Helen Mirren Criticizes James Bond Franchise for Its Deep-Rooted Sexism

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Pussy Galore was the most famous character

The only Bond girl I liked was Ursula Andress ( and she is far more famous than Galore ). Known to myself and compatriots as Ursula Undress.

 

I still have a magazine photo of her in her iconic white bikini ( the knife belt she wore is a British army web belt painted white ) with Connery looking all manly on the beach in Dr No- the first Bond film I saw. Started really well, but the "dragon" was pathetic and the special effects at the end were rubbish. IMO they always made the early Bond movies as cheaply as possible.

[proton]

She's right, even as a kid in the 60's I found Bond to be cringe worthy and embarrassing to watch, the music was often the best bit. The swaggering macho BS  makes the old Bond films look like comedies today.

[StandardIssue]

She was great in Caligula and she is complaining about sexism? She had racy nude scenes in more than a few movies. This combined with her acting prowess sent her up as a star. Why would she complain about sexism? Sex made her career as far as I can see.

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, proton said:

She's right, even as a kid in the 60's I found Bond to be cringe worthy and embarrassing to watch, the music was often the best bit. The swaggering macho BS  makes the old Bond films look like comedies today.

but you still watched them, right?

Connery was never swaggering or macho, just manly and apparently a sex object for women. After Connery the franchise went down till Craig rescued it, but they made so few movies with him as 007.

[Patong2021]

How about  looking at the films themselves instead of going off on personal political diatribes?

 

The films are mostly a poor rendition of the Ian Fleming novels, which reflected the era that they were written in and Fleming's military experience. Mirren has a point, particulary with the awful Roger Moore period in the 1970's when the movies were idiotic camp exercises. The US producers forced a pandering and ignorant characterization that was never intended.

 

Ian Fleming saw Bond as a sophisticated, suave gentleman, which is why he wanted David Niven, a veteran of WWII, for the role. Niven was a graduate of Sandhurst, and had been in combat including  high risk  reconnaissance  at Normandy. His childhood to a certain extent mirrored that of the fictional Bond's. Niven was anything, but a misogynist. He had a character seeped in reality and is noted for his saying;  "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums past, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one – they go crack!" 

 

Despite the revisionism from Connery fans and  studio PR hacks that followed release of the Connery movies claiming  Fleming thought Sean Connery was the perfect Bond, Connery  has confirmed what Fleming said, Bond was more of a Niven person.

 

Bond was never the  caricature portrayed in the dumb downed films. Timothy Dalton brought Bond back to his roots, and  Daniel Craig  restablished the  original intent of Bond. Neither of whom was as obnoxiously idiotic as we saw with the horrid Roger Lazenby or Roger Moore. The failings of Moore as Bond are surprising considering how he was  pretty good as Simon Templar in The Saint series which I used to watch as a kid in reruns, and inspired one of my career choices.

 

So yes, Mirren has a valid point.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

She was great in Caligula and she is complaining about sexism? She had racy nude scenes in more than a few movies. This combined with her acting prowess sent her up as a star. Why would she complain about sexism? Sex made her career as far as I can see.

Mirren was notorious for her sex scenes. Biting the hand that feeds her comes to mind.

[NORDO]

She is pissed because James was not doing her.  

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

Why would she complain about sexism? Sex made her career as far as I can see.

 

Because she's a lefty virtue signalling hypocrite.

 

Do as I say, not as I do. The motto of the left. 

[spidermike007]

Bond is intended as enjoyment and entertainment, it's a great  franchise and they've had some amazing women starring in Bond films over the years. The whole idea of complaining about Bond women being too sexy or not dominant enough is quite silly, and very trite, in addition to being petty and just boring. Mirren is a great actress and she sort of diminishes herself by making these kind of inane statements. 

 

Some things are just better left unchanged, like the Bond franchise and comedy. You don't want to try to make these things politically correct, they are not intended to be PC, and hopefully they never will be.

 

Let the snowflakes complain all they want. Just ignore nonsense. 

[Harrisfan]

How about a black James Bond.

[PomPolo]

21 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The only Bond girl I liked was Ursula Andress ( and she is far more famous than Galore ). Known to myself and compatriots as Ursula Undress.

 

I still have a magazine photo of her in her iconic white bikini ( the knife belt she wore is a British army web belt painted white ) with Connery looking all manly on the beach in Dr No- the first Bond film I saw. Started really well, but the "dragon" was pathetic and the special effects at the end were rubbish. IMO they always made the early Bond movies as cheaply as possible.

The camels toe on that is a classic!!!!

[BangkokReady]

On 4/2/2025 at 7:07 AM, Social Media said:

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.

 

Well, they're fantasy and aimed at men.  To complain of them being unrealistic or sexist for this reason is kind of pointless.  You could change them, if you want, but then no one would watch them.

[BritManToo]

23 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

After Connery the franchise went down till Craig rescued it, but they made so few movies with him as 007.

I stopped watching when Craig started being Bond, can't stand him.

[nauseus]

On 4/2/2025 at 8:29 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

Helen Mirren a national treasure.

 

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

 

 

If she is so worried about this franchise being so sexist, how come she starred in 7 Bond movies?

