Pierce Brosnan Shows His Mom Just How Much He Loves & Appreciates Her With Gifts And Days Out Together

Mar 01, 2023

Pierce Brosnan is an actor that needs no introduction. Best known for his portrayal of James Bond in the film franchise, Pierce played the famous character in four movies from 1995-2002. 

On top of the star-making role, the Irish actor has created a wide-ranging filmography that leaves almost no genre untouched. From comedy like “Mrs. Doubtfire,” to action such as his Bond films and other hits like “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Dante’s Peak,” Pierce has proven himself to be a skilled performer.

He even wowed us with his musical talents in the “Mamma Mia!” franchise. Nominated for two Golden Globes in his career, Pierce is still acting regularly and appeared in a DC Comics movie as the superhero Doctor Fate in the movie “Black Adam,” which was released in July 2022. 

Pierce is a legendary actor in his own right and continues to be a household name even today — but not many know that his childhood was extremely challenging. Pierce was an only child whose father abandoned him during infancy, and his mother had to work in England to provide for him while he was raised by his maternal grandparents in Ireland. 

In his own words, Pierce said, “There were no siblings. I was an only child from a fractured family. My father took off for the hills very early.” However, this experience has allowed him to cherish and love his current family even more. The father of five and doting husband has nothing but gratitude for his life, and though he struggled to find his path to fame, he continues to be thankful for the family bonds he has today. Among the most cherished relationships in his life is that with his mother, who made incredible sacrifices in his youth to give him a better life.

Born on May 16, 1953, in Drogheda, Ireland, Pierce had no idea of the kind of life he’d go on to lead. Pierce was born to Mary May Smith, a nurse, and Thomas Brosnan, a carpenter. Pierce’s childhood began in Navan, a town in Ireland, where he spent the first 12 years of his life. 

Because Pierce’s father abandoned him when he was an infant, his mother took a job as a nurse in London in an effort to earn more. He was raised by his grandparents in Ireland but after they passed, he was forced to move into lodgings.

The actor recalled, “I was sent to live with a woman named Eileen, who had a place in a poor part of town. She had her own children and I moved upstairs with the lodgers, all grown men with jobs... At the end of the room, there was my little bed, with a curtain around it, so the light wouldn’t shine in when the older guys came home.”

He eventually moved to London to join his mother and her new husband in 1964. Though the big city would prove to be a place of great opportunity for Pierce, as a child, he endured bullying because of his Irish roots. Despite the rough times, Pierce cultivated an artistic streak, and when he decided in early adulthood to pursue acting, he had nothing but the full support of his beloved mother behind him.

“My mother was very supportive of it,” Pierce said. “She always said, follow your dreams, and I had this crazy dream about making movies.

Decades on and with a thriving career, Pierce continues to dote on his mother. Now 90, May and her famous son are regularly spotted out on the town looking like the perfect mother-son duo. 

On April 4, 2021, Pierce shared a touching birthday post on Instagram of his smiling mother holding flowers captioned: “Happy 89th birthday to my darling Mother May. You have given me the world with your love. All my love in return....Pierce xx☘️❤️❤️” The pair are also frequently seen together. In August 2014, the dashing actor was photographed with his dear mom walking hand in hand as they made their way to a restaurant in New York City. With their arms linked, May was seen smiling from ear to ear as her son led the way. In January 2019, they were again spotted in Chelsea, in the United Kingdom. Pierce looked like the perfect gentleman in a fitted wool coat and gloves, paired with a classy scarf and fedora hat, as he led his mother out and about on the streets. 

The time Pierce makes for his mother and the care he bestows on her shows just how much appreciation he has for her. He told Cigar Aficionado:

“My mother was very courageous. She took the bold steps to go away and be a nurse in England. Basically wanting a better life for her and myself.”

It’s clear the loving way his mother nurtured him is something he has inherited. The father of five told Gentlemen’s Journal that for him, family is everything. 

“I cherish family very much. I cherish being a father. I did not grow up with a father figure or with a solid family. There was deep fracture, a certain isolation and an aloneness, which wielded the wonderful power of my imagination. I had to get by on my own sensing and intuition. So I value and love the family,” he said.

What do you think of the sweet way Pierce treats his mother? What are some of your favorite films of his? Let us know and be sure to pass this on to friends and family, too.