Pierce Brosnan Breaks Silence on Helen Mirren’s ‘Sexism’ Critique of Bond – ‘She Let Them Have It’!

Pierce Brosnan, who famously portrayed the suave British secret agent in four James Bond films, is lending his support to Helen Mirren’s outspoken criticism of the franchise, particularly regarding its portrayal of women.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE at the New York City premiere of their new series MobLand, Brosnan acknowledged the truth in Mirren’s comments, agreeing with her assertion that the James Bond franchise has long been mired in sexism. “Yes, there’s a certain agreement there,” he said. “But there’s a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what [Bond creator] Ian Fleming put down. So there’s always going to be conflict.” He added that Mirren “let them have it,” referring to her blunt critique of the iconic spy series.

Mirren, known for her sharp commentary on social issues, recently voiced her disdain for the portrayal of women in the James Bond films during an interview with The Standard. “I never liked James Bond, and I never liked the way women were in James Bond,” the Queen star stated. She went on to argue that the entire concept of James Bond was “drenched and born out of profound sexism.” Mirren also expressed her opposition to the idea of a female 007, calling instead for real stories about the extraordinary women who have historically worked in the world of espionage, such as those in the French Resistance.

Her words have sparked a wider conversation about the Bond franchise’s treatment of female characters, who have often been reduced to love interests or plot devices. “Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service; they always have been. And very brave,” Mirren continued. “So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.”

Brosnan, who played Bond in four films—GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002)—acknowledged the longstanding tension between the world of James Bond and modern views on gender equality. Despite his own portrayal of the iconic spy, he seems to understand the critique of the franchise and its treatment of women.

Though Brosnan and Mirren recently worked together on the new series MobLand, where they play a pair of warring crime family members in London, he admitted that they had not discussed their differing views on the James Bond franchise. In MobLand, which also stars Tom Hardy and Paddy Considine, the two actors portray Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, respectively. The series, which airs new episodes on Sundays, marks their first on-screen collaboration.

Brosnan’s remarks, coupled with Mirren’s powerful critique, serve as a reminder of how the James Bond franchise continues to evolve, particularly as conversations around representation and gender equality in film grow louder. Whether the franchise will take these concerns to heart remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear that both Brosnan and Mirren see room for change within the world of 007.