MISS MONEYPENNY GETS A FACE LIFT

For some, Canada-born Lois Maxwell is James Bond’s good-luck charm: She portrayed the redoubtable Miss Moneypenny in all the Cubby Broccoli-produced Bond films--the only performer to appear in the entire 14-film series . . . that is, until her streak was broken with “The Living Daylights,” due this summer.

British actress Caroline Bliss was chosen to be the new Moneypenny.

Maxwell, now 59, told us from her home in Northern Ontario: “I’m furious Cubby wouldn’t have me (back). When he called, I understood that it would be ridiculous to have a new, 35-year-old Bond making goo-goo eyes at me. So I suggested a new scenario.

“What if Bond arrived in M’s office to find a new Miss Twinkletoes? She bruskly tells him M is impatiently waiting. When he enters the office, all Bond sees is the back of a black leather chair and when it swings around, there’s Moneypenny--the new M. She says, ‘Never be late again,’ and from that point it’s Commander Bond and not James.”

She said Broccoli liked the idea but called back to say the writers had nixed the idea because the head of British intelligence is traditionally a man. Undaunted, she replied, “Traditionally, the prime minister of Britain had always been a man too.”

Maxwell insists it’s “a case of sexual discrimination. Q (the weapons specialist portrayed by Desmond Llewelyn) is still hanging in and just because I’ve got a few wrinkles, I’m pitched. That problem could have been solved with a simple face lift.”