Pierce Brosnan responds to Helen Mirren’s James Bond criticism. Beginning his tenure in the mid-90s in GoldenEye, Brosnan played the iconic 007 in four movies, wrapping up with Die Another Day in 2002. He was replaced by Daniel Craig, who played the role in five films, up through 2021’s No Time to Die. As the franchise’s creative control has recently transitioned to Amazon, the search continues for an actor to inherit the protagonist in Bond 26 and beyond. While promoting their series MobLand, Mirren shared her critical remarks about the Bond movies being Sєxist.
Speaking with People, Brosnan appreciated Mirren’s fervor in her response, saying, “she let them have it,” and noting that he and Mirren had not talked about it beforehand. He has a “certain agreement” with aspects of what Mirren said but still thinks that there is “a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what” original Bond author Ian Fleming created. Check out the full quote from Brosnan below:
She let them have it. No, we didn’t talk about that. Not at all.
Yes, there’s a certain agreement there. But 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.
What This Means For The James Bond Franchise
Mirren Does Not Like The Movies’ Portrayal Of Women
Brosnan’s response comes a few days after Mirren offered a biting critique of the franchise. In an illuminating interview with The London Standard, she spoke highly of former 007 actors Brosnan and Craig but had little to say about the franchise overall. The beloved British actor said that she “never liked the way women were in James Bond.” She elaborated by saying that “the whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound Sєxism,” ignoring the important efforts of women in the Secret Service. Mirren’s full quote can be found below:
The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.
The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound Sєxism. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been.
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.
Brosnan does not offer a complete agreement with this statement, noting that “there’s always going to be conflict.” Still, it is profound for a former Bond actor to support Mirren’s statement, which is deeply critical of the franchise. The fact that Bond has changed creative ownership will not fully amend these issues, as they seem to exist partially in the source material. However, given this prominent criticism, Amazon may attempt to amend some of these Bond issues of yesteryear.
Our Take On Mirren & Brosnan’s Statements
It Would Be Interesting To Hear From Bond Girls Themselves
It is in Brosnan’s best interests to support Mirren’s statement, as he is currently acting alongside her in the TV series MobLand. Plus, she was still complimentary of him in her original statement. As time progresses, however, I will be most interested to see what Craig and other Bond actors say about the statement, which has gone viral. It is undeniable that Bond girls and other women of the IP have been highly (and controversially) Sєxualized. As such, women who have been acting in Bond films recently could have a lot to say about their perspective on their portrayals.
Source: People
James Bond
- Created by
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Ian Fleming, Albert R. Broccoli
- First Film
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Dr. No
Summary
The James Bond franchise centers on the fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond, also known by his code number 007. Created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953, Bond has been featured in novels, films, television, radio, comics, and video games. The film series, produced by Eon Productions, is one of the longest-running and highest-grossing franchises in history, known for its blend of espionage, action, and sophisticated style.
