Maryam d’Abo, the iconic Bond girl from The Living Daylights, embraces natural aging at 65 and dismisses cosmetic surgery as she prepares for her London stage comeback.
Embracing Natural Beauty Over Procedures
The actress, known for her role as Kara Milovy opposite Timothy Dalton’s James Bond in the 1987 film, expresses satisfaction with aging without interventions. ‘It’s not my thing,’ she states. ‘I grew up admiring actresses like Jeanne Moreau and Simone Signoret, who aged naturally. I wouldn’t dare go there.’
Reflecting on her past image, d’Abo reveals she never viewed herself as the beauty others perceived. ‘You don’t go walking around thinking, “Oh I’m beautiful!”‘ she says. Daily life brings fluctuations: ‘There are some mornings when you wake up and you feel great, and others when you don’t. Aging isn’t easy; it has ups and downs, good days and bad days.’
Health Challenges and Stage Anxiety
D’Abo faced significant hurdles after a 2007 brain hemorrhage that required surgery. The incident has impacted her memory, making line memorization particularly challenging. ‘If there’s anything that’s affected me from the brain hemorrhage, it’s been my memory,’ she explains. ‘It’s a combination of age and the procedure—they opened my skull and inserted a tiny metal piece. The memory muscle feels weakened.’
Post-surgery, she experienced cognitive fog from medications, contrary to expectations of improvement. Now, at a certain age, learning extensive lines proves daunting for many actors. ‘I’m anxious about it because of that,’ she admits.
Returning to the Spotlight
After more than 25 years away from the stage, d’Abo stars in Spanish Oranges, a play written by her friend Alba Arikha. The production runs at The Playground Theatre in London from February 11 to March 7. This marks her first theatrical appearance in decades, testing her resilience amid health concerns.
Personal Losses and Simple Joys
Raised in Paris and Geneva, d’Abo mourned the loss of her husband, Oscar-winning director Hugh Hudson, in 2023. The couple, married for 20 years despite a 24-year age gap, had no children—a choice she holds without regret amid global uncertainties. ‘You have to keep going,’ she says of grief. ‘You can’t stop and have self-pity—that doesn’t help. Many face worse situations.’
Comfort comes from close friendships and her 13-year-old French Basset hound, Winston, shared with Hudson. ‘If there is one man in my life, he’s my dog,’ she shares. ‘We loved him dearly, and he goes everywhere with me, even to rehearsals.’ For now, she cherishes the support of loved ones during this period of transition.
