Helen Mirren Criticizes James Bond Franchise for Its Deep-Rooted Sexism but Opposes a Female 007

 

Helen Mirren has taken aim at the James Bond franchise, calling it out for its “profound sexism,” while also expressing her belief that the iconic spy should remain male.

 

The Academy Award-winning actress, 79, shared her thoughts on the subject in an interview discussing her new series MobLand. The project has her working alongside Pierce Brosnan, 71, who famously portrayed Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002.

 

 

“I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond],” Mirren admitted in a conversation with The Standard. However, she made it clear that her issue was not with Brosnan himself, whom she described as a personal favorite. “I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I mean massive fan. I mean, oh my God.” She praised both Brosnan and Daniel Craig, saying, “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.”

 

 

Despite her admiration for the actors, Mirren has long been uncomfortable with the franchise’s portrayal of women. “The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing,” she explained. “It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.”

 

While discussions about modernizing the franchise have included the possibility of a female 007, Mirren remains firmly against the idea. “The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,” she stated. Instead of altering Bond’s gender, she suggested focusing on the real-life stories of female spies.

 

“Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave,” Mirren emphasized. “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.”

 

The debate over a female Bond has been reignited following a recent development in the franchise’s ownership. After decades of creative control, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have transferred the character’s future direction to Amazon MGM Studios as part of a $1 billion deal. While Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 for $8.5 billion, Broccoli and Wilson had retained final decision-making power until this new agreement.

 

Shortly after the transition, Amazon MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke resigned from her position. According to industry insiders, Salke had clashed with Broccoli over the direction of Bond, with one significant point of contention being the idea of making 007 female—an idea Broccoli reportedly rejected outright. She had previously stated, “I believe we should be creating new characters for women—strong female characters,” while maintaining that Bond himself “is male.”

 

The idea of a female Bond has long been divisive. Gemma Arterton, who played Strawberry Fields in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, dismissed the notion, saying, “Isn’t a female James Bond like Mary Poppins being played by a man? They talk about it, but I think people would find it too outrageous. Sometimes you just have to respect the tradition.”

 

Daniel Craig, the most recent actor to play Bond, has also voiced his opposition. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?” he told Radio Times in 2021.

 

As speculation continues over who will succeed Craig, who ended his tenure as Bond with 2021’s No Time to Die, the debate over the character’s future remains as heated as ever. However, if Mirren and others have their way, the legendary spy will remain as Ian Fleming originally envisioned—while female spies get their own place in cinematic history.

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-04-02

 

 

They should learn from Snow 'Off' White.

 

If producers don't like the story, create a totally new one. No need to butcher the existing one. If the new one is good enough then it will stand on it's own 2 feet without hanging off the coat tails of the original.

 

So let's see it. Jahmeila Brown. 00Q. Played by a genderqueer non binary woman of colour who identifies as a cat. Licence to kill (straight white Christian males only). They could call it "Live and Let Lie".  

 

They'll be flocking in to see it.   

Pussy Galore was the most famous character

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren who? 

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Pussy Galore was the most famous character

 

Films used to be so good before Hollywood thought they could use them as a tool for social engineering. 

 

Now we have terrible films and Disney going broke.

 

https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment-disneys-snow-white-heads-for-115-million-loss-what-went-wrong-for-rachel-zegler-gal-gadot-starrer-3795567/

 

 

Helen Mirren a national treasure.

 

Mirren’s  ‘Advice to her younger self’ is on the nail.

 

Gawd! 😔 Don’t worry, Helen, as with practically every other franchise and TV in general post-2020, Bond will be so watered down and typical from now on as to be unrecognisable. I expect the next Bond to be non-white, un-masculine, highly effeminate, likely with deep physical and mental flaws, and utterly un-witty so as to not upset the fragile. Another show ruined for the sake of you know who. 

5 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Gawd! 😔 Don’t worry, Helen, as with practically every other franchise and TV in general post-2020, Bond will be so watered down and typical from now on as to be unrecognisable. I expect the next Bond to be non-white, un-masculine, highly effeminate, likely with deep physical and mental flaws, and utterly un-witty so as to not upset the fragile. Another show ruined for the sake of you know who. 

All the original books have been made into films.

 

The only thing left is milking the franchise.

Maybe she could produce Jane Bond, 008

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Helen Mirren a national treasure.

 

Mirren’s  ‘Advice to her younger self’ is on the nail.

 

 

Yes it's very classy advice to make the world a better, more pleasant place to live in.

 

I'm not surprised you like it. 😄

 

 

Really like her, but just retire gracefully, and don't be a hypocrite.   Speaking out now, after you received plenty of paychecks for being in sexist movies.  

 

Wish they'd just go to work, do their job, and keep some of their thoughts to themselves.  

 

 

oh here we go..

 

another one looking for a big payout in her old age..

