When Naomie Harris debuted as Eve in Skyfall, she reset MI6 stalwart Moneypenny for a new era of James Bond. Shooting James Bond in the pre-title sequence and showing the fieldwork past to M'ssecretary, she evolved over subsequent films to be a major ally to 007, repeatedly aiding Daniel Craig's superspy as he went it alone. InNo Time To Die, that involved helping him to the bitter end.
Ahead ofNo Time To Die releasing on home video (from today, December 21),Screen Rant sat down with Harris to discuss her journeywith 007.
So, this is yourthird movie asMoneypenny, and now withanew director. How wasCary's vision for Moneypennyand MI6 different to what you've done with Sam Mendes before?
AsCary said quite rightly, Moneypenny has really evolved She's grown up and there's been a real time period between Spectre and No Time To Die. And so we wanted to see a more mature Moneypenny.
What I like about your Moneypenny is not just that she's obviously been a field agent and so there's a lot of backstory there, butshe also breaks away quite a bit. She helps Bond when he's on the run, she goes behindM's back. What do you think that says about how we view these big institutions that have been monoliths for so long?
I mean, it's a very complex situation that Moneypenny is in No Time To Die, because there she is, with the man that she respects, she loves, she has this great friendship with... and he is asking her to work against an institution that is basicallyher bread and butter. So it does put her in a very difficult position. And I think ultimately, she makes the right choice, because it's about choosing the person that you truly believe in to follow.
You got to work with Lashana Lynch playing Nomi, the new 007.How was she to work with? And how was it getting to do those scenes with her and Daniel and all the banter that comes with that?
I absolutely love Lashana. We've become great friends since and she's amazing to work with because she and Danielhave an amazing sense of humor. He has a lot of wit, and so does Lashana. She's very, very quick-witted. So it was a lot of fun.
We all knew this was Daniel's last film, but we didn't know quite howhe was going to bow out. When did you learn the ending?
I learned the ending pretty early on. And I discoveredonlyrecently that a lot of people didn't actually get the real ending when they got the script, but I did. So I feel very honored. I feel like they really trusted me, which was really nice.
Who didn't get it?
Apparently a lot of people didn't. They got a tentative ending.
So he justdrives off into the sunset?
Yeah.
How was it filming that final scene in the room with the whiskey glass in the center? It must have been quite an emotional send-off. And Daniel's not even there for it?
Well, actually, Daniel was there! It wasn't too emotional as a result. But I think watching it, it really brought it home. And it was very emotional watching.
Was that the last scene you filmed?
Yeah.
Was thatthe case for everybody involved?
No, no, no, they had a lot more to do that. Yeah.
There was some talk, when the movie came outthat certainlines, especially with M,were shotout of context so they could build it in the edit. Did you feel any impact of that?
No, not for me. I don't know whator how it differed for M. But no, for me, it all made sense. Thankfully.
Obviously, we've got some more of Qwith BenWishaw. What's it been like working with him over three films and getting redefine what people think of these characters?
Oh, it's just so beautiful to have the luxury of doing that, to be able to work on characters, see them evolve, and work on their character, their emotional arc, that you don't normally get to do that in a film. But it also makes it a bit tricky, I have to say as well. The truth of the matter is, you don't normally play a character and then wait three or four years to play them again - and try and pick up from where you've left them before. It's really complex to be able to jump back into their skin.
Thishasbeen a record-setting run. Skyfall is the biggest Bond movie ever, Spectre's not too far off. But this one, the biggest film of the pandemic!What's it been like to see people really come back out for Bond and get back into the cinemas?
It's so magical, it's so magical to be part of that. Our industry was really hit very, very hard by the pandemic.Like so many other industries. And too, I think that theBond family timed the release of Bond,No Time To Die,perfectly, because it really felt like the end of this nightmare that we'd all been part of. And, and soNo Time To Die,it really felt like this celebration. And when I was at the premiere, it felt like the whole world was celebrating with us, you know? And it was just beautiful to be part of inviting people to feel comfortable again, in going to the cinema.
What was it like having a movie where one of the key plot points is a virus in this world? Did it at any point wonder "Oh, will this reflect too much on the real world?" or was that something that you just never really considered?
It was just bizarre because I always find myself in films thatarein some way reflective of what's going on in society. Butat the time of filming them, you have no idea that that's going to be the case. So it just always feels really weird when that happens.
Where would you like to see Bond go next?
Well, I would love love, love to be back. You know, I love the franchise. I love everybody involved. And I have such gratitude towards Bond because it really helped reinvigorate my career. And so I'd definitely love to be part of it. But then again, I just think Bond should go wherever it needs to. So whatever works best for the franchise.
And if youdon'treturn, who would you like to see step intoMoneypenny's shoes?
Gosh, that's a really hard one. Wow. I just think Olivia Coleman, whatever she does is amazing. And I just love to see her spin on Moneypenny.
No Time To Dieis availableon digital, Blu-ray & DVDnow.
