Cliff Notes – Dame Helen Mirren blasts James Bond for being drenched in sexism
- Dame Helen Mirren criticises the James Bond franchise for its inherent sexism, advocating instead for stories about real female spies rather than a female version of Bond.
- Reflecting on her own experiences with sexism in the industry, Mirren recalls a notable interview where she faced inappropriate questions about her appearance.
- Former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has ruled out returning to the role, stating it is "another man’s job" as the search for the next 007 continues.
Dame Helen Mirren blasts James Bond for being ‘drenched in sexism’
Dame Helen Mirren has spoken out about James Bond being ‘drenched’ in sexism (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Yes, Dame Helen Mirren thinks James Bond is ‘drenched’ in sexism. But she doesn’t think the next 007 should be a woman.
The Oscar-winning actress 79, stars in new Paramount+ drama series MobLand, alongside one of the most famous Bonds in history – Pierce Brosnan.
But that didn’t stop the Gosford Park star from speaking her mind about the spy franchise, which is currently being reborn under the creative direction of Amazon Studios.
Chatting to The Evening Standard, Helen said she was against a female Bond, which some have suggested could be a way to rectify the spy’s womanising history.
Instead, Helen suggests we should be telling real stories about women in espionage – of which there are a lot, she says.
‘The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,’ she began.
‘The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism’ (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images for Paramount Plus)
Dame Helen reckons we should have more stories about real female spies – of which there are many to choose from (Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
‘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,’ she said.
‘So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.’
Helen also looked back at the sexism she was subject to as a young actress, with one moment in particular standing out to her fans.
The older films in particular are very dated (Picture: Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
In a Sir Michael Parkinson interview from 1975, he asked whether Helen’s ‘equipment’ got in the way of her career – meaning her breasts – and the actress, in her first ever TV interview appearance, famously retorted: ‘Because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?;
She’s often praised for the response, but Helen recalled to the publication: ‘Well, half a century ago, the only person who got criticised for that interview was me.’
MobLand, by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett, follows Helen as a crime ring matriarch, Maeve Harrigan, who is married to Brosnan’s character Conrad Harrigan. It also stars Tom Hardy as her ‘fixer’ and Paddy Condidine as her son.
It will be available to stream on Paramount+ on March 30.
Dame Helen experienced sexism in the industry during her first TV interview, for which she sat down with Sir Michael Parkinson (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
The search is still on for the next 007 after Daniel Craig, 57, completed his last assignment in 2021 with No Time to Die.
Yesterday Brosnan, who starred in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, including Die Another Day, has ruled out a return in the next movie as an older model, saying it’s ‘another man’s job’ now.
Discussing rumours of his comeback on The Jonathan Ross Show, Pierce said: ‘No one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.
He later clarified: ‘It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.
‘He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies – The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador – it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment.’
The current bookies’ favourite to become the next James Bond is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, 43.