Helen Mirren has always been a fan of the actors who played 007, but not necessarily the James Bond franchise itself.
The Oscar winner, who stars as former 007 Pierce Brosnan’s wife in their new series MobLand, was recently asked by The Standard for her thoughts on Amazon MGM Studios taking over creative control of the film franchise.
“I have to say I was never a great ward (of Bond),” Mirren admitted. “I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I mean massive fan. I mean, oh my god. 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”.
However, the Hitchcock actress said the “whole series of James Bond” was actually “not my thing.”
“It really wasn’t,” she added. “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.”
While little has been revealed about what the future of the franchise will look like under Amazon MGM, Mirren noted that though she opposes a female Bond, she would like to see films based on women in espionage throughout history.
“Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been,” the 1923 actress explained. “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”.
In February, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios would form a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights and gain creative control, while Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would continue as co-owners of the property.