Dame Helen Mirren has weighed into the ongoing debate over the future of James Bond, insisting that the iconic spy must continue to be portrayed by a man. The 80-year-old actress, speaking to Saga magazine, said that despite her feminist beliefs, a female Bond would not work.
“I’m such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy. You can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work,” she stated. “James Bond has to be James Bond; otherwise, it becomes something else.” Her comments echo those of her Thursday Murder Club co-star Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002. The 72-year-old Irish actor told the same publication: “Oh, I think it has to be a man.”
Brosnan, who previously expressed support for a female Bond in 2019, now says he is excited to see the next male actor take on the role. “I wish them well. I’m so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character,” he said. He also offered advice to the next incumbent, noting there are “so many great actors out there” but declining to name a favourite.
The comments come as speculation intensifies over who will succeed Daniel Craig, who stepped down after 2021’s No Time to Die. Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the frontrunner, with other names such as Henry Cavill, Paul Mescal and Regé-Jean Page also in the mix. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM Studios has taken creative control of the franchise, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the next script and Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve set to direct.
Dame Helen has previously described the Bond concept as “drenched and born out of profound sexism,” adding that women have always been a major part of the Secret Service. The identity of the next Bond Girl remains uncertain, with Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya and Nicola Coughlan among the favourites.
