Halle Berry: Pierce Brosnan in ‘Die Another Day’ Restored My Faith in Men

Working on Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan was a pivotal experience for Halle Berry. In a fresh interview with Wired, Berry revealed that Brosnan “restored my faith in men” during the production. Berry expressed her gratitude for being a part of the iconic James Bond franchise, emphasizing that Brosnan’s gentlemanly behavior was the highlight of her experience.

Die Another Day marked Brosnan’s final portrayal of the iconic secret agent, James Bond. Berry joined the cast as Jinx, the film’s “Bond girl.” Reflecting on her experience, Berry said, “Pierce Brosnan will always be my Bond, always. I’m a Pierce Brosnan fan. He restored my faith in men on that movie. There couldn’t be a human who is more of a gentleman than Pierce Brosnan.” Berry didn’t delve deeply into how Brosnan inspired her or why her faith in men was wavering at the time. When asked a follow-up question, she confessed she hadn’t specifically sought a role in the Bond franchise.

“Bond wasn’t on my wish list, no, not to be in one,” Berry admitted. “But I loved the movies, always. Having been in one, I feel like I’m a part of cinematic history. Those movies are iconic. They will forever be a part of our history, and I’m really honored to have been a part of one – especially with Pierce.”

Die Another Day begins with James Bond failing a mission in North Korea, leading to his capture and imprisonment for 14 months. Upon his return to the U.K. in a prisoner exchange, Bond faces suspicion of having leaked information under torture. Determined to clear his name, he sets out on a mission that leads him to Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson, an NSA agent trailing similar clues. Together, they work to thwart North Korea’s devious plans and save the world.

Jinx emerged as a particularly popular character, and there were talks of giving her a spinoff film. According to Variety, there was significant interest among executives to expand the franchise, but in the end, they hesitated due to the high production costs. This reportedly led to some friction with producer Barbara Broccoli, who was keen on developing the “Bond girls” into more nuanced characters, distancing the franchise from its reputation for sexism. Berry spoke out about the abandoned project at the time.

“It was very disappointing,” she said. “It was ahead of its time. Nobody was ready to sink that kind of money into a Black female action star. They just weren’t sure of its value. That’s where we were then.”

Die Another Day isn’t currently available on any subscription-based streaming services in the U.S., but it can be rented or purchased on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV. Meanwhile, Berry’s latest film, The Union, premiered last week and is now available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Wired, Variety