Pierce Brosnan stars The Last Marineinspired by the true story of Bernard Jordan, a World War II veteran who escaped from his nursing home to take part in the 70th anniversary memorial event of D-Day in Normandy, France, in 2014. Aged with incredible makeup, Brosnan is almost unrecognizable as 92 (and three quarters) year old Artie Crawford, a D-Day veteran who, like his real-life inspiration, escapes his nursing home to attend the D-Day memorial in France.
Brosnan completely owns the role and the film, giving dignity and quiet strength to the fragile Artie Crawford, a man whose life, like so many others, was completely shattered by World War II. Directed by Terry Loane, The Last Marine effortlessly balances the comedic adventure of Artie’s journey with the pathos of the pain he has carried in his soul for the past 70 years. The result is a film that surprises with its emotional range, entertaining the audience and respecting the theme. Likewise, Pierce Brosnan delivers a career-defining performance; is no small feat for someone who played James Bond, one of the most iconic characters in the history of fiction.
Screen Rant interviewed Pierce Brosnan about his role in The Last Marineand his greater career. He talks about transforming into Artie, sharing the screen with the late, great John Amos, and the joy of making movies in Belfast, Ireland. Finally, he highlights some of his favorite films from his long career and praises the value of a strong work ethic.
Pierce Brosnan hopes to honor WWII veterans with Last Marine
“It’s a prayer for the dying. It’s a prayer for the lost souls; for the young people who gave their lives in the battles and in the brutality of senseless war.”
Screen Rant: Hello, sir! It would be an honor to talk to you sometime, but I don’t even know where to start with this movie. It’s incredible. I spent three years caring for a sweet old lady named Mary Horner, who was 91 when she passed away last year. In The Last Marinethe way you move, the way you talk and everything about your performance was the closest I’ve come since then to seeing you again.
Pierce Brosnan: Well, that’s very kind of you, Zak. Thank you very much. And I’m probably closer to that age now than I’ve ever been. So sometimes, you know, acting isn’t necessary! Still, I hope there was some transformation with Artie, and that was the challenge and the joy of playing this role.
Terry Loane is someone I have known for several years and is an excellent artist and writer. He made a movie a while ago called Mickeybo and Me, and my wife, Keely, and I fell in love with that movie. And lo and behold, he was working on this film, The Last Rifleman, which for me was deeply moving. Somehow, I could believe in myself playing. There was a documentary that became my bible on how to play this role, the role of Artie. The documentary was called We fought on D-Dayand you can find it on YouTube. And we are talking about veterans of the Northern regiment. And so that was my home, that was my background model for the character. And the rest is, you know, what’s on the page before you.
It’s a road movie, it’s an ensemble, and I got to act with wonderful actors, day after day. It is a prayer for the dying. It is a prayer for lost souls; the young people who gave their lives in the battles and brutality of senseless war. As all wars are, actually. Hopefully when it’s released here next week it will resonate with audiences. And it’s a heartfelt love story for a man, Bernard Jordan, who Artie is based on. He left; went away. He wanted to go to Normandy and he took to the road to try to get to Normandy to pay respects to his fallen young comrades.
Pierce Brosnan recalls working with the late John Amos on The Last Rifleman
“We greet each other as acting fraternity brothers.”
Yes, it’s a fantastic story. I want to ask specifically about the late John Amos, who was an incredible talent. Could you talk a little about working with him in particular?
Pierce Brosnan: Yes, he’s gone, but his talent lives on. He lives on in this film, in a greater work that will be appreciated forever and a day. We spent some wonderful days together, in each other’s company. He was there with his son. And I actually had my mother with me and my son. And those few days we had, they became such a deep and fond memory. John and I had never met before and we greeted each other like active fraternity brothers. We greeted each other with the bonhomie of men who have been actors all their lives.
And you have a job at hand that day, and you come with your job, and you come with your heart racing with excitement and nervousness to show off in the company of strangers. And John came with all that brilliance he had as a performer, as an actor, as a voice, as a man, as a soul. And we represent these two men for whom we had empathy, sympathy and love. It was a delight, although very fleeting.
Pierce Brosnan reflects on his great career and the beauty of Ireland
“It’s great to have something like James Bond under my belt… and to have regenerated a character that is much loved.”
I love talking to big stars who are in these movies that aren’t necessarily James Bond-sized blockbusters, but obviously I love those movies too. Is there anything you’re particularly proud of in your career that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves?
Pierce Brosnan: Oh, I’m so proud of the work I did with my late friend and producing partner Beau Marie St. Claire. Beau Marie and I formed a company called Irish Dreamtime and made several films together. Evelyn is a film we made and directed by Bruce Beresford. Bruce Beresford and I made a movie called Mister Johnson. It’s a very elegant film and beautifully made by Bruce. We managed to reach Nigeria with an exceptional performance by an actor called Maynard Eziashi. Mr Johnson is something that is close to my heart. Years later, I reached out to Bruce and we created Evelyn. Evelyn is an Irish film.
You really have done an amazing job over the years.
Pierce Brosnan: You want to be able to look back on a career and say, “I have a handful of films here that are significant, and have a poignancy, and have a life force, and cinematic alchemy and beauty and meaning. ” So I love doing these kinds of films. I love them enormously. I started in theater. I started in experimental theater. I love the company of actors. It’s great to have something like James Bond under my belt and to have been that man and to have regenerated a character which is much loved. But it’s nice to work on smaller pieces.
And I think if you have a career, you have to be able to move around the stage with enthusiasm and try to be an unexpected surprise as an artist. So, you know, you can’t just sit around waiting for that big blockbuster, or waiting for that Nobel Prize-winning author. You know, you just need to work! Sometimes you have choices and sometimes you don’t have choices. And, you know, if you have the economic wherewithal in your career to sit back and steer the helm, then great. Otherwise, you have to go to work and it’s all about doing. It’s all about showing up. And once you commit, you dedicate yourself, day after day, to the work at hand.
Exceptionally well said. I’ll follow your depth with a silly question. You mentioned that your mother was on set. Did she like seeing you in makeup?
Pierce Brosnan: It’s so funny you ask that question. It was just this evening that I was on the phone and came across pictures of me and my mom, with me as Artie. My mother, God bless her, is 92 now and still going. But yes, we had fun! I was with my son, Dylan Thomas. He was my right-hand man and my mother was there. And it was a joy to go back, or go to Ireland and go to Belfast. And I’ve made two films now in Belfast, The Last Rifleman and another called Four Letters of Love. It was refreshing and brilliant to be able to go to the North and be embraced and be in an artistic community of young people and young filmmakers, and a whole new vision and vibe, you know, of the meaning of life and the passion of life; the past is the past and we are here now, creating new beginnings.
Well, thank you very much for your time. The film is truly exceptional. It’s an honor to speak with you. When I was six years old, my cousins ​​took me to see Tomorrow never dies. I had never heard of James Bond before, but I left the film a different person than when I entered.
Pierce Brosnan: Thank you. I know the feeling. Sean Connery, Goldfinger. I was an 11 year old boy. So ready! Who would have believed or even dreamed, but there it is! Dream.
More about The Last Marine (2023)
Inspired by a true story, Pierce Brosnan plays Artie Crawford, a World War II veteran who lives in a nursing home in Northern Ireland and has just lost his wife. On the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, he decides to escape his retirement home and embarks on a trip to France to pay his last respects.
The Last Marine will be released in select U.S. theaters on November 8.