Screen legend Pierce Brosnan has given a candid and poignant interview about his life and career, reflecting on the passage of time and his determination to keep working at the age of 72.
The Creative Drive That Fuels Him
The Irish-born actor, who celebrated his 72nd birthday last year, spoke openly while promoting his latest role in the biographical sports drama Giant. In the film, he portrays Brendan Ingle, the former trainer of world champion boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, whose story is brought to life by Amir El-Masry.
Reflecting on the boxer's early retirement at 28, Brosnan contrasted it with his own enduring passion. "It's the creative life that keeps me alive," he revealed. "I'm 72, time is moving on for me and I can feel the tick of it. I've been down this path a long time now, but what else do I do but really live the life and the time that I have left?"
Family, Faith, and a 'Capricious' Industry
When asked about the source of his resilience in what he called the "capricious" world of acting, Brosnan was quick to credit his family. "Family, for sure. I have a great wife, who's given me wings to fly," he said, referring to his spouse of over two decades, Keely Shaye Brosnan.
He also pointed to his personal faith as a cornerstone, stating, "I'm a catholic, and my faith is very strong and you have to be as tough as old boots to be in the game this long." The actor, who moved to London with his mother at age 11, has built an illustrious career spanning iconic roles in James Bond, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mamma Mia!
No Plans to 'Hang Up His Boots'
This is not the first time Brosnan has addressed the topic of retirement. Last year, while promoting Netflix's The Thursday Murder Club, he confessed he feels "very fortunate" to still be working and admitted he wouldn't know what to do if he stopped.
"The doing of being an actor and the constant doing of it is invigorating," he explained. Off-screen, he treasures time with his family. He and Keely, married since 2001, share two sons, Dylan and Paris. He also legally adopted the three children—Charlotte, Sean, and Christopher—from his first marriage to Cassandra Harris, who died from ovarian cancer in 1991.
Tragically, his daughter Charlotte also passed away from the same disease in 2013 at the age of 41. Speaking on fatherhood and his own upbringing by a single mother, Brosnan once reflected, "I know what it's like to bring up sons. It can be a very arduous road. My fatherly instincts are purely my own."
For now, Pierce Brosnan remains firmly committed to his craft, driven by creativity, family, and a profound awareness of the precious time ahead.
