Roger Moore Official Site

Our story of the month: June 2004

From Agent 007 to UNICEF Ambassador

By Marianne Ter Laak

Roger Moore, now 64 years old, is UNICEF's new Ambassador.

While he was Secret Agent 007, his mission was too stay alive as other died; today he looks fater children who have little (often no) chance of surviving.

Was he transformed or is he simply discovering the real man who was hiding behind the facade of James Bond? In his biography, co-authored with Ken Roche, Roger Moore writes: "Quite paradoxically, I was always able to get what I wanted, or almost always, because for me life was a joke. It always helped me to face anything. When the day comes and that is no longer the case, I will have to take stock. If I took myself too seriously, I could be inclined to think I have become too important to chat with you!"

Roger Moore's movie roles may be in the past, but some numbers will never be forgotten.

Prophetic words no doubt. Lately, Roger Moore has been taking life, more seriously. Six months ago, he signed a contract with UNICEF. The man who, from 1973 to 1985, was Agent 007 is now the ambassador for this United Nations agency. He travels to various countries and cities to talk about the rights of children to government officials, leaders and individuals all over the world. When he wrote his memoirs he omitted to mention that he still did not feel too important to grant an interview... We caught up with him in a luxurious suite at the Sheraton Hotel in Münich. Roger Moore sat on a simple wooden bench in a small alcove. Near him, silver trays with miniature pies and various sweet as well as tea and coffee cups had been set. He appeared very much at ease in this luxurious decor. Impeccably dressed, his hands crossed over his knees, his head slighty forward, a somewhat mocking smile on his lips: in short, the typical British prototype that the public expects.

"Why did you become Ambassador for UNICEF?" "Because I was asked," he replies, his expression not changing.

It was easy to see that Roger Moore did not feel he was interview material. It has been said that he avoids embarrassing questions, that he tries to be spiritual in his replies and that he tries not to talk too much so he will not reapeat himself. On this last point, remembering his obligations to UNICEF, he nevertheless adds: "I do not wish to talk about myself in terms of an actor or my career. That's wath I did, but now it's in the past. They are the most boring subjects of conversation I can think of. This said, there are hundreds of reasons to get involved with UNICEF. One of these is curiosity. I wanted to know my own limits. Am I selfless or selfish? Where can I be useful? I hate to say that I work for UNICEF. I only want to do some good. I'm not aiming at being more Catholic than the Pope!".

But it is not the first time that Roger Moore, the son of a London bobby has been involved with a charitable organization. "It must be innate, even if my parents taught me a lot in this regard. My father gave me a sense of justice, and my mother was very tolerant. I was lucky as an only child. They gave me all their time. The fact that I am older also plays a role. I've had a very successfull life, and I no longer need to worry about money or work. As long as my children behave themselves and my wife keeps the lid on her credit card spending, I can go on."

Has he changed over the years? "I may have become more tolerant with the passage of time. Not that I was intolerant, however now I worry less about myself. I have more time to give to others. In the past, the world revolved around me. When you're an actor, everybody fusses over you: 'Are his clothes impeccable? Is his hair perfect?' It's good to get away from that, if only to become aware of the problems of others which are far more important: food, clothing, health, education..."

Roger Moore was born on October 14, 1927. After short stints as a draftsman and a model, the young man lands the part of a Roman soldier in a movie. The director urges him to study at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. In 1946, he serves in Germany as a second lieutenant. On his return, he accepts a few roles in his country but soon decides to enlarge his scope by going to Hollywood.

After a few successfull films in the U.S., he returns to England to play the main character in the television serie "Ivanhoe"?

It is now 1956, and Roger Moore has become quite popular, especially with the young crowd. But the real breakthrough came with the serie "The Saint". It resulted in orders from around the world, 110 to be exact, a number which is now legendary.

Today, how does Moore feel about this successfull period in his acting career? "It was not solely a question of luck," he says smiling.

"You have to fight for what you get. Also 'The Saint' was a solid formula. We all knew we were working on something good which could not turn out bad."

He still remembers the sage advice American actor James Garner gave him: "Stay Moore...". Did Roger Moore stay Moore? After "Ivanhoe" and "Simon Templar", the public easily saw him as James Bond. And that image has stayed with him. He replaced Sean Connery as James Bond in 1973, with a lucrative multimillion-dollar contract. "Money is important to me", he says frankly. "It allows you to remain yourself, to be independant".

Has his work for UNICEF influenced his perception of wealth and luxury? "I don't know if it comes from the fact that I am Ambassador for UNICEF, but for me luxury and wealth are not my first priority. My family is. Especially my relationship with my wife, in being close to her when we are together." After two failed marriages, he married Italian actress Luisa Mattioli in 1969. They had three children: Geoffrey, Deborah and Christian. "But not grandchildren as yet."

When asked to what lenght he will go to help deprived children, if he would be willing to give his own money, the multimillionaire replies: "I'm already doing it because since I do notcurrently work, no money is coming in. But I would not be ableto give all my money away. I must provide for my wife and my children. And I am not noble enough to give everything I have for the poor. I admire people who can that, but I can't. I know my limits, and I am not Mother Teresa."

There is no doubt that Roger Moore has left his mark on "James Bond". Contrary to the ruthless and cynical secret agent portrayed by Sean Connery, Moore gave him a different image: a kind gentleman with a haughty smile, very much apreciated by the ladies. Nevertheless James Bond is a killer, even if he is a smiling killer that housewives watch with great pleasure. The last James bond with Roger Moore, "A View To A Kill", goes back to 1985. As in all the other James Bond movies, hundreds of people are brutally killed. when asked what he thinks of all this violence, he dodges the question: "Violence is not the main element of James Bond films. You do not actually see blood flowing when there is a fight. And one must not forget that James Bond does not really exist. The plots are ideal for those who don't want to think too much."

At a press conference shortly before our interview, the actor who has appeared in superficial and violent films, talked of a more serious world in Central America. He is appalled by the living conditions of children in El Salvador or Brazil. He was asked if he pitied them. "My God, of course", he replied spontaneously before adding: "I am impressed by the people who work in the field, more often than not in extremely difficult conditions. After spending a few weeks with them, I can return to luxury and comfort. They have to stay there. Most of them all their lives. They are the heros of UNICEF. I was recently discussing them with the UNICEF representative in Central America as we went to visit a shelter for the street children of San Salvador. We were both very touched. We saw rejected children who steal, lie and kill. Children who are not really children. Nobody wants anything to do with them, but we saw how much these youngsters crave affection and love. It tears your heart out". "The man who was with me said that after 20 years with UNICEF, he tought such scenes would not longer move him, but that was not the case. I told him that if he ever becomes unfeeling he should stop working for UNICEF".

James Bond has put Roger Moore in a unique situation. On the one hand, the actor owes a lot to the secret agent. Not only a large chunk of money and fame, but also his aura. Without James Bond, Roger Moore would not bee as well known and he would not have been asked to promote the work of UNICEF. On the other hand, Roger Moore does not want to be reminded of the violence perpetrated by Agent 007 since it could discredit his humanitarian mission. James Bond was only a role even if the public sees it differently at times.

"My work for UNICEF is certainly not a role", Moore insists. "It's not something which takes place on television or on the screen. My work as UNICEF Ambassador really comes from me. It has a lot more value than what I did as an actor. Ivanhoe, Simon Templar and James Bond were like me. Their voices were like mine, but the words they uttered were not mine".

Read our previous stories of the month

August - September - October - November - December 2003

January - February - March - April - May 2004