Helen Mirren has weighed in on the debate over who should play the next James Bond, saying that the character must remain male. In an interview with Saga magazine, the Oscar-winning actress said that despite being "such a feminist", a woman as Bond "just doesn't work".
Mirren, who stars alongside former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan in the upcoming film Thursday Murder Club, added: "James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else." Her comments come as Deadline reported that Steven Knight has been tapped to write the next Bond script for Amazon MGM Studios, with Denis Villeneuve directing.
Brosnan, who played Bond in four films, also spoke to the publication, saying: "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 added that the Bond franchise "is the gift that keeps giving" and that he is now "just a member of the audience".
This is not the first time Mirren has criticised the Bond series. She previously told The London Standard that the character "is drenched and born out of profound sexism", while noting that women have always been "incredibly important" in the Secret Service. She suggested telling real stories about extraordinary women in that world.
The debate over a female Bond has been long-running, with Mirren's comments adding to the discourse as the search for the next 007 continues.
