Mail Online

1987

While promoting the Bond film at Cannes, I was seated next to Prince Charles after a charity premiere of Lindsay Anderson’s new film. It looks like a tête-à-tête, but it was a banquet with 20 of us on a stage in front of 400 people. Charles was very charming and we talked about opera and theatre. Seated to the other side of me was the legendary Sir Alec Guinness. He was very shy, and said I was so lucky to be in a Bond film. I think he would have loved to play a villain, and he’d have been brilliant.

My mum’s job for UNICEF took us from London to Paris, then Geneva. I was in awe of Peter Ustinov when I met him at this charity event in Paris [Maryam is far right]. He had a booming voice, but he was amazing with the kids. After stints at art school and drama school in London I was spotted by a model agency while having lunch in Notting Hill.

Bond producer Cubby Broccoli [with Maryam, Timothy and actress Caroline Bliss] took care of his cast and crew. When the crew were fed up with the food while filming in Morocco he flew in pasta to lift their spirits and his daughter Barbara cooked it for everyone in the hotel. I remain in touch with them and Barbara still sends me champagne every New Year’s Eve. They were like a surrogate family. I think Bond wouldn’t continue if it wasn’t a family business.

FREEVIEW CHANNELS

en-gb

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/283850101507543

dmg media (UK)