 

What's next, Pierce Brosnon touched my buttocks inappropriately once?...

 

The Don. 

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Really like her, but just retire gracefully, and don't be a hypocrite.   Speaking out now, after you received plenty of paychecks for being in sexist movies.  

 

Wish they'd just go to work, do their job, and keep some of their thoughts to themselves.  

 

 

 

Yeah she's a classic lefty. Make your money/career, elevate yourself,  then pull up the ladder behind you.

 

Reminds me of Rayner. 

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes it's very classy advice to make the world a better, more pleasant place to live in.

 

I'm not surprised you like it. 😄

 

 

That wasn’t her advice to her younger self

 

 

But equally, I’m don’t think you’ll like that either.

You do so often struggle with bright articulate women expressing their opinion.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

do so often struggle with bright articulate women expressing their opinion.

Where I see mouthy entitled man haters.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Where I see mouthy entitled man haters.

Thank you for quoting me out of context.

Perhaps an example of you seeing only that which you want to see.

 

55 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Pussy Galore was the most famous character

I liked 'Choo Mi'

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That wasn’t her advice to her younger self

 

 

But equally, I’m don’t think you’ll like that either.

You do so often struggle with bright articulate women expressing their opinion.

 

 

 

I don't struggle - It's actually very easy to lose respect for someone when their opinion is that the first thing you should teach to a young toddler are the words F Off.

 

I'm sure you think that's absolutely fabulous though. "How wonderful Darling, isn't it marvellous, she's such a treasure".    

 

#bekind. 

 

 

36 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Maybe she could produce Jane Bond, 008

Here’s what she had to say:

 

 

“Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave,” Mirren emphasized. “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.”

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

I don't struggle - It's actually very easy to lose respect for someone when their opinion is that the first thing you should teach to a young toddler are the words F Off.

 

I'm sure you think that's absolutely fabulous though. "How wonderful Darling, isn't it marvellous, she's such a treasure".    

 

#bekind. 

 

 

Your posting history declares otherwise.

 

I’ll point it out next time, and there always is a next time.

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Here’s what she had to say:

 

 

 

“Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave,” Mirren emphasized. “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.”

 

What a wonderful idea. She's such a visionary. If only someone had thought of such a thing before.

 

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Your posting history declares otherwise.

 

I’ll point it out next time, and there always is a next time.

 

Better luck next time, because this attempt was a massive failure. 😄

23 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You do so often struggle with bright articulate women expressing their opinion.

What do you think of the concept that a lot of women lie to get a big payout, especially from wealthy men?

 

Do you think that concept holds any water?

 

The Don.

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I liked 'Choo Mi'

Pussy Galore, Holly Goodhead, Xenia Onatop, Plenty O'Tool, Octopussy, Chew Mee, James Bond just wouldn't be the same if they didn't have amusing character names!
The boys has some close to the bone names also, Dirk Stroker, Randy Pistol, Beau Hungwell, Buck Naked, Rodger Quick, come on Helen be quiet girl and get with the program! 

4 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

Pussy Galore,

This is my personal favorite.

 

The Don.

Complaints of sexism coming from a woman who did tons of nude scenes and used to show her cleavage off all the time.

23 minutes ago, Don Giovanni said:

What do you think of the concept that a lot of women lie to get a big payout, especially from wealthy men?

 

Do you think that concept holds any water?

 

The Don.

I think you just went off topic to tell us much more than you realized.

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I think you just went off topic to tell us much more than you realized.

#MeToo!

 

The Don.

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

while female spies get their own place in cinematic history.

If they try and make them Bond with a vagina I predict a huge fail.

 

The entire debate is a nonsense as James Bond is a Scottish Swiss MAN, as penned by Fleming. Want a female 007, start a new franchise.

IMO it's a rather pathetic attempt to keep the franchise talked about, given they haven't made any new ones for years and years.

 

IMO the whole fiasco is an example of how irrelevant movies are now- cost far too much to see and too much woke and horrible women. They'd rather talk about movies than make them now. Tv series on Netflix and such like are far more relevant than multi million $ movies with too much CGI.

 

Movies were great till they weren't. I've seen thousands of movies till covid and now I can't be bothered., as they are so disappointing. Last movie I saw in a cinema was Top Gun 2, and that had a pathetic plot and far too much computer time.

I'd rather watch a Sean Connery Bond film that whatever they come up with now, if they even make another.

 

As for Mirren, just lost my previous high regard for her. She liked Brosnan as 007- the worst Bond of all. Worse even than Lazenby. Played it as an emasculated lady boy. Last decent movie he made as a lead was Taffin. So bad in Mama Mia 1 that they had to reduce his time in 2 to a few minutes.

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO it's a rather pathetic attempt to keep the franchise talked about, given they haven't made any new ones for years and years.

They sold the franchise ($1B) and Amazon are sitting on it.