Pierce Brosnan clarified his 'odd' accent in an uncomfortable interview

Pierce Brosnan has been on our screens for decades, shooting, smouldering and occasionally confusing us with his accent.

In interviews, it can be hard to place the 69-year-old - and with good reason.

Stephen Colbert broached the subject on his show back in 2017, in slightly awkward fashion.

The host asked: "I understand you grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland. What was the name of the to-"

But before Colbert could quite finish his question, the former James Bond star made an important correction.

"Southern Ireland. Southern Ireland - I grew up on the banks of the River Boyne in County Meath, just about 60 miles outside of Dublin," he clarified.

Presumably keen to move on and get back on track, Colbert continued: "So how does a boy who grows up in a small town in the Republic of Ireland, how does he become a British icon?"

With that the Irishman understandably winced, before Colbert interjected: "Where's your accent, is what I'm asking?"

Thankfully Brosnan took the question with good grace and explained: "The accent got mangled way back there trying to fit in.

"I left Ireland in 1964 as a country boy trying to fit into a different community and society in South London.

"I suppose it ended up being one of my best performances," he added, before adopting a cockney accent and continuing, 'Ending up being South London, talking like that, you know what I'm saying mate?

"So you want to be part of the community, you know? Part of the gang. Then I realised I wasn't."

Of course, his subsequent career has also lent a transatlantic quality to this already 'mangled' accent.

Over the years he has starred in films such as Mrs Doubtfire, Mamma Mia! and The Thomas Crown Affair, but to many, he will always be best remembered for his portrayal of 007.

There is currently a vacancy for the famous role, which will be the first to be on His Majesty's Secret Service.

Who will land the part is the subject of much speculation, but Brosnan himself couldn't give two s***s.

In a recent interview with GQ, he said: "Who should do it? I don't care.

"It'll be interesting to see who they get, who the man shall be.

"Whoever he be, I wish him well."

That doesn't sound too bad, however the interviewer noted that he seemed to be delivering those comments in a 'tone that indicates it's maybe not actually that interesting'.

Fair enough, I suppose. He's been there, done that, got the tuxedo.

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Topics: Celebrity

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey