Pierce Brosnan backs Helen Mirren's criticism of James Bond's profound sexism

ANI April 5, 2025 195 views

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has publicly supported Helen Mirren's scathing critique of the iconic spy franchise's deep-rooted sexism. Mirren, who recently spoke out about the series' problematic gender representation, found an unexpected ally in Brosnan, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002. While acknowledging the franchise's limitations stemming from Ian Fleming's original narrative, Brosnan agreed that the series requires critical examination of its treatment of women. Their candid discussion highlights the ongoing conversation about representation and evolution in classic film franchises.

"She let them have it. Yes, there's a certain agreement there." - Pierce Brosnan, The Hollywood Reporter
Washington, April 5: Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has weighed in on Helen Mirren's criticism of the iconic spy franchise, expressing agreement with her views on the series' treatment of women.

Key Points

1

Brosnan acknowledges Bond franchise's systemic sexism

2

Mirren criticizes Amazon MGM Studios' inherited franchise model

3

Former Bond actor supports co-star's frank assessment

4

Fleming's original narrative constrains modern gender perspectives

Mirren, who starred alongside Brosnan in the film 'MobLand', recently spoke out against the James Bond franchise, calling it "drenched and born out of profound sexism," as quoted by Deadline.

Brosnan, who played Bond in four films from 1995 to 2002, was asked for his thoughts on Mirren's remarks and responded, "She let them have it. Yes, there's a certain agreement there," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

While Brosnan acknowledged the criticism, he also noted that there are limitations to how much the franchise can evolve, given its origins and the world created by author Ian Fleming.

"There's a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what Fleming put down. So there's always going to be conflict," he added in an interview, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Brosnan and Mirren did not discuss the James Bond franchise during their work on MobLand together, but Brosnan praised his co-star, calling her "one of the nicest people you'll ever have the pleasure to work with."

Mirren's comments on the 'James Bond' franchise were made in response to the recent announcement that Amazon MGM Studios would be taking over creative control of the film series.

While she praised her co-star Daniel Craig, she expressed her dislike for the franchise, citing its treatment of women as a major issue.

Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
Finally someone said it! The Bond franchise has always made me uncomfortable with how women are portrayed. Glad to see legends like Mirren and Brosnan speaking up. 👏
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Mike T.
I get their point, but isn't Bond supposed to be a fantasy? The character was created in a different era. Maybe instead of changing Bond, we could create new spy franchises with modern values.
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Jenny L.
Helen Mirren is a queen! Always speaking truth to power. Brosnan's response was thoughtful too - acknowledging the issues while recognizing the franchise's history. More of this please!
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Raj P.
Respectful criticism here: While I agree with the sentiment, I think the Craig era already made strides in modernizing the female characters. Maybe they could acknowledge that progress while pushing for more?
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Amy S.
As someone who grew up watching Bond films, this makes me reflect on how normalized the sexism was. It's about time we have these conversations. The franchise needs to evolve or risk becoming irrelevant.
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Tom W.
Interesting to hear this from Brosnan since he played Bond! Shows how much perspectives have changed. Wonder what other former Bonds think about this?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
James Bond Pierce Brosnan Helen Mirren Movie Sexism Film Criticism Amazon MGM Studios
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