James Bond: Dalton stars in The Living Daylights 1987 trailer
In 1987, Dalton ushered in a new era of Bond. Following Roger Moore's seventh and final outing in A View To A Kill, the producers wanted a return to a more serious and gritty secret agent. It was also time for a change in the Bond girls, starting with d'Abo'sCzechoslovak cellist Kara Milovy. Her natural looks and relaxed manner were the perfect fit for 007's most significant and layered relationship since Diana Rigg's Tracy Draco (and briefly Tracy Bond) in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The actress said she welcomed the "less saucy" new style of Bond girl, while also revealing the terrifying and hilarious sides to filming The Living Daylights. She admitted "neither of us knew what we were doing."
Related articles
- Elvis and the Bond Girl: Ursula Andress 'wanted him bad'
- 'Excited' Henry Cavill 'definitely ready' for next James Bond talks
d'Abo later said: "I’m very proud I’m part of the Bond girls club... I have a phobia of gunshots and explosives and here I am playing this character… Timothy could see that I had zilch experience on a big film, but neither did he. But because he came from the theatre and he was a very generous actor, he supported me throughout the film."
She landed the role after bumping into producer Barbara Broccoli on the street in London but never imagined she would soon be filming one of the most iconic (and slightly ridiculous) action sequences in Bond history.
READ MORE:Roger Moore said Bond star Hervé Villechaize had 'Unnatural lusts'
James Bond star Maryam d'Abo now and then (Image: GETTY)
The Living Daylights: James Bond Timothy Dalton with Maryam d'Abo (Image: GETTY)
The moment Kara and Bond make their escape down a snowy slope using her improvised instrument case is a classic scene, which took two days to film.
d'Abo said: "Sliding down the mountain in a cello case seems easy and funny but it wasn’t easy… Timothy is twice my weight and I’ve actually got the controls to direct the cello case down the hill... I will never forget those two days."
Apart from being "absolutely freezing", she says she was constantly "avoiding trying to crash into a ravine or the camera crew."
DON'T MISS
Next James Bond boss confirms gender and nationality of next 007James Bond: How Roger Moore rated other 007s – Who he thought the bestNext Bond: 'Honoured' Henry Cavill overwhelming favourite to beat odds
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
James Bond Timothy Dalton with Maryam d'Abo (Image: GETTY)
Bond girl Maryam d'Abo in 2019 (Image: GETTY)
d'Abo's moment in the driving seat was part of a new direction for Bond girls, and she gives full credit to another legendary actress for spearheading that change: "In the 90’s women started to get their power and it is Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who are always thinking ahead, 'how can we modernise Bond?' They thought that M should be a woman... A fabulous role that will be unforgettable. She definitely made a change by being a woman and James Bond's boss."
She also acknowledged the struggle many actresses have had to progress their careers after being a Bond girl.
Trending
READ MORE
- James Bond: Sean Connery's real terror filming Thunderball
d'Abo was born in London but raised in Paris and Geneva, and had worked on French television and stage before starring in The Living Daylights.
Afterward, she took roles in various sci-fi and horror shows and films like Something Is Out There, Timelock and Tales From The Crypt. More mainstream roles included 2002's Doctor Zhivago with Keira Knightley and 2003 mini-series Helen of Troy.
But in 2007, her whole life was changed after she collapsed in Los Angeles with terrible pains in her head, "like an electrical thunderstorm... I was drifting in and out of consciousness. I was diagnosed with a subarachnoid bleed from an aneurysm and was within a few hours of death."
Bond actors (Image: GETTY)
Rushed to Cedars-Sinai hospital, a four-hour operation left her with a nine-inch scar. She added: "Although my head was full of blood, the aneurysm had been easy to access and I didn’t suffer any brain damage."
The actress suffered ongoing disorientation, some memory loss, and for years after felt overwhelmed and nervous in busy and loud situations. She also had mild aphasia, where the brain thinks one word but says something different.
Bond girl Maryam d'Abo with husband Hugh Hudson (Image: GETTY)
Her experience resulted in the actress going behind the camera to make the 2009 BBC 4 documentary Rupture: Living With My Broken Brain
d'Abo had previously produced and hosted the 2002documentaryBond Girls Are Forever, followed by 2004'sdocumentary filmBearing Witnessabout five female war reporters, which she also wrote.
In 2003, the actress and producer married director John Hudson, who is most famous for Chariots of Fire. She continues to act, most recently in 2020's Last Words with Nick Nolte and Charlotte Rampling.
Related articles
- Bond: Michael Caine to Richard Burton: Nine actors who turned down 007
- James Bond Roger Moore Moonraker 'hardest' love scene with Lois Chiles
- Bond girl Maud Adams helped Hollywood star almost replace Roger Moore
