Miss Moneypenny in ‘Never Say Never Again’ was 80 – The Hollywood Reporter

Pamela Salem

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Pamela Salem, who played Miss Moneypenny in Never say never again along with Sean Connery in his last turn as James Bond, has died. She was 80 years old.

Salem died Wednesday in Surfside, Florida, according to Big Finish Productions, for whom he participated in several audio productions.

“Whenever there was a Big Finish recording for her, she would fly in from Miami under her own power, without fuss or fanfare, and turn up at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs and, often, gifts,” said producer David Richardson. saying in a sentence.

For the BBC doctor whoSalem played mining pilot Lish Toos in 1977’s “The Robots of Death” and Professor Rachel Jensen in 1988’s “Remembrance of the Daleks.” She reprized both roles for Big Finish in the audio drama series. The robots and radio-derived series Countermeasures.

Salem also played the evil sorceress Belor in the 1981-82 ITV children’s series. in the labyrinth and Joanne Francis, a member of the organized crime family, in the BBC soap opera. oriental for two seasons (1988-89). And in Bill Condon Gods and monsters (1998), was the mother of Frankenstein director James Whale (played by Ian McKellen).

Salem had made her big screen debut alongside Connery in The great train robbery (1978), and said that he recommended her to the 007 producers for the iconic role of Moneypenny, the secretary of M, head of the British Secret Intelligence Service MI6, in Never say never again (1983).

“I had seen Moneypenny before, of course, in the previous films played by Lois Maxwell,” he said. saying In a 1984 interview with Double Or Seven magazine. “At first (the media) tried to stir things up between us; It was all absolute nonsense, and Lois Maxwell wrote me a very nice letter, and I contacted her, and they finally had to drop it because they realized we were friends. .

“I actually owe the role to Lois because she established the role so beautifully in everyone’s minds. As soon as you mention the name Moneypenny, people automatically think of Lois.”

Irvin Kershner Never say never againfrom Warner Bros., was one of two “unofficial” Bond films that were not made by Eon Productions.

Pamela Fortunee Salem was born on January 22, 1944 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. She attended the University of Heidelberg in Germany and the Central School of Speech in London and did repertory theater in Chesterfield and York.

He began appearing on British television in series such as Out of the unknown, The Onedin Line, The man at the top and Gene Barry the adventurer before playing Emily Trent in The great train robbery.

His first job for doctor who He was the voice of Xoanon in 1977’s “The Face of Evil.”

Salem’s resume also included work on British shows. Blake’s 7, The tripods, All creatures great and small and French fields and in American programs like Magnum, Pennsylvania, emergencies, The west wing – as the fictional Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Maureen Graty – party of five and Big Love.

Salem, who moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and then to the Miami area, was married to Irish actor Michael O’Hagan from 1983 until his death in November 2017.