Hollywood veterans Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are sparking a timely conversation about the portrayal of women in the James Bond franchise as 007 is undergoing overhaul.
- April 4, 2025
AceShowbiz - Pierce Brosnan, the actor best known for portraying the iconic James Bond from 1995 to 2002, is responding to recent criticism from his "MobLand" co-star Helen Mirren.
In an interview with The London Standard, Mirren boldly expressed her issues with the franchise, particularly the way it has historically depicted female characters. She asserted, "The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism."
Brosnan, who attended the New York City premiere of their new Paramount+ series, echoed some of Mirren's sentiments. Speaking to People magazine, he said, "She let them have it. Yes, there's a certain agreement there."
Although the pair did not discuss the James Bond franchise while working on "MobLand", Brosnan acknowledged the ingrained issues within the series, stating, "There's a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what [Bond creator and author] Ian Fleming put down. So there's always going to be conflict."
Mirren, while praising past Bond actors like Brosnan and Daniel Craig, explained her stance, "I never liked the way women were in James Bond."
This led to Mirren's opposition to the idea of recasting James Bond with a female actor - instead, she's advocating for creating original movies about women spies.
She said, "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. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who've worked in that world."
This perspective aligns with recent comments by "No Time to Die" star Ana de Armas, who stated in an interview with Variety, "Let James be James and John Wick be John Wick. We'll do our thing."
With Amazon MGM Studios now holding creative control over the Bond franchise and promising a "fresh, exotic new" chapter, the industry is at a crossroads. Brosnan humorously left the door open for his potential return as an older version of Bond.
As fans and critics alike ponder the future direction of the James Bond franchise, the discussion initiated by Mirren and supported by Brosnan highlights a broader cultural shift towards more authentic and respectful portrayals of women in film.
