Nolan reverted to her birth name as soon as she began to find acting roles, appearing in numerous television shows, theatre productions and films. The latter included A Hard Day’s Night with the Beatles, Ferry Cross the Mersey with Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Marcel Carné’s Three Rooms in Manhattan. Nolan also appeared in one of the first episodes of the television spy thriller The Saint with Roger Moore.
Nolan played the role of Dink, Bond’s masseuse, in the James Bond film Goldfinger released in 1964. She was also painted gold and wore a gold bikini for Robert Brownjohn’s title sequence, advertisements and soundtrack cover (not Shirley Eaton as in the film’s narrative). This led to photographs in Playboy magazine’s James Bond Girls edition of November 1965. In the film Carry On at Your Convenience (1971), composer Eric Rogers referenced Nolan’s Goldfinger affiliation by using a three-note motif on a close-up of her. Nolan appeared on the front cover of the US and UK versions of the 2005 book Robert Brownjohn: Sex and Typography. In 2012, Nolan gave her first interview concerning her experiences as a model. Asked if the imagery liberates or celebrates womanhood, Nolan responded that:
It does celebrate the physical form. If I’d been nude, it might have been about liberation because up to that point, you wouldn’t have seen a nude woman in a publicly visible thing like that. I could have been very pretentious and said this is liberating. But because I was dressed-up anyway I didn’t get that sense.
It became the first film title to be shown in installation at MoMA, New York (2012).
On appearing in Michael Pertwee’s farce She’s Done It Again at London’s Garrick Theatre in 1969, Nolan was described as combining “a long list of physical attractions with a talent that has contributed to the success of many films and television plays”. She was known for five BBC series with Spike Milligan and, in 2013, published a short essay on her time working with him. Nolan gave a live reading of the work at the Poetry Society in Covent Garden, reviewed by What’s On London as a “deeply-personal memoir… her performance simply magical.” She spoke of her awareness of Milligan’s depressive character but also of their friendly working relationship; noting that “Professionally, he taught me that timing is what makes things funny. Timing is crucial.” Nolan was cast in several Carry On films including Carry On Girls (1973). The film contains the scene of Nolan (in a silver bikini) and Barbara Windsor cat-fighting on a hotel floor.
Nolan also appeared in serious theatre, motivated by political themes. In 2011, Nolan’s work as a comedy actress was recognised with her name included on Gordon Young’s Comedy Carpet installation in front of Blackpool Tower. Also, in 2011, Nolan returned to the screen after a gap of nearly three decades. She starred in a role especially written for her by Ann Cameron in Yvonne Deutschman’s The Power of Three.
In 2019, Edgar Wright cast her in his 2021 film Last Night in Soho. It was Nolan’s final film appearance.
Film
1964
- It’s a Bare, Bare World! Vicki
- The Four Poster Girl Short film
- Saturday Night Out Julie
- A Hard Day’s Night Girl at Casino
- The Beauty Jungle Caroline
- Goldfinger Dink
1965
- Ferry Cross the Mersey Norah
- Three Rooms in Manhattan June
- Carry On Cowboy Miss Jones
1966
- Promise Her Anything Mail-
- Order Film Girl
- The Great St Trinian’s Train
- Robbery Susie Naphill
1967
- Bikini Paradise Margarita
1968
- Witchfinder General Girl at Inn Billed as Maggie Nolan in end credits
- Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River Spink’s nurse
1969
- Can Heironymus Merkin Ever
- Forget Mercy Humppe and Find
