Roger Moore, renowned for his portrayal of James Bond, faced numerous challenges during the production of Moonraker, the most expensive Bond film at that time.
With a staggering budget of £30 million, almost equal to the combined budgets of the previous eight films, the producers aimed to capitalize on the success of Star Wars by rearranging the order of adaptations from Ian Fleming’s novels.
This decision presented Moore with an unprecedented task, as he had to tackle zero-gravity simulators and a malfunctioning gondola transforming into a hovercraft.
However, it was the climactic love scene that truly tested the actor’s abilities.
(Trivia: The cable Jaws munches on in the scene was made of liquorice, not actual cable.)
In Moonraker, Moore shared the screen with Lois Chiles, who played Holly Goodhead, one of the Bond Girls.
Chiles, like many other Bond Girls from the Moore era, praised Moore’s professionalism, good humor, and generosity both on and off set.
Despite the outrageously naughty name of her character, Chiles admired Moore’s dedication throughout their time filming together.
It was their final love scene, playfully referred to as the “attempting re-entry” scene, that posed a tremendous challenge for Moore.
Depicting Bond and Goodhead in a n^ked embrace while their shuttle re-enters Earth’s atmosphere in zero gravity, this scene pushed Moore to his limits.
In his own words, Moore described the difficulty: “I was hanging there, with all the blood rushing into my nose and eyes.”
Nevertheless, he never complained and always strived to make life easier for his co-stars and crew.
Moore’s commitment to his fellow actors was evident during the filming of Live and Let Die, where he served tea to Jane Seymour, who fell asleep during a particularly long love scene.
Chiles fondly remembered her time working with Moore, stating that he always maintained a lighthearted atmosphere on set.
She praised his inclusivity, as he invited her to dinners and drinks with his family after filming.
Filming Moonraker took them to stunning locations such as Paris, Venice, and Rio de Janeiro, where Chiles shared most of her scenes with Moore, including a couple of love scenes.
Despite the intimate nature of these scenes, Moore’s humor and jokes kept the mood light.
Chiles emphasized that working with Moore was never monotonous.
Behind Moore’s debonair and suave on-screen persona, Chiles revealed that he had his own insecurities.
She described him as elegant and kind, but also acknowledged that these characteristics may have been a defense mechanism.
Despite criticism of his acting ability, Moore would often joke about it, demonstrating his ability to handle any negative comments with grace.
During an event held by the Friar’s Club in New York, Moore humorously stated, “Say whatever you want about how bad my acting is, it won’t hurt my feelings because everybody else has said it before.”
In conclusion, Roger Moore faced numerous challenges during the production of Moonraker, with the climactic love scene being one of the toughest moments of his career.
His professionalism, generosity, and sense of humor endeared him to his co-stars, making working with him a memorable experience.
Despite his success as Bond, Moore remained humble and able to laugh at himself, demonstrating his resilience in the face of criticism.
