Maryam d'Abo, the 007 veteran, is not pointing fingers at Bond for messing up her career. The actress, best known for playing Kara Milovy in The Living Daylights, appeared in Alba Arikha's play Spanish Oranges, a twisty drama that delves into artistic creation and fame in marriage.
While d'Abo plays Fiona in the play, which was inspired by Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage, the actress admits she's experienced her share of journalist pressure. She recalls having to do extensive press for her Bond days, when Fleet Street journalists were harsher and more judgmental.
"I've never done so much press," d'Abo says, "and in those days, you open your heart because you're inexperienced – and then it's edited so you think, 'That's not how I meant it.'" The actress reflects on the complexities of fame, success, and truth, but doesn't blame Bond for her professional ups and downs.
D'Abo does acknowledge that the experience was both enjoyable and daunting. She recalls producers Cubby and Barbara Broccoli as a supportive presence during filming. However, she admits to living with the fear of being exposed after her Bond days.
The actress has since made documentaries about women's experiences in 007 films and has become an advocate for female representation on screen. She believes that creatives should be free to bring their unique perspectives to storytelling without pressure from authenticity or personal experience.
D'Abo also shares a story about the potential pitfalls of artistic rivalry, citing a situation where her late husband, film-maker Hugh Hudson, was faced with pressure to cast an actor who fit a specific demographic. The actress stresses the importance of giving creatives space to develop their characters and stories without external constraints.
Arikha's play Spanish Oranges delves into similar themes, exploring the complexities of artistic creation, identity politics, and the blurring of lines between truth and fiction.
While d'Abo plays Fiona in the play, which was inspired by Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage, the actress admits she's experienced her share of journalist pressure. She recalls having to do extensive press for her Bond days, when Fleet Street journalists were harsher and more judgmental.
"I've never done so much press," d'Abo says, "and in those days, you open your heart because you're inexperienced – and then it's edited so you think, 'That's not how I meant it.'" The actress reflects on the complexities of fame, success, and truth, but doesn't blame Bond for her professional ups and downs.
D'Abo does acknowledge that the experience was both enjoyable and daunting. She recalls producers Cubby and Barbara Broccoli as a supportive presence during filming. However, she admits to living with the fear of being exposed after her Bond days.
The actress has since made documentaries about women's experiences in 007 films and has become an advocate for female representation on screen. She believes that creatives should be free to bring their unique perspectives to storytelling without pressure from authenticity or personal experience.
D'Abo also shares a story about the potential pitfalls of artistic rivalry, citing a situation where her late husband, film-maker Hugh Hudson, was faced with pressure to cast an actor who fit a specific demographic. The actress stresses the importance of giving creatives space to develop their characters and stories without external constraints.
Arikha's play Spanish Oranges delves into similar themes, exploring the complexities of artistic creation, identity politics, and the blurring of lines between truth and fiction.
. It's so true that we often open up more than we think in interviews or press, and then it gets edited down to sound like we said something entirely different 
. I mean, who hasn't been there, right? But what really resonates with me is her advocacy for creatives being free to bring their unique perspectives without pressure from authenticity or personal experience 
. It's so important that we give artists the space to tell their stories and characters without external constraints 
. And I love how she shares a story about her late husband Hugh Hudson facing pressure to cast an actor based on demographic, it's a great reminder of the importance of diversity in storytelling 
.
I'm not sure I buy Maryam d'Abo's claim that Bond didn't mess up her career... like, isn't she a Bond veteran? 
Also, I'd love to see some evidence of her saying this in an interview or documentary - it seems like a pretty big statement to make without any backing. 
How much time passed between her Bond days and now before she started speaking out about the pressures of fame? 
. Like, we get it, the fame can be intense 
, but she's a pro and knows how to handle it 
. What really gets me though is her message about creatives needing space to bring their own perspectives to storytelling 
. I mean, think about it - wouldn't you want someone with a unique voice and experience telling your story? 
It's like when you're working on a project and you're trying to get something just right - sometimes less is more, you know? 
it's like she's evolved from being a Bond girl to a women's rights activist over the years 
. It's not like she was just some fresh-faced ingenue who didn't know any better... She had to deal with harsh Fleet Street journalists and whatnot. Still, I love that she's speaking out about the pressure on creatives and the importance of letting people tell their own stories without outside expectations 
. And that story about her late hubby Hugh Hudson being pressured into casting an actor based on demographics? Ugh, that sounds super frustrating 
. It's so true that artists need space to create without external constraints...
. And I love how she's all for creatives being free to do their thing without external expectations - it feels like a breath of fresh air 
. She's all about embracing her past Bond days but not dwelling on the drama. I can relate to that - we've all had experiences where we're like, "I'm just trying to make a movie/TV show here!" 
I mean, can you believe Maryam d'Abo is still dealing with Bond drama from like 30 years ago? She's basically saying she got played by all those Fleet Street journalists, but at least she's not blaming James Bond for her career woes 
. I mean, can't we just appreciate Maryam d'Abo's talent without scrutinizing her every move? She's been using her platform to advocate for female representation in film and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
. And btw, it's interesting that she's speaking out about the pressures of fame and how it affects artists - maybe we can learn from her experience and just give creatives some space to breathe 
.
, but nowadays it's like everyone's a social media influencer with an opinion 
just watched Maryam d'Abo in Alba Arikha's Spanish Oranges and I'm loving her vibes 
. that's a whopping 1 film/TV show per day since 1983 
.
meanwhile, Maryam d'Abo has been a leading lady since the 80s! 
. Maryam d'Abo's thoughts on fame and creativity are so relatable! I'm actually a huge fan of her Bond days, but I can see how the pressure of press and public expectations can be overwhelming. She makes some great points about creatives needing space to develop their work without external constraints 
. And honestly, I'm so glad she's an advocate for female representation on screen - it's long overdue 
she's actually an advocate for creatives being free to bring their unique perspectives to storytelling without pressure or authenticity expectations. I love that! 
, I remember reading all that trash about Pamela Anderson after Baywatch premiered... anywayz, it's cool to see her being real about not blaming Bond for her career ups and downs 
- it's about time we see more women in leading roles and behind the camera too 
, but you can't control it, you just gotta roll with it 
. Maryam d'Abo is right on point when she says creatives should be free to bring their own perspectives to the table without fear of judgment 
it sounds like the old-school press was super harsh, but at least she had some amazing producers supporting her behind the scenes