PA PROFILE
THE
MAN
WITH THE
GOLDEN
GUN
When your boss is no other than 007 himself, does your working day revolve
around perfecting the perfect martini and always having a fast car to hand?
Executive PA meets Gareth Owen, PA to Sir Roger Moore, to find out
As you follow signs to Pinewood Studios it’s hard not There are framed photos all over the walls: Moore
to be excited by the history of it all – this is where some of with celebrities from all over the world; Moore as ‘The
the best British films have been made. Before you are even Saint’; Moore as Lord Sinclair with Tony Curtis in The
through the entrance, the 007 stage looms large. It is still Persuaders and, of course, Moore as Bond. Gareth points
the largest sound stage in Europe and the Bourne films, out a picture with Timothy Dalton, George Lazonby,
Batman and Superman have all been filmed here. Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore: “Only Connery didn’t
I’m on a mission to find Sir Roger Moore’s office, based turn up for that” Gareth announces. Hoping for a bit of
in part of the original Pinewood Studios complex that was scandal – or at the least some good natured competitive-
built in the grounds of Heatherden Hall, a rather beautiful ness between the various 007s – I dig for more informa-
Georgian mansion bought by Charles Boot in 1935 to make tion, but am assured by Gareth that all of the actors are
into a film studio. Waiting for me will be Bond’s personal great friends and rather tension between Connery and
assistant – no not Miss Moneypenny, but Gareth Owen, Eon Productions, the film production company behind
“
He’s always very
Moore’s PA for eight years to date – and Pinewood Studios the Bond movies, meant he was a no show for the photo.
polite. Even when
is home to his office. Gareth came along to the Executive Gareth’s top drawer is bursting with letters. “Fan stranded at an airport
PA Magazine Awards ceremony and gala dinner in October mail” he says, “we get about 50 a week. People from all
in Sweden and then
and, well, we had to ask if he’d give us an interview. over the world write in, usually asking for a signed pho-
refused entry to a
When you first walk into the office the first thing that tograph. The main thing we have to watch out for are the
hits you is... stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. There are action eBayers – they’ll write in asking for three or four signed
lounge he rang me
figures of Connery, Brosnan and Moore, there’s the photos, one for them, one for a girlfriend, one for a moth- and asked quite
CORGI Lotus Elite and a model of the space shuttle from er and one for a sister – who are all fans of course. In
calmly, ‘Gareth, do
Moonraker, all of them in pristine unopened boxes. As I reality all four will appear on eBay in the next few days
me a favour and write
wonder whether Gareth is a bit of a Bond collector, but I’m getting pretty good at spotting these now.”
Gareth explains: “No, we just get sent them, I think it’s So how do you land a job like this? Well, Gareth grew
a very nasty letter
quite messy here but we keep getting sent more.” up in the Moore era of Bond movies (Moore starred in of complaint’
”
UIfastforward
www.executivepa.com » Feb/Mar 2010 » 09
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