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British actress Helen Mirren, an Oscar winner and Dame de Cuisine of Queen Elizabeth II, has spoken out against the idea of a woman playing James Bond. In an interview with Saga magazine, she stated that despite her feminist beliefs, the iconic franchise's lead character should be played by a man, the BBC reports.
"I'm a staunch feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy. You can't cast a woman in that role; it just won't work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it's something else," Mirren noted.
She has previously criticized the Bond franchise for its sexism. In March 2025, the actress told The Standard that the character of 007 was "born from deep-rooted sexism" and that she disliked the way Bond films portrayed women, despite their significant role in the secret services. At the time, Mirren also rejected the idea of a female Bond, suggesting instead that films be made about real-life intelligence heroines and members of the French Resistance.
In 2025, the James Bond franchise came under the control of Amazon Studios. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson sold the Bond rights for $1 billion after more than 60 years of family ownership. The new producers promise a "fresh take" on the iconic film series, reigniting discussions about the idea of a female Bond.
Denis Villeneuve will direct and executive produce the new film, with Steven Knight, creator of the Peaky Blinders series, writing the script. This will be the 26th film in the franchise. Among the contenders for the role of James Bond are Britons Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton, as well as Irishman Paul Mescal. The film's release date is still unknown.
Besides discussing Bond, Mirren discussed her new role in Richard Osman's adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club, in which she plays former spy Elizabeth. The film also stars Pierce Brosnan, a former 007 actor. Mirren emphasized that Elizabeth's character is more realistic than the heroes of the 007 universe, although not as impressive.
Pierce Brosnan, 72, noted in an interview that he continues to love the world of James Bond: "He gave me so much. It's a gift I continue to receive. I'm interested in who will be the next man to play the role and how the character will be reborn."
It's worth noting that Mirren and Brosnan aren't the only ones opposed to a female Bond. Earlier at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, actress Halle Berry, who co-starred with Brosnan in Die Another Day (2002), said, "In 2025, it's nice to say, 'Let's make it a woman.' But I'm not sure that's the right decision."
