The Only Woman Bond Loves
I don’t think I could tell you why, but there is something about the womanizing agent from MI6 that just makes me happy. It could be his charismatic mannerisms, his knack for knowing exactly what he needs to know, or his partiality for bad puns. But I fell in love with him from the moment he introduced himself.
Because this is a blog for hopeless romantics, I am sure it is odd to be reading a post about one of the most notorious womanizers in fiction. I could make the argument that 007 is perfectly capable of settling down. During George Lazenby’s short stint as Mr. Bond, he fell in love with a beautiful heiress named Tracy. By the end of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” he was married and on his honeymoon when his wife got killed in crossfire from a Spectre ambush. Even Daniel Craig’s Bond could be considered mostly monogamous. He was ready to run away with Vesper before her death, and he almost married Madeleine before she was framed for betrayal.
So the famed ladies’ man is capable of loving. But I am not going to focus on the overt relationships that he has experienced. I want to talk about one relationship that is constant… his love and dependence on Miss Moneypenny.
Lois Maxwell (1962-1985), Caroline Bliss (1987-1989), Samantha Bond (1995-2002), Naomie Harris (2012-2021).
Miss Moneypenny was never officially given a name by author Ian Fleming. A different author gave her the name “Jane” when he took up the 007 mantels and the Daniel Craig reboot gave her the name “Eve” when she was reintroduced in “Skyfall.” Personally, I am partial to Eve. I will be focusing on her characterization in the movie. Mostly, because I have found it difficult to get my hands on the novels. Also from everything I could find she is more pronounced in the movies.
From the moment we are introduced to a frantic Miss Moneypenny we see their chemistry. She is desperately searching London for James Bond when his hat flies through the door and lands on the hat rack. She slams down the phone and begins berating him. Instead of getting annoyed he goes to her side and listens as he silently teases her. When she pushes him away he feigns to be shocked and disappointed.
We are shown instant chemistry between these two that should indicate years of trust have been built in this relationship. Both are aware of the boundaries set before them, and both are willing to push but not break them.
MONEYPENNY IS THE ONLY WOMAN HE TRULY TRUSTS-
This is extremely well displayed in the franchise reboot starring Daniel Craig. In “Skyfall” there is a scene where Bond trusts Moneypenny to give him a shave with a straight razor.
There is a moment when she asks, “Are you putting your life in my hands again?” For those of you that haven’t seen the movie, Miss Moneypenny was a field agent partnered with Bond. As Bond got himself in a pickle with the enemy she was ordered, by M, to take a tricky shot and “killed” James Bond.
Bond had no reason to trust this agent. She had shot him and she was currently spying for the man that is questioning “M’ position and relevance. Now she held a straight razor to his throat. If that isn’t trust, I am not sure what is.
During Timothy Dalton’s run as Bond we see that he really only trusts Moneypenny, and that is with his research request.
MONEYPENNY HAS NO TROUBLE SEEING RIGHT THROUGH HIM-
“Flattery will get you nowhere, but don’t stop trying.”
Moneypenny knows that Bond is no innocent. She is fully aware of his escapades and never misses an opportunity to tease him about it. In “From Russia With Love” she gives him a picture of the woman he is supposed to meet. He immediately gives it back signing it “from Russia, with love.”
In “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” James quits in a rage against “M” having Moneypenny file his resignation. Instead she asks for leave instead. “You didn’t really want to retire, did you?”
MONEYPENNY IS HIS ONLY CONSTANT-
There is only one time that I actually wanted to kill Bond and this is when he got married. He knew full well that he was breaking her heart, and gave her his hat as a consolation prize. And yet she would support him in any decision he made. There is so much to be said about Moneypenny and Bond but the main one is that she is the only woman in his life that will always be by his side.
I don’t know how else to prove this to you. I even wrote a fanfiction about them.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10985437/1/The-True-Bond-Girl
If you can go through any of these movies and come up with a woman that is more worthy of the title “Bond Girl” then leave a comment!
Until Next Time,
Peace Out Lovers!
P.S. All of Moneypenny’s scenes for your enjoyment!
