MI6 chatted to Shane Rimmer, who has appeared in three James Bond films, about his best known role as Captain Carter from "The Spy Who Loved Me"...

Shane Rimmer Interview (1)
8th July 2004

MI6 chatted to Shane Rimmer, who has appeared in three James Bond films, about his best known role as Captain Carter from "The Spy Who Loved Me"...


Above: Shane Rimmer.
 

Can you tell us how you landed the role in "The Spy Who Loved Me"?
Well a lot of these roles come by audition, meeting the Director and if your face happens to fit. Usually by the time they arrive there they have got all their support actors in place. You not only have to do your part but you have to fit in with whatever the cast they’ve got assembled at that time. Eon Productions are a good company to work with and are very loyal. Once you’ve done one, there is certainly the possibility to do others, but they don’t always happen. I ended up with three, which is OK! But it’s such a huge production that you don’t know if they are shooting another scene somewhere else on the same floor. It’s such a big operation you really don’t know what is going on most of the time.

Where did you shoot your scenes for this film?
The Bond pictures were all shot in the studio, well my particular parts in them. But they were spread out all over the place with several units. The scenes that I was involved with were all studio scenes at Pinewood.

Do you have any fond memories from that production?
Well I remember almost getting killed when they over did an explosion near me! It must have been a young guy trying to get his credentials overnight to become a star!

After the ceiling started to come down I just followed Roger as I knew if anybody was going to get out of there safe - he was. I was almost piggybacking him getting out of there, a lot of the extras were just lying there. They were told just before the shot, don’t move till you get word from 2nd Director, and they didn’t!

Half a dozen or so had to be treated for pretty bad burns; it was quite a terrible situation.

 
Above: A rare shot of Shane Rimmer playing Seth Harper in an early Dr. Who episode entitled "The Gunfighters".

 

How many days of shooting where there for you?
For ‘The Spy’ it must have been over in a couple of months, not every day, they shot more in sequence in those days, so if that sequence was finished or almost finished you would have to stand by until the next one you were in.

Can you remember if any of your scenes turned out differently in the final cut than you expected?
I can’t remember that any of my scenes were cut, maybe trimmed down a little bit. Sometimes you get a bit of a shock when you see the ‘rush’ and you though something that was pretty good, ain’t anymore. So it’s all down to the editor, because they are seeing it from the total perspective, whether you like it or not. Your bit might be cut. I can’t think of a scene that was totally left out, but it’s happened in other pictures.

Left: Shane Rimmer also appeared in "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds Are Forever".

Your scenes featured a lot of dialog with Roger Moore. What was it like working with him?
Well Roger, was the luckiest actor in the world, he was doing something he loved to do. He was going to end up with a pot of money, maybe another house somewhere. A lead actor can either make a film or break it. Roger was tremendously helpful and charming, he must have been a Director’s greatest friend. There was never any kind of controversy, when Roger was involved. He liked to tease the Director occasionally, I can’t think of a particular instant, he just kept things moving in good spirits and never took things too seriously.

00-Seven Questions

How were you involved in the Bond series?
An actor in three Bond films.

What was your first ever Bond experience?
Seeing it on TV.

What did you think of the last film, "Die Another Day"?
I’m one of those prehistory people who like the early Bond films, it seems that the last film is crammed with lots of things we’ve seen before.

What is your favourite Bond film?
Dr No.

Who is your favourite Bond?
Hard to say between Connery and Moore…

Which Bond girl should come back?
Pussy Galore, she really stands out.

What is your favourite Bond moment from the series?
The parachute jump with Union Jack.


 

MI6 Biography

Name: Shane Rimmer

Portfolio
"You Only Live Twice" - Hawaii Radar Operator
"Diamonds Are Forever" - Tom
"The Spy Who Loved Me" - Captain Carter, USS Wayne

Many thanks to Shane Rimmer.

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