Joan Bright Astley (1910–2008)

Born in Corrientes, Argentina. Her father was an English accountant; her mother a Scottish governess. Learned typing and shorthand and worked as a cipher clerk at the British legation in Mexico. In the 1930's she was offered a job, which she declined, in Nazi Germany teaching English to the family of Rudolf Hess. Hired by the Department of Military Intelligence. Organized the Special Information Centre (SIC) for Winston Churchill during World War II. Dated Ian Fleming and is said to have been one of the people whose attributes he used for the character of Miss Moneypenny.