James Bond should not be a woman due to franchise’s ‘profound sexism’, says Helen Mirren

Actor says she is opposed to the possibility of a female 007 and that cinema should focus on telling stories of ‘extraordinary’ real female spies

• Yes, Helen Mirren, James Bond is profoundly sexist. But more than a telling off, he needs a face-off

Helen Mirren has said that James Bond should never be played by a woman, as the spy franchise is “born out of profound sexism”.

The future of 007 is currently up in the air, after Amazon MGM Studios struck a $1bn (£770m) deal for creative control over the character with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, the British-American heirs to the film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and longtime stewards of the Bond films.