She will be forever remembered as the fresh-faced Bond beauty in The Living Daylights.
But 40 years on, Maryam d’Abo is content to age gracefully, she has admitted.
The actress is coming back to performing with a play in London next February, and she’s decided against getting cosmetic surgery, unlike many other actresses.
“It’s just not for me,” the 65-year-old explained. “I didn’t come of age with that culture. I grew up admiring actresses like Jeanne Moreau and Simone Signoret, who embraced aging gracefully, and I could never bring myself to do anything different!”
Even though she starred as Kara Milovy with Timothy Dalton in the 1987 James Bond film, she says she never felt beautiful, despite others seeing her that way at the time.
‘You don’t go walking around thinking, “Oh I’m beautiful!”
‘There are some mornings when you wake up and you feel great, and others when you don’t feel great.
Like everyone else, I find getting older isn’t always easy. There are good days and bad days, just like life.
The actress has faced some challenges since a brain hemorrhage in 2007 required surgery. This has caused memory problems and makes her nervous about memorizing lines.
After a break of over 25 years, she’s returning to the stage in a new play called Spanish Oranges, written by her friend Alba Arikha.
She explains that her memory has been the biggest issue since her brain haemorrhage, and she believes it’s likely due to a mix of that and getting older.
My muscles feel weaker since the surgery. They had to open my skull and implant a small metal device, and it feels like it’s affecting my memory and muscle function.
I expected to feel better after the surgery, but my memory was actually quite bad afterward. That was likely a side effect of the medication I received.
Honestly, memorizing lines is the hardest part of acting, but let me tell you, as someone who’s been at this for a while, it gets really tough when you’re facing a mountain of dialogue. It’s a struggle every time!
‘I’m anxious about it because of that.’
Maryam grew up in Paris and Geneva. In 2023, she also experienced the loss of her husband, Hugh Hudson, the director of the Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire. They had been married for two decades, despite a 24-year age difference.
They had no children, and Maryam says she has ‘no regrets’ because the world is in a ‘dark place’.
Speaking about Hudson’s passing, she emphasizes the importance of resilience. She believes it’s crucial to keep moving forward and avoid dwelling on sadness, as that won’t help. She also points out that many others are facing even greater challenges right now.
Honestly, right now all I crave is the cozy comfort of my close friends. They’ve been such a lifeline during this difficult time, and their support has truly meant the world to me. It’s amazing how much a good friendship can help you through grief.
Honestly, she isn’t dating anyone new right now. Her most significant connection is with Winston, her adorable French Basset hound – she actually got him with Hudson, and they’re incredibly close. He’s a really special companion for her.
She says her dog is the most important male figure in her life. They’ve had him for years and love him very much. Now thirteen years old, he’s adored by her and all her friends.
‘He goes everywhere with me, even to rehearsals.’
Spanish Oranges is at The Playground Theatre in London from February 11 until March 7.
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2026-02-01 04:49