Helen Mirren: “James Bond is born from deep sexism”

Helen Mirren doesn’t think much of James Bond. She said about the franchise: “The whole James Bond series was not my thing. It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond.”

The reason for Mirren’s dislike is an allegation that is made bond more often: the representation and roles of women. “I never liked how the women were in James Bond,” said Mirren. And further: “The whole concept of James Bond is soaked by and born from deep sexism.”

Mirren does not agree to the often mentioned demand to simply fill the role of 007 with a woman in the future. Instead, she would like to see the real stories of real women who have actually mixed in the history of the espionage: “Women have always been a big and incredibly important part of the secret service, they have always been. And very brave. It is amazing what women did in the French Résistance, incredibly brave. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who worked in this world.”

For the former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, the 79-year-old has only praise, despite her criticism. In the interview, she described the last bond actor Craig as “a very kind, friendly person”. She described her good friend Brosnan, with whom she recently can be seen in the Paramount+series “Mobland”. It was only on Thursday that the two actors lovingly posed on the red carpet at the premiere in London.

“Mobland” revolves around the London gangster bosses Conrad and Maeve Harrigan. You are in the fight against a rival syndicate that threatens your empire. Tom Hardy slips into the role of Harry da Souza, who is called to solve the problems of the Harrigans.