There's no doubt that James Bond is one of the most iconic characters ever to grace the silver screen.
Over the last 63 years, 25 films and 6 debonair actors have portrayed the Martini-loving (shaken, not stirred, of course) spy, amassing countless fans along the way.
However, Dame Helen Mirren is not among the fans of the famed secret agent.
In a recent interview with The Standard, the Academy Award-winning actress tore the prolific franchise to shreds, specifically owing to the way women were portrayed in the films.
"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."
While there have been some unsubstantiated rumors that the next 007 might be a woman, Mirren was equally opposed to that notion, expressing that the stories of the real women of MI-6 should be told, as opposed to a glamorous fictional composite:
"The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism."
“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."
Valid as all her points may have been, James Bond fans, as well as former Bond girl Robin Young, didn't take too kindly to Mirren's words on X (formerly Twitter).
Many felt she was overreacting, even if the majority of reactions came from right-wing users having trouble with her "woke" perspective:
While The Queen star might not have gained support from fans of the films, she was backed up by 007 himself.
The franchise's fifth official Bond, Pierce Brosnan, currently Mirren's co-star in the Paramount+ series MobLand, seemed to agree with everything Mirren had to say.
In a recent interview with People, Brosnan, who first played Bond in 1995's Goldeneye and would go on to headline three more Bond films (Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day), admitted that Mirren "let them have it."
But he said that all of her points were valid:
"Yes, there's a certain agreement there."
"But there's a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what [Bond creator and author] Ian Fleming put down."
"So there's always going to be conflict."
Despite Brosnan's shared perspective, Bond fans still didn't seem to be having any of this argument, feeling that 007's womanizing behavior and the revolving door of beautiful Bond girls are what make the films what they are, and making them "woke" would ruin them.
Some also had trouble with Brosnan's point after he's profited heavily from playing Bond:
While Brosnan and Mirren agree on the rampant sexism of the Bond franchise, they would appear to be divided on the possibility of a female 007.
Ahead of the release of No Time To Die, the final Bond film to feature Daniel Craig, Brosnan openly expressed his support for Craig's successor to be a woman.
"I think we’ve watched the guys do it for the last 40 years."
"Get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there."
"I think it would be exhilarating, it would be exciting."
Mirren disclosed that she and Brosnan had never discussed Bond during production of MobLand.
Whatever her feelings on James Bond the character, she made it clear that she has nothing but admiration for the two most recent actors who have played Bond:
"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."
For his part, Daniel Craig seemed to be on the same page with Mirren regarding the possibility of a female James Bond, as well as the then-frequent rumors that Idris Elba might succeed Craig and become the first Black Bond.
While promoting his No Time To Die, he said:
"There should simply be better parts for women and actors of color."
"Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"
It remains to be seen who will be the 7th actor to inherit 007's badge. Mirren and Brosnan's MobLand co-star Tom Hardy has been rumored, though Aaron Taylor-Johnson has recently been the most mentioned. The future of the franchise itself is equally uncertain at this time.
Creative control of the Bond franchise was handed over by longtime Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to Amazon MGM studios in 2025, ruffling the feathers of British fans of the franchise as to what will happen to one of the United Kingdom's most popular characters while under American ownership.
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