- True Happiness? Little Assistance
- Crooks and Coronets Girlfriend
- The Best House in London Busty Prostitute
1970
- Toomorrow Johnson
1971
- Carry On Henry Buxom Lass
- Carry On at Your Convenience Popsy
1972
- Frenzy Young Woman (scene cut)
- Carry On Matron Mrs Tucker
1973
- No Sex Please, We’re British Barbara
- Carry On Girls Dawn Brakes
1974
- Carry On Dick Lady Daley
1983
- Positions of Power Elizabeth Nihell Short film
1986
- Sky Bandits Waitress
2011
- The Power of Three Dame Margaret
2021
- Last Night in Soho Sage Barmaid Posthumous release
Television
1963
- The Saint Daisy Episode: “Iris”
1964
- ITV Play of the Week Space Hostess Episode: “Deep and Crisp and Stolen”
1965
- Danger Man Mrs Elliot Episode: “Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet”
1965
- 199 Park Lane Martine 3 episodes
1965
- Buddenbrooks Babette Episode: “Lengthening Shadows”
1966
- Thirty-Minute Theatre Eve Episode: “The Enchanted Night”
1966
- Hugh and I Dolly Episode: “Goodbye Dolly”
1966
- The World of Wooster Mabel Episode: “Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum”
1966
- Theatre 625 Fantasy Girl Episode: “A Man Like That”
1966
- Take a Pair of Private Eyes Doreen 3 episodes
1966
- The Newcomers Mercedes 17 episodes
1966
- Adam Adamant Lives! Sadie Episode: “More Deadly than the Sword”
1967
- Armchair Theatre Au Pair Episode: “Compensation Alice”
1967
- After Many a Summer Girl TV film
1967
- The Wednesday Play Margie “Death of a Private”
1968
- Nearest and Dearest Nemone Moore Episode: “Take a Letter”
1968
- Mystery and Imagination Vampire Episode: “Dracula”
Credited as: Marie Legrand
1969
- The World of Beachcomber Various 4 episodes
1969
- Run a Crooked Mile Secretary TV film
1970
- Brian Rix Presents… Melissa Episode: “Clutterbuck”
1970
- The Adventures of Don Quick Dulcie Episode: “The Benefits of Earth”
1971
- Brian Rix Presents… Pat Thompson Episode: “Reluctant Heroes”
1971–1972
- Budgie Inga 3 episodes
1971
The Persuaders! Sophie Episode: “Element of Risk”
1971
- Brian Rix Presents… Sylvia Episode: “She’s Done It Again!”
1971
- Mr. Tumbleweed Leading Huntress TV film
1972
- Steptoe and Son Nemone Wagstaff Episode: “A Star is Born”
1972
- New Scotland Yard Gudrun Lindblom Episode: “Evidence of Character”
1972
- My Wife Next Door Myra Episode: “Pregnant Moment”
1973
- Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Jackie Episode: “I’ll Never Forget Whatshername”
1973
- Crown Court Angela Mercer 3 episodes
1973
- The Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin Stella TV film
1973
- Black and Blue Lynda Cherry Episode: “The Middle-of-the-Road Roadshow for All the Family”
1973
- Men of Affairs Gloria Episode: “Horseface”
1973
- Last of the Summer Wine Connie Episode: “Pâté and Chips”
1974
- Late Night Drama Gillian Episode: “M + M”
1975
- The Sweeney Betty Episode: “Thin Ice”
1975
- Q6 Various 3 episodes
1976
- I Didn’t Know You Cared Barmaid Episode: “The Way My Wife Looks at Me”
1980
- Fox Sheila Fox 3 episodes
1981
- Brideshead Revisited Effie Episode: “The Bleak Light of Day”
1981
- Charlie Was a Rich Man Unknown TV film
1983
- Crown Court Frances O’Reilly Episode: “Sword in the Hand of David: Part 1”
1983
- Crossroads Denise Paget Unknown episodes
Theatre
Fringe
- Why Bournemouth? (1968)
- It Has No Choice
- A Minor Scene
- Homo
- Stimulation
- Super Santa
- How the Vote Was Won (1986)
- Daughters of Men (1986)
Provincial
- The Bacchae (1970)
- Bus Stop (Cherie) (1970)
- Who Goes Bare (1970)
- Murder in the Office (1972)
- Not Now, Darling (1973)
- Don’t Look Now (1974)
- Under the Hill (Aubrey
- Beardsley) (1976)
West End
- The Giveaway (1969)
- Adam’s Apple (1970)
- She’s Done It Again (1970)
