Roger Moore awarded in Germany, vows to take on real-life criminals in UNICEF role

11-Feb-2003 • Bond News

Yahoo News have reported that Roger Moore`s real-life fight against child traffickers as a UNICEF ambassador was far more rewarding than battling fictitious villains in his signature role as James Bond.

Moore was awarded the German Federal Service Cross from President Johannes Rau for his work as special representative to the U.N. Children`s Fund (UNICEF).

"This award is much more important than receiving an Academy Award," Moore, 75, said after the ceremony at Rau`s office in Berlin, where an international film festival is taking place this week.

"As James Bond, the villains were easily recognizable. Now the villains are not so visible and the fight is uphill," said Moore who has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 1999, announcing details of a campaign against child trafficking.

During his trips around the world to film the James Bond films during the 1970s and 1980s, Moore said he was aware of poverty but had done nothing about it.

"I was more concerned about what I had for lunch or that my shirts were ironed," he said.

Moore later hosted a UNICEF Cinema for Peace gala, which was attended by stars such as George Clooney and Dustin Hoffman.

Thanks to Scorpion for the alert.