Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond was ‘never good enough’

He may be one of the most iconic and best-loved actors to have portrayed James Bond, but Pierce Brosnan isn’t actually a fan of the work that catapulted him to global renown. Describing the experience of watching his 007 movies as “a horrible feeling,” Brosnan tells The Telegraph of his insecurity in playing the role — which was first made famous by Sean Connery and advanced by Roger Moore — and how “it was a very hard one to grasp the meaning of.”

From their very beginning, Bond movies have been characterized by an odd mix of levity and violence, both of which were turned up to extremes during Brosnan’s time in the leading role. In his four Bond films, the Irish actor was consistently called on to save the world from an apocalyptic plight while having to deliver some truly cringeworthy puns and one-liners. It’s that detachment from reality, the fact that “the violence was never real” nor visceral, that Brosnan seems to be objecting to. Ultimately, he feels his time in the role was “never good enough,” though he remains happy to have done it and for the opportunities it has afforded him as a consequence.