As Amazon MGM readies a new reboot of the James Bond franchise, Helen Mirren admits that she “never liked” the British spy series because of “the way women were” presented in it. While the prospect of having a female actor take on the 007 moniker has been bounced around in Hollywood for several years, Mirren says she isn’t interested in seeing that casting because of the character’s history.
“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 sexism,” Mirren told The Standard in a new interview. “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.”
Mirren is currently co-starring alongside a former James Bond in the new Paramount+ crime series “MobLand,” which stars Tom Hardy as a fixer and features Pierce Brosnan as the husband to Mirren’s gang leader. While the English veteran actress has her own opinions on the 007 franchise, she had high praise for Brosnan speaking to The Standard.
“I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I mean massive fan,” Mirren shared. “Obviously, he’s gorgeous and everything. And I think he’s fabulous in ‘MobLand,’ but he also happens to be one of the nicest people you’ll ever have the pleasure to work with. And indeed Daniel Craig, who I’ve met and know a little bit. Again, a very lovely gracious person.”
The James Bond franchise is going through its own dramatic changes right now. In February, Amazon MGM reached a deal to take creative control on the property, with longtime producing stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson ceding oversight to the steaming giant.
