Pierce Brosnan Reveals Mentor’s Advice He Ignored Before Becoming James Bond

August 30, 2025 - London

Pierce Brosnan, the actor best known for revitalizing the James Bond franchise in the 1990s, has opened up about advice he chose to ignore before accepting the iconic role. In a conversation with The Guardian published today, Brosnan recounted how his former mentor, Christopher Fettes, urged him to pursue “obscure 19th-century plays” instead of blockbuster films. Brosnan, now 72, said he never regretted going against that counsel, describing his decision to embrace Bond as one of the defining moments of his career and crediting it with giving him “longevity in Hollywood”.

Brosnan reflected on the impact of the role he first assumed in 1995, noting that the global fame and opportunities that followed-both on-screen and off-far outweighed any reservations about commercial success. “My dream was always movies,” he told The Guardian, adding that Bond has “given me the world in many respects”.

Looking ahead to the franchise’s future, Brosnan weighed in on speculation about the next actor to wear the tuxedo. While names such as James Norton, Theo James, and Paul Mescal circulate in industry circles, Brosnan insisted that the role should remain with a British performer. His comments come amid renewed interest in casting following the announcement of Denis Villeneuve as the director of the upcoming Bond installment.

Brosnan’s candid remarks underscore his enduring connection to the character he embodied across four films-GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002)-and his belief in the transformative power of taking creative risks.