mary Smith - *Martha, Ruth & Edie* (1988), as Edie Carmichael - *The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1985), series, as Ms. Golden - *A View to a Kill* (1985), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/a-view-to-a-kill.md) - *Eternal Evil* (1985), as Monica Duval - *Octopussy* (1983), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/octopussy.md) - *For Your Eyes Only* (1981), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/for-your-eyes-only.md) - *Mr. Patman* (1981), as Director - *Invaders from the Deep* (1981), as Lieutenant Atlanta Shore / Milly Carson / Marineville Tracking Station #2 (voice) - *The Incredible Voyage of Stingray* (1980), as Lieutenant Atlanta Shore (voice) - *Lost and Found* (1979), as English Woman - *Moonraker* (1979), as Miss Moneypenny - *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/the-spy-who-loved-me.md) - *Age of Innocence* (1977), as Mrs Hogarth - *From Hong Kong with Love* (1975), as Miss Moneypenny - *Sporting Chance* (1975), as Louise (archive footage) - *The Man with the Golden Gun* (1974), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-with-the-golden-gun.md) - *Live and Let Die* (1973), as Miss Moneypenny - *Peep* (1973), as Mrs. Powell - *Endless Night* (1972), as Cora - *Diamonds Are Forever* (1971), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/diamonds-are-forever.md) - *The Persuaders!* (1971), series, as Louise Cornell - *Adventures in Rainbow Country* (1970), series, as Nancy Williams - *UFO* (1970), series, as Miss Holland - *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* (1969), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/on-her-majestys-secret-service.md) - *Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)* (1969), series, as Kim Wentworth - *Department S* (1969), series, as Mary Burnham - *You Only Live Twice* (1967), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md) - *Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond* (1967), as Miss Moneypenny - *Operation Kid Brother* (1967), as Miss Maxwell - *Rome, Sweet Home* (1966), as Megadorius - *Thunderball* (1965), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/thunderball.md) - *Gideon's Way* (1965), series, as Felisa Henderson - *The Ambassadors* (1965), as Sarah Pocock - *Stingray* (1964), series, as Lt Atlantis Shore (voice) - *Goldfinger* (1964), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/goldfinger.md) - *From Russia with Love* (1963), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love.md) - *The Haunting* (1963), as Grace Markway - *Come Fly with Me* (1963), as Gwen Sandley - *Dr. No* (1962), as Miss Moneypenny — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/dr-no.md) - *The Saint* (1962), series, as Helen - *Lolita* (1962), as Nurse Mary Lore - *The Unstoppable Man* (1961), as Helen Kennedy - *Danger Man* (1960), series, as Sandi Lewis - *No Hiding Place* (1959), series, Acting - *Face of Fire* (1959), as Ethel Winter - *One Step Beyond* (1959), series, as Esther Hollis - *Kill Me Tomorrow* (1957), as Jill Brook - *Time Without Pity* (1957), as Vickie Harker - *The High Terrace* (1956), as Stephanie Blake - *Satellite in the Sky* (1956), as Kim Hamilton - *Passport to Treason* (1956), as Diane Boyd - *Submarine Attack* (1954), as Lili Donald - *Aida* (1953), as Amneris - *Mantrap* (1953), as Thelma Speight / Tasman - *Women of Twilight* (1953), as Christine "Chris" Ralston - *Lady in the Fog* (1952), as Margaret 'Peggy' Maybrick - *Ha da venì... don Calogero!* (1952), as Maestrina - *The Woman's Angle* (1952), as Enid Mansell - *Lebbra bianca* (1951), as Erika - *Tomorrow Is Too Late* (1950), as Anna - *Love and Poison* (1950), as Regina Cristina - *Kazan* (1949), as Louise Maitlin - *The Crime Doctor's Diary* (1949), as Jane Darrin - *The Decision of Christopher Blake* (1948), as Miss McIntyre (uncredited) - *The Dark Past* (1948), as Ruth Collins - *The Big Punch* (1948), as Karen Long - *Corridor of Mirrors* (1948), as Lois - *That Hagen Girl* (1947), as Julia Kane - *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), as Actress (uncredited) — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md) ## Gallery - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-3cf5ceb72589.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Lois_maxwell_in_The_Dark_Past_movie.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Ontario Theatre advertisement for the film, Lolita. 6 July 1962.](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-ee466d20a084.png) Ontario Theatre advertisement for the film, Lolita. 6 July 1962. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Ontario_Theatre_Ad_-_6_July_1962%2C_NW%2C_Washington%2C_D.C.png/1280px-Ontario_Theatre_Ad_-_6_July_1962%2C_NW%2C_Washington%2C_D.C.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![The Dark Past 1948 movie publicity still. Nina Foch and en:Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-05837ed67972.jpg) The Dark Past 1948 movie publicity still. Nina Foch and en:Lois Maxwell — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/The_Dark_Past_1948_movie_publicity_still.jpg/1280px-The_Dark_Past_1948_movie_publicity_still.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-5feaf4e5d19b.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-47857184b0b6.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-b1fecf62da94.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-f19d72bbfc9c.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-ddd83bea9a77.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB - ![Lois Maxwell](https://film.one/media/person/386304/gallery-183066ce3b64.jpg) Lois Maxwell — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/lois-maxwell