Pierce Brosnan has publicly agreed with Dame Helen Mirren’s recent James Bond comments, after she said the franchise is ‘drenched’ in sexism.
The Oscar-winning actress, 79, made headlines when she shared her thoughts on the 007 world that author Ian Fleming had created, insisting that she was against a woman taking over the role after Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021.
Instead, she called for real stories about ‘brave’ women in espionage, as they have ‘always been a major and incredibly important’ part of the Secret Service.
The remarks came as her new MobLand series with Pierce – arguably one of the best Bonds in history – premiered on Paramount+.
‘She let them have it,’ he told People Magazine of his co-star’s statements. ‘Yes, there’s a certain agreement there.
‘But there’s a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what Ian Fleming put down. So there’s always going to be conflict.’
Pierce, who starred in four Bond movies over the years, added that he hadn’t spoken to Dame Helen about her stance ‘at all’.
Last week, Dame Helen spoke to the Evening Standard about their project, when talk turned to 007 – and the Gosford Park icon explained why she was against a female Bond, which some have suggested could be a way to rectify the spy’s womanising history.
Instead, she suggested we should be telling real stories about women in espionage.
‘The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,’ she told the outlet.
‘Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous,’ she said.
‘So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.’
Dame Helen also looked back at the sexism she was subject to as a young actress, with one particular moment standing out to her fans.
In a conversation with Sir Michael Parkinson from 1975, he asked whether her ‘equipment’ got in the way of her career – meaning her breasts – and the actress, in her first ever TV interview appearance, famously retorted: ‘Because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?’
She is often praised for the response, but Dame Helen recalled to the publication: ‘Well, half a century ago, the only person who got criticised for that interview was me.’
MobLand, by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett, follows Helen as a crime ring matriarch, Maeve Harrigan, who is married to Brosnan’s character Conrad Harrigan. It also stars Tom Hardy as her ‘fixer’ and Paddy Considine as her son.
It is currently available to stream on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the search is still on for the next 007 after Daniel completed his last assignment in 2021, following the release of No Time to Die.
Pierce, who claimed the Bond title in four films between 1995 and 2002, also ruled out a return in the next movie as an older model, saying it’s ‘another man’s job’ now.
Discussing rumours of his comeback on The Jonathan Ross Show, the Mrs Doubtfire legend said: ‘No one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.
‘It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.
‘He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies – The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador – it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment.’
The current bookies’ favourite to become the next James Bond is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, 34.
This article was first published on March 28.
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