Pierce Brosnan has told The Ray D'Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 that he would "definitely tip my hat" to Aaron Taylor-Johnson following in his footsteps and becoming the next James Bond.
Reports during the week said the British actor had been offered the 007 role and on Friday's Ray D'Arcy Show, Brosnan, who played James Bond on the big screen from 1995 to 2002, was asked for his thoughts on the news.
"I think the man has the chops and the talent and the charisma to play Bond, very much so," he told the host.
"Ironically, he was in one of the movies that I made. You mentioned Beau Marie St Clair, she was my late producing partner. We formed a company called Irish Dreamtime and made movies like The Thomas Crown Affair and Evelyn.
"One of the first movies we made, one of our earliest movies, was The Greatest - and he was in it. He was The Greatest in it. It's a lovely movie with Aaron and Carey Mulligan and Susan Sarandon and myself.
"So yes, I read the news about his possibilities of being a Bond, so I would definitely tip my hat to the fellow."
Brosnan described the role of James Bond as "a gift that keeps giving".
"There's always been a deep fascination and curiosity and ownership from the audience of who shall be James Bond. And it's generational - it's been passed on.
"I mean, when I left Ireland in 1964 - Navan, Co Meath, on August 12th - it just happened to be the same day that Ian Fleming, who wrote the books, he passed away on August 12th 1964 and I was landing in London.
"The first movie in Putney High Street that weekend that my mother and stepfather Bill Carmichael took me to see was Goldfinger. It began a love of the movies, completely, going to the pictures every weekend."
When asked what Bond advice he would give Taylor-Johnson, Brosnan replied: "Be bold. Go out there, have a great time. Just love it. Just go for it. He can do it."
The Ray D'Arcy Show, weekdays, RTÉ Radio 1, 3:00pm
