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Helen Mirren Discusses James Bond and Sexism in Film

Helen Mirren has expressed her views on the ongoing conversation surrounding the casting of the next James Bond. The Academy Award-winning actress, currently starring alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Paramount+ series MobLand, shared her thoughts on the portrayal of women in the Bond franchise and her opposition to a female taking on the iconic 007 role.

In an interview with The Standard, the conversation shifted to the James Bond series, recently acquired by Amazon MGM Studios. Mirren highlighted her personal connection to the franchise through her late cousin, Tania Mallet, who portrayed Bond girl Tilly Masterson. Mirren acknowledged her admiration for Brosnan and former Bond actor Daniel Craig but revealed her general disinterest in the franchise itself.

“I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were depicted in James Bond,” she stated, emphasizing her disapproval of the franchise’s portrayal of gender roles. Rather than supporting a female Bond, Mirren advocates for telling the stories of real women who have served as spies.

Mirren articulated her concerns regarding the franchise’s inherent sexism: “The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been.” She praised the bravery of female figures in history, particularly during the French Resistance, and insisted on the need for cinematic narratives that spotlight extraordinary women in espionage.

In reflecting on her own experiences with sexism in the film industry, Mirren recounted a revealing moment from a 1975 interview with Sir Michael Parkinson, where she was questioned about whether her physical appearance affected her credibility as an actress.

The actress admitted that such comments were troubling at the time, observing, “I felt like I was carrying this thing on my back. It didn’t really mean anything, as far as I was concerned, but it was attached to me.”

Ultimately, Mirren reflected on the necessity of accepting one’s circumstances: “You just have to live with the cards you have been dealt. I came to terms with it, and you’ve got to have a sense of humor about it.”

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