Sat 19 Jul 2003(posted 7586 days ago)
2:46am (UK)More Than Bond to Brosnan
By Nick FoleyPA News
James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was receiving an honorary OBE today for his outstanding contribution to drama and the British film industry.The 50-year-old Irishman, who has starred as the suave British spy in the last four 007 films, was being presented with the accolade by the British Ambassador in Dublin, Stewart Eldon.
Brosnan said earlier this week that he was “deeply honoured” to be awarded an OBE, which recognises his achievements during a 27-year career in the industry.
The multi-millionaire actor, now widely regarded as the best Bond since Sean Connery, has come a long way since his troubled upbringing in Ireland.
Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath, in 1953 – the same year the first Bond book, Casino Royale, was published.
Before his first birthday his father, a carpenter, left his mother – who then moved to England to find work to support her son.
He was cared for by his mother’s parents until he was six, when they both died. Brosnan then went to stay with his aunt and was later to attend a strict Catholic school which left a lasting impression on the youngster.
Brosnan said of the school: “Religion was rammed down my throat. It was pretty brutal.”
In 1964 he was finally reunited with his mother, May, when she brought him to live with her in Putney, south-west London. He was treated to a trip to the cinema for the first time shortly after arriving in the capital, where he saw, as if by fate, Goldfinger.
He left school at 16 and trained to be a commercial artist in a photographic studio. Once a week he performed with an experimental arts troupe, in Kennington’s Oval House Theatre Club.
Inspired by the group, Brosnan quit his job and decided to pursue a career in acting. He took on various odd jobs, like taxi driving, cleaning houses and even became a fire-eater, to support himself while he chased his dream.
Recalling life as an impoverished actor he said: “ I starved. I washed dishes – anything.”
In 1973 he attended the Drama Centre in London and graduated three years later, when he made his professional stage debut in Wait Until Dark.
He was then spotted by legendary playwright Tennessee Williams who cast him in Red Devil Battery Sign, and the young thespian’s career began to take-off.
After a number of high-profile performances on the stage, and minor appearances in two movies, Brosnan landed a starring role in US TV series The Manions Of America in 1980.
In the same year he married Cassandra Harris, who starred as a Bond girl alongside Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only. Her two children from her previous marriage – Charlotte and Christopher – moved in with Brosnan and the couple had a son, Sean in 1983.
His big break came in 1982, when he landed the part of an English private eye in American TV series Remington Steele, which made him a household name in the US.
James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli had targeted Brosnan in 1986 to replace Moore as 007, but the actor was unable to take up the offer after he signed a contract to film another series of Remington Steele.
He went on to appear in a series of films – none of which were box office hits – and continued to work in TV after Remington Steele ended in 1987.
In 1991 his wife lost her fight against ovarian cancer, and died in her devoted husband’s arms.
After starring in blockbuster hits like The Lawnmower Man (1992) and Mrs Doubtfire (1993), Brosnan was once again lined up to play Bond and in 1994 he was finally unveiled as the new 007.
His first Bond film, GoldenEye (1995) was a huge box-office hit and resurrected the British spy’s popularity.
He played Bond in three more films: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997); The World Is Not Enough (1999): and Die Another Day (2001) – all of which proved to be enormously successful – and he has already signed up to appear as the super agent for a fifth time.
Brosnan, not content with just being James Bond, also starred in a series of movies including spoof horror film Mars Attacks (1996), action thriller Dante’s Peak (1997), and a steamy romantic remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).
Two years ago the handsome actor married former long-term partner Keely Shaye Smith, who he has had two children – Dylan and Paris – with.
He said in an interview shortly after the ceremony in Ireland: “I want the world to know I love this woman. I don’t know any better way than saying ‘Be my wife’ and standing up there in the eyes of God. It’s old fashioned but pretty wonderful.”
Although best known as the smooth talking, bed-hopping secret agent 007, Brosnan has also worked behind the scenes to support a number of charities.
He serves as Ambassador for Women’s Health Issues for Permanent Charities of the Entertainment Industry and in December 2001 was made a Special Patron of UNICEF Ireland.
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