Skyfalls most satisfying surprise arguably arrives just moments before the end credits roll.
We discover the hard-charging field operative portrayed by Naomie Harris is, in fact, Eve Moneypenny.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What do we find Miss Moneypenny doing in this film and how has she evolved?
Credit: Francois Duhamel
Presumably shes not back behind a desk.
NAOMIE HARRIS:Shes put in a difficult position of being loyal to Bond or loyal to MI6.
That shows just how much Bond trusts her.
He doesnt go to anyone else.
Shes the first person he confides in.
Everybody else thinks hes on some rogue mission and that hes lost his mind.
But he tells her what the true mission is about.
He asks for her help.
It shows he respects her and what she does.
Who can you trust more than the personwho shot you?
So whats it like to come back to the role?
She was pretty young inSkyfall.
Shes experienced being in the field.
Sometimes you take peoples lives.
Sometimes you take the wrong peoples lives.
She feels that may well be too much of a responsibility.
So she chooses something different.
Theres a centeredness you see with Moneypenny inSpectrethat I like.
Do you think its fair to say theres an implicit feminism in the last couple of Bond films?
Prior toSkyfall, Moneypenny was an ornamental character.
In this film, Lea Seydouxs character Madeleine Swann refuses Bonds help.
Monica Bellucci describes herself as Bondwoman.
That is what is so amazing about this franchise.
Its why its survived 50 plus years.
It has to change with the times.
You couldnt have the old Bond Girls of the past.
They just were arm candy a lot of the time.
I dont think modern women would buy that.
Its not who women are today.
They want to see themselves represented faithfully onscreen.
In terms of ethnicities, different parts of the world, ages, its a beautiful thing to see.
I think women will love that.
But for men, it makes a more exciting movie.Okay, here comes a beautiful woman.
Shell be easily conquered.Theres nothing to add to the plot.
You want a challenge.Can he get this woman?
What is up her sleeve?
Whats her angle?That makes for a much more interesting movie.
Its important for these times.
I dont think an audience would accept anything less.
Im going to grind you on plot points now.
Moneypenny is Bonds mole inside MI6.
So are we to understand the movie cant move forward without her blessing?
Hes able to go off and do this rogue mission only because he has her help.
Is it hard to keep secrets when everybody wants to know every twist in advance?
I found it really hard onSkyfall.
People kept calling me Bond Girl.
I was like, Mmmmm!
Im not really… Im a truth freak.
I cant keep secrets in I have to let them out.
Also having to lie to peoples faces.
Theyd say, So are you Moneypenny?
And Id say, No!
A lot of character evolution in the series both male and female can be traced back toDaniel Craig.
He seems pretty intense, though.
Whats he like to work with?
He brought that sensitivity to the role, that depth.
Hes this new man who brought that physicality and toughness to the role.
But was also intellectual as well.
You see that inSpectre.
When I go to visit him in his flat, hes surrounded by books.
You see them in him and its been drawn out by [director Sam Mendes] as well.
I hope they ask me back!
They take it one movie at a time.
I dont want to say theres a chaos, but theres a fluidity thats responsive to the moment.
You dont know whats going to happen.
They make decisions on the hoof.
And it gives the project the energy that it has.
