Helen Mirren Rejects Female Bond, Advocates for Real Female Spy Stories

Los Angeles, March 30, 2025 — Award-winning actress Helen Mirren has expressed her disdain for the James Bond franchise, labeling it as “drenched and born out of profound sexism.” In a recent interview with The Standard, the veteran star revealed that she has “never liked” the iconic series, particularly due to its portrayal of women.

Mirren, who is set to share the screen with former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in the upcoming film MobLand, emphasized that the franchise does not align with her values. “The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond,” she stated, highlighting her concerns over the treatment of female characters in the films.

The 77-year-old actress’s comments come at a time when the future of the Bond series is uncertain, following Amazon MGM Studios gaining creative control in a billion-dollar deal. The shake-up has sparked discussions on whether a female actor should be cast as 007, a change that Mirren staunchly opposes.

“I am against a woman being Bond,” she said. “We should instead tell the real stories of extraordinary women who have worked in the world of espionage. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re unbelievably courageous.”

Mirren’s sentiments align with a broader cultural conversation surrounding representation and sexism in media. She advocates for narratives spotlighting real female spies, positioning them as more authentic figures to portray on screen.

“The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,” she reiterated, suggesting that reshaping the franchise to include a female 007 would not effectively address its historical issues. According to Mirren, the stories of actual women spies are more deserving of the cinematic spotlight since they highlight bravery and complexity, often overlooked in typical portrayals of women in spy narratives.

The Bond franchise, originally created by author Ian Fleming in 1953, has undergone various adaptations and shifts over the decades. Participants in the ongoing debate include long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who have expressed reluctance to hand over control of the franchise.

Notably, current discussions regarding who will take up the mantle of Bond include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, and James Norton, all of whom are considered frontrunners to succeed Daniel Craig, the latest actor to portray 007.

In her dialogue about the legacy of Bond, Mirren pointed out that while male actors like Brosnan and Craig have won her admiration for their performances, they are part of a larger framework she finds problematic. “I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I mean massive fan. He’s gorgeous and everything, and I think he’s fabulous in MobLand,” she said, while maintaining her critiques of the Bond character itself.

As for the future of the franchise, the ongoing changes in ownership and direction have left fans and former actors eager to see how 007 will evolve while also hoping for a more balanced portrayal of women in this storied series.