 

 

 

[stevenl]

3 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

If she is so worried about this franchise being so sexist, how come she starred in 7 Bond movies?

 

 

 

So in which movies did she star in which role?

[brewsterbudgen]

30 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So in which movies did she star in which role?

You'll be waiting a long time for an answer!!

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You'll be waiting a long time for an answer!!

I know. Maybe he's confusing Judi dench with helen mirren.

[bendejo]

If they did a remake of From Russia With Love (best Bond film IMO), she'd be a great Rosa Kleb.

For me it'll always be Connery.  Couldn't appreciate R Moore, to me he was more like a Mr Steed quasi-comical character.  However, having him go into a bar in NYC's Harlem is brilliant in the idea itself.

 

[JonnyF]

On 4/3/2025 at 9:55 AM, BangkokReady said:

 

Well, they're fantasy and aimed at men.  To complain of them being unrealistic or sexist for this reason is kind of pointless.  You could change them, if you want, but then no one would watch them.

 

Exactly.

 

Same as Sex and the City was aimed at bitter Karen's who couldn't get any. Just because it's rubbish and I wouldn't watch it in a million years doesn't mean I need a remake with well adjusted attractive women who don't hate men. 

[JonnyF]

13 minutes ago, bendejo said:

If they did a remake of From Russia With Love (best Bond film IMO), she'd be a great Rosa Kleb.

For me it'll always be Connery.  Couldn't appreciate R Moore, to me he was more like a Mr Steed quasi-comical character.  However, having him go into a bar in NYC's Harlem is brilliant in the idea itself.

 

 

I actually quite liked Roger Moore. Sure, he was a bit ham but I thought it added a slightly more comedic tone and Live and Let Die for example was a great movie. 

 

It's only a matter of time before they have a black/gay/female Bond who is neurotic/neurodivergent or whatever, at which point I'd imagine the franchise will die off.  

[Cameroni]

On 4/3/2025 at 5:08 AM, BritManToo said:

I stopped watching when Craig started being Bond, can't stand him.

 

Craig was a terrible Bond. He had zero chemistry with his female co stars and all the charm of a piece of wood. He wasn't even good looking.

 

He made the Bond films serious, dark, brooding. It's impossible to have fun with a dour man like Craig.

 

I also stopped watching when became Bond. A view widely shared.

 

 

https://www.craignotbond.com/category/opinions/

 

[BangkokReady]

37 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Exactly.

 

Same as Sex and the City was aimed at bitter Karen's who couldn't get any. Just because it's rubbish and I wouldn't watch it in a million years doesn't mean I need a remake with well adjusted attractive women who don't hate men. 

 

While I agree, the one difference is that I don't believe that Bond is a realistic representation that will influence me to make radical, destructive changes in my life.  I might decide I need to work out, or perhaps dress a little better, but those aren't necessarily destructive things.  I certainly don't watch Bond and think that I'm going to become a spy or take over the world. 

 

Sadly, the same cannot be said for Sex and The City.  Many women believe that SATC is practical guide book on how a woman should live a good life and what realistic goals she should have.  These women have subsequently been left completely alone in their 30s, wondering where their wealthy business man is (who finds them totally captivating simply for being them), after a youth spent partying.

[BangkokReady]

40 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Craig was a terrible Bond. He had zero chemistry with his female co stars and all the charm of a piece of wood. He wasn't even good looking.

 

He made the Bond films serious, dark, brooding. It's impossible to have fun with a dour man like Craig.

 

I also stopped watching when became Bond. A view widely shared.

 

 

https://www.craignotbond.com/category/opinions/

 

I didn't mind him as Bond in the first couple of films, but the franchise quickly fell apart, with the last three being the worst Bond films ever.  The franchise is toast now.

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

So in which movies did she star in which role?

 

eM  let me think.

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You'll be waiting a long time for an answer!!

 

I needed a nap. It was a very difficult question. 

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

I know. Maybe he's confusing Judi dench with helen mirren.

 

Told you I needed a nap.

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

I know. Maybe he's confusing Judi dench with helen mirren.

 

Yes. Guilty. I always got those two dames mixed up.

 

 

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

I actually quite liked Roger Moore. Sure, he was a bit ham but I thought it added a slightly more comedic tone and Live and Let Die for example was a great movie. 

 

It's only a matter of time before they have a black/gay/female Bond who is neurotic/neurodivergent or whatever, at which point I'd imagine the franchise will die off.  

 

So did I. The only real ham was Lazenby. The rest were all OK in their own style and ways. That's entertainment folks.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/2/2025 at 10:14 PM, Harrisfan said:

How about a black James Bond.

You need to indicate when you are being sarcastic. Some on here might think you were being serious.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Craig was a terrible Bond. He had zero chemistry with his female co stars and all the charm of a piece of wood. He wasn't even good looking.

 

He made the Bond films serious, dark, brooding. It's impossible to have fun with a dour man like Craig.

 

I also stopped watching when became Bond. A view widely shared.

 

 

https://www.craignotbond.com/category/opinions/

 

I liked that he made it dark, but I disliked that he regarded the Bond girls as more than expendable bed fodder. Far too PC for a real Bond.

In reality a man that can kill anyone he chooses to is not a subject for humour, which is why I disliked Moore's Bond.