Date: 10th December 2002

Bond Not Forever: Brosnan


PIERCE Brosnan hopes he quits the role of superspy James Bond before he embarrasses himself.
He turns 50 next year and, even though original 007 Sean Connery was nearer 60 when he stepped down, Brosnan is aware of his physical limitations. So when will he hang up his tuxedo?

Brosnan said his body would tell him when his time was up, but "the ego will probably never let me relinquish this role".

"Hopefully I won't embarrass myself. Hopefully I will get off before that happens."

At times yesterday Brosnan, the man behind that legendary spy who likes his vodka martinis shaken, not stirred, looked bored.

Sitting back in his seat at yesterday's press launch of the $180 million Bond epic, Die Another Day (2002), he rolled his eyes when asked if there wasn't enough sex in the film.

And if looks could kill, the hapless publicist who forgot to fill his glass of water won't forget him for a while.

Appearing at Sydney's Opera House alongside co-stars Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune and director Lee Tamahori – but without Halle Berry, who had commitments in the US – Brosnan's sense of humour and wit was not lost on the press. "I don't have an ego," he quipped. "There is really only one James Bond and he is sitting here today."

But when asked what qualities Brosnan brought to Bond, he insisted he would leave it to the history books to decide what he brought to Bond.

"To play such a fantastic role, you can get intimidated by it because you're trying to please everybody, but you have to please yourself," he said.

"I gave up acting and got on with the job. I knew the man (Bond) and I knew what I had to do in the role."

Die Another Day premieres at Crown casino tomorrow night.

The blockbuster will compete against Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings this Christmas.

The Bond franchise has generated more than $5 billion worldwide and up to 15 corporate partners have paid more than $125 million to have their products showcased in the film this time round.

As for the public's expectation of the new film, Tamahori said: "They want to see Bond save the world, get the girl and drive the car.

"
We're telling the same old story, that's all it is. But rather than reinvent the wheel we've kept it turning."

Herald Sun

Source: Press Release