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Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
Oct 5
James Bond Day
Miss Moneypenny's Jig
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Flattery will get you nowhere, but don't stop trying."
~ MIss Moneypenny, Goldfinger (1964)
Oh James, where would you be without your support staff?
James Bond, the ever-dapper British secret agent with a penchant for saving the world and looking fabulous while doing it, has a particular knack for charming everyone around him—especially Miss Moneypenny.
This sharp, witty secretary to M, the head of MI6, seems to be the one person who can reliably keep Bond on his toes. Their interactions are a delightful mixture of flirtation and banter, with Bond continually testing the limits of Moneypenny’s patience and Moneypenny effortlessly putting him back in his place with a well-timed quip.
And Bond does, in fact, have a particularly memorable Scottish sartorial moment. In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), George Lazenby—during his one and only outing as 007—appears in full Highland dress while Bond is impersonating Scottish baronet Sir Hilary Bray at Piz Gloria. His evening ensemble includes a Black Watch tartan kilt, Prince Charlie coatee, white shirt and lace jabot. Adding another little bit of espionage to the scene, Lazenby’s voice while impersonating Bray was dubbed by George Baker, the actor who actually played Sir Hilary Bray earlier in the film. It remains the only appearance of James Bond himself in a kilt in the official Eon film series.
Without Miss Moneypenny, however, international espionage just wouldn’t be the same!
Give Miss Moneypenny her due with this busy 32-bar jig devised by Alasdair Brown, including set and rotate and tandem reels—figures nicely suited to illustrating the humorous give-and-take, comings and goings, and shifting personnel of MI6’s office.
Perhaps Bond should have worn the kilt more often. Moneypenny would undoubtedly have had something to say about it. 🕺 💃 🖤 🤍 🖤 🤵♂️ 🍸 🍸 🕵️
Miss Moneypenny's Jig
On October 5, 1962, the world's most famous fictional spy, James Bond, debuted in the feature film Dr. No.
Miss Moneypenny is an iconic character in the James Bond series, serving as the secretary to M, the head of the British Secret Service (MI6). Her character is best known for her flirtatious yet unrequited relationship with James Bond, bringing a touch of warmth and humor to the espionage-filled narratives. Here's a history of her character's development:
Miss Moneypenny first appeared in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, debuting in Casino Royale (1953). Fleming envisioned her as a competent, capable, and ever-professional secretary who worked closely with M. In the books, Moneypenny’s role is relatively limited, often confined to the office setting. Despite her brief appearances, she is characterized by her unspoken affection for Bond, adding a humanizing and somewhat romantic element to the otherwise cold world of espionage.
Her first name is not revealed in the original novels, though she is referred to as “Jane” in later Bond materials. Fleming described her as a woman of "unmistakable allure" who is infatuated with Bond, though she understands that their relationship will never move beyond playful banter.
For more on all things James Bond, click Miss Moneypenny for the official 007 website!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
