Helen Mirren slams the idea of a woman playing Agent 007

The iconic James Bond franchise continues to generate debate, this time over the possibility of a woman playing the legendary Agent 007.

In a recent interview with Magazine Saga, acclaimed actress Helen Mirren, winner of an Oscar, expressed her stance firmly: “You can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else.”

Mirren, 80, known for her feminist activism, argues that the character must maintain his traditional essence to preserve his identity.

She is not alone

Mirren is not alone in her opinion. Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002, also shared his perspective with Saga. Now 72, Brosnan argued for a male actor to continue playing the spy, but expressed enthusiasm for a revitalization of the character: "I'm excited to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character.”

Both actors, who are currently working together on the film adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club, in which Mirren plays a retired spy, agree that Bond's legacy should remain true to its origin.

The debate is not new

In May, during the Cannes Film Festival, Halle Berry, who appeared in the franchise as Jinx in Die Another Day (2002), also expressed skepticism about a female Bond. In response to a Variety reporter who asked her if she would be willing to play the role, Berry commented, "I don’t know if 007 really should be a woman. I mean in 2025 it’s nice to say, ‘Oh, he should be a woman,’ but I don’t really know if I think that’s the right thing to do.”