Connery is a very private person. He’s held a grudge against EON, the Broccoli & Saltzman families and anything to do with Bond for over 50 years. It was the role that made him famous and a wealthy man yet he detests talking about it.
He’s made relatively few quotes about each of his successors upon being given the role. Usually along the lines of ‘I think (insert actor name) will make a good Bond and good luck to them’.
Above image is not mine. Taken on set at Leavesden in 1995 for Brosnan’s first Bond film (Goldeneye).
Moore was very complimentary about Brosnan.
Cassandra Harris (Brosnan’s first wife, together until she sadly died in 1991) appeared as Lisl Von Schlaf in ‘For Your Eyes Only’. Her (then) relatively unknown husband accompanied her to Corfu.
He met Cubby Broccoli, Roger Moore and several other key people within EON productions. He impressed many people which led to the early idea that he might be a future Bond.
He originally got the role in 1986 after Sir Roger retired but due to his contract with Remington Steele, had to turn down the role of 007! The final season of Remington Steele was poor and was permanently cancelled thereafter.
Brosnan got the James Bond role again in 1994. This time, there was no red tape. Sir Roger, who was always willing to talk to anyone about Bond, gave Brosnan his seal of approval and knew he was the right man for the role. The good impression in Corfu in 1980 had paid off.
His beloved ‘Cassie’ died of cancer in 1991. One of her last wishes that her husband would one day play James Bond. Within three years, he got the role.
It seemed Sir Roger was unaware that Pierce Brosnan had first met him in 1964 when the latter was only 11.
Brosnan’s mother, stepfather and the young Pierce, had moved to England. He saw some episodes of ‘The Saint’ (1962–69). This was the hit show that made Sir Roger a huge star and very wealthy man (“ I can now afford a washing machine and a fortnight in Majorca”).
Above image not mine.
Brosnan regarded Simon Templar as one of his first heroes and adored Sir Roger. It was the first inkling for the young Brosnan that he wanted to be an actor. By chance, he actually got to meet Roger Moore and asked for an autograph which RGM dutifully signed. He was the only person Brosnan ever asked for an autograph.
Thirty years later and now a man, he would emulate his hero and become a James Bond.
When Sir Roger died in 2017, Brosnan’s dedication was one of the most noted.
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