The late Sir Roger Moore, known for his role as James Bond, lived a dazzling life filled with glamorous women.
However, new revelations about his first marriage to Doorn van Steyn shed light on his early years and the tumultuous relationship he had with an older woman.
Recently, a box of letters, photographs, and papers belonging to van Steyn was discovered, offering a glimpse into Moore’s life before he became famous.
The documents also reveal the extraordinary devotion Moore showed towards van Steyn’s young son while they lived together in a small attic bedsit in South London.
Shaun van Steyn, now 73 years old, stumbled upon the box while going through his late mother’s possessions.
He describes the find as a treasure trove, providing a window into the past.
Among the contents are passionate letters written by the besotted 19-year-old Moore to Doorn during his time in National Service.
Doorn, a circus ice skater, and divorcee caught Moore’s attention when they met at drama school RADA towards the end of World War II.
Moore fell deeply in love with Doorn and even learned to ice skate to spend more time with her.
Yet, his letters also reveal his insecurity and longing for her affection.
The couple married in December 1946, but their honeymoon was cut short due to financial constraints.
Moore’s letters from his time in Germany with the British Army on the Rhine in 1948 express his love and desire for a happy marriage.
However, as Doorn’s ice-skating career took off, Moore struggled to find success in his own acting career.
He often found himself left behind while she toured internationally.
Moore worked odd jobs as he continued to audition and supported Doorn in her endeavors.
Despite the challenges they faced, Moore cared deeply for Shaun, Doorn’s son from a previous relationship.
Shaun, an artist and photographer, recalls fond memories of Moore’s kindness and love during his early childhood.
Eventually, Moore and Doorn’s careers and arguments drove them apart.
In his autobiography, Moore blamed their time apart, financial worries, and Doorn’s lack of faith in his acting abilities for the collapse of their marriage.
Shaun vividly remembers the intense arguments between his mother and stepfather.
He recounts instances of Moore being mistreated by Doorn, including one incident where she dumped his clothes in the bath and another where she struck Shaun with a whip.
Moore claimed to be the one who initiated the divorce, but a witness statement found by Shaun paints a different picture.
The statement, part of Doorn’s divorce petition, recounts how she caught Moore getting into a car belonging to Welsh singer Dorothy Squires outside the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End.
Squires, who was 13 years older than Moore, later became his second wife.
Moore denied any involvement with Squires until after his divorce from Doorn.
However, according to the witness statement, Doorn confronted Moore after seeing him with Squires.
The discovery of these documents provides a unique perspective on the early life and turbulent first marriage of Sir Roger Moore.
It offers a glimpse into the complexities of his relationships and the challenges he faced before achieving fame as James Bond.
