Pierce Brosnan, the renowned actor who portrayed the iconic character James Bond in four films, has expressed his agreement with Helen Mirren’s recent remarks about the franchise’s portrayal of women. Mirren, known for her powerful performances, criticized the series for its sexism, and Brosnan acknowledged that she “let them have it” with her candid commentary.
Brosnan played the role of Bond in “GoldenEye,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “The World Is Not Enough,” and “Die Another Day.” He played the iconic British agent from 1995 to 2002. His journey concluded with a euphoric final act, featuring his return in the 2021 film “No Time to Die.” When reflecting on how the character and franchise have changed since Brosnan’s run, Brosnan was obviously aware of the complicated conversations around Bond and their treatment of women.
Women have long been—and very significantly so—the backbone of the Secret Service. They always have. “And so dangerous, and so courageous,” said an anonymous writer from “The Queen.” This eagerness to see the franchise be better reflects Brosnan’s own realization that the franchise could be so much more.
He elaborated on this idea, noting, “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.” These words speak to understanding the legacy of Bond while acknowledging that it has to be reinterpreted for a new generation.
In his recent film, “MobLand,” Brosnan again plays the villainous Conrad, a performance that further proves Brosnan’s depth as an actor. The multi-talented series draws a star-studded cast, led by Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine and Maeve Harrigan. The plot follows two rival crime syndicates in London, giving an extra dramatic twist to Brosnan’s performance.
The story told in “MobLand” focuses on the competitive, cutthroat environment in-game crime families of London face. Illustrating the complexities of loyalty and power within a criminal underworld, Brosnan’s character becomes deeply enmeshed in these conflicts.
While reflecting on his legacy as Bond, Brosnan is very much a present thinker, concerned with what he’s doing today. He’s an active participant in the continuing conversations regarding gender representation in film. His approval of Mirren’s criticism is emblematic of a larger discussion about changing stories in film.
