007 Movies Were ‘Born Out of Sexism,’ Helen Mirren Criticizes James Bond
007 Movies Were ‘Born Out of Sexism,’ Helen Mirren Criticizes James Bond
Acting legend Helen Mirren recently opened up about her feelings on the James Bond franchise of films, criticizing the spy series for its sexism.
What did Helen Mirren say about the 007 movies?
Speaking to The Standard in a new interview, Mirren revealed that she had never really been a fan of the 007 movies, particularly due to how women were often treated in them.
“The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing,” said Mirren. “It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond . . . The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism.”
A part of Mirren’s complaints, she said, were that women have always been a “major and incredibly important” part of agencies like the Secret Service, and deserve to have their stories told as well.
“Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service. They always have been,” Mirren said. “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.”
While women have always been a big part of the James Bond franchise, the movies have become partially known due to the inclusion of “Bond girls,” the love interest for the spy in any given movie, often with sexual double entendres for names.
