Acclaimed British actress Helen Mirren has voiced her criticism of the James Bond film franchise, labeling it as "drenched and born out of profound sexism." Mirren, who is currently starring in the new Paramount+ crime thriller series "MobLand" alongside former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, shared her thoughts in an interview with The Standard.

A Long-Standing Issue

Mirren explained that she has never been a fan of the franchise, particularly due to its portrayal of women. "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 said. Her comments echo long-standing criticisms that the franchise has faced over the years, with early films often relegating women to roles that emphasized their sex appeal rather than their capabilities.

A Call for Real Stories

Mirren went further, expressing her opposition to the idea of a female James Bond. Instead, she suggested focusing on real stories of extraordinary women who have worked in espionage. "Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world," she said.

Recent Efforts for Change

The James Bond franchise has made efforts to address these criticisms in recent years. With the #MeToo movement bringing issues of sexism and representation to the forefront, the franchise has attempted to depict women in a different light. For example, in the 2021 film "No Time to Die," Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for her work on "Fleabag" and "Killing Eve," contributed to the script, helping to create more complex and capable female characters. The film featured three supporting female characters who had more to do than traditional Bond girls, including Lashana Lynch as another agent, Ana de Armas as a newly minted CIA agent, and Léa Seydoux as Bond's love interest.

Future of the Franchise

Discussions about the future of the James Bond franchise have been reignited with Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control of it in February. This move has led to renewed debates about the direction the franchise should take, including the possibility of a female Bond. However, Mirren's comments suggest that simply changing the gender of the character may not be enough to address the underlying issues of sexism and representation.

Admiration for Bond Actors

Despite her criticism of the franchise, Mirren expressed admiration for the actors who have portrayed Bond. She described herself as a "massive fan" of Pierce Brosnan, praising him as "gorgeous" and "one of the nicest people you’ll ever have the pleasure to work with." She also spoke highly of Daniel Craig, calling him a "very lovely, gracious person".

Helen Mirren's criticism of the James Bond franchise highlights the ongoing conversation about representation and sexism in media. While the franchise has made strides in recent years to improve its portrayal of women, Mirren's call for real stories of extraordinary women in espionage suggests that there is still much work to be done. As the franchise looks to the future under Amazon MGM Studios, her comments serve as a reminder of the importance of authentic and respectful representation in storytelling.