Aged 16, Brosnan was working as a commercial artist painting furniture for Harrods, but he quickly tired of that job. He started frequenting the Oval House Theatre Club and performed in a few of their productions before briefly becoming a circus fire-eater (which he describes as ‘easy’). He then started attending the Drama Centre in London so that he could gain some proper training as an actor. After graduating in 1976 he became acting assistant stage manager at the York Theatre Royal and he quickly distinguished himself.

Eminent playwright Tennessee Williams chose him for a role in Red Devil Battery Sign and his performance led to a series of theatre triumphs. During this time Brosnan also started turning up on television, including one major role as an Irish race-horse trainer. His big-screen debut was as an IRA terrorist in The Long Good Friday.

When Pierce’s girlfriend Cassandra Harris, who became his wife, was cast in For Your Eyes Only Brosnan again seemed destined for Bond. When he met Cubby during filming Broccoli reportedly said ‘If he can act, he’s the next Bond’. Brosnan then tricked his bank manager into giving him money to fly to America and he used his connections with Cassandra to work his way into Hollywood.

Pierce found an agent, and the first people he met were MTM productions, planning a detective TV series called Remington Steel. Brosnan got the part, and on the way home from a dinner with Cubby Broccoli he practiced the famous line for the first time: ‘My name’s Bond, James Bond’. His success with Remington Steele made him favorite to become 007, but ironically his ambition was thwarted by the same show when they signed him on the 59th day of a 60-day option because the speculation had improved the show’s ratings. The show didn’t last much longer, and sadly Cassandra died of cancer in 1991. Since then Pierce has been an activist for women's health issues. He only found a new fiance, Keely, in 1999.

Brosnan returned to England for some TV work, and the Bond role finally came around again following Timothy Dalton’s resignation in 1992. This time Brosnan was able to take up the role. Goldeneye, his first film, was an instant success. Brosnan went down brilliantly with Bond fans, casual movie-watchers and critics alike. This was followed up with two other huge hits in Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough. Pierce Brosnan has revitalized the 007 franchise.

Brosnan usually fits in one film between Bond films, namely Dante’s Peak and The Thomas Crown Affair. His first three films have already equaled the grosses by Moore’s seven.