Bond films have never won an Academy Award for acting, but Pierce Brosnan is on the Oscar trail with his latest film "Evelyn"...

75th Annual Academy Awards
7th December 2002

Pierce Brosnan is not just up for one Oscar nomination, but three. MGM are pushing "Best Actor" nomination considerations for Brosnan in both "Die Another Day" and "Evelyn". He could also share a "Best Picture" award with Beau St. Clair and Michael Ohoven for producing "Evelyn".

The Bond films have never won an Oscar for any acting performances, although they have been known to attract the talent. Christopher Walken was the best known Oscar winning actor to play a character (Max Zorin in "A View To A Kill") before Halle Berry won Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball" in the 2002 awards. Berry became the first black actress to ever lift the coveted statue on the same night Denzil Washington was awarded Best Actor. Berry has often talked openly about the racism and discrimination that plagues Hollywood. The surprise came during production of "Die Another Day", which saw it's leading lady propelled into movie history over night. Right: Halle Berry, with the famous award, and the now famous dress.

Brosnan Tipped

Now Pierce Brosnan has the best chance of an Oscar nomination of his career. According to the critics, his performance as Desmond Doyle in "Evelyn" could be enough to walk away with the golden statue on the night.

Based on true events, Evelyn tells the inspiring story of real-life hero Desmond Doyle and his young children, Evelyn, Maurice, and Dermot. Struggling to raise his kids alone in Ireland in 1953, Doyle is devastated when the power of the Church and the Irish courts take his children away and put them in orphanages. Vowing to reunite his family, he enlists the help of his friends and together they attempt to do what has never been done before - challenge a law before the Irish Supreme Court. Doyle's fight to keep his family intact becomes an uplifting testament to a father's love and the power of the human spirit.

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"Evelyn is a near masterpiece, a flat-out wonderful film, with a performance by Pierce Brosnan that has Oscar written all over it" - Larry King "Pierce Brosnan's best performance of his career" - Shawn Edwards, FOX TV "Pierce Brosnan has never been better with a stellar cast behind him" - Dean Richards / WGN-TV, WB in Chicago "Pierce Brosnan delivers a highly engaging and heartfelt performance." - David Giamarco / Elle magazine

"Die Another Day" is not being taken as seriously for Oscar nomination considerations, although MGM are pushing "Best Actor", "Best Picture" and "Best Director" for their flagship franchise. The film is likely to attract more attention to the back-room technical awards for design, special effects and sound.

The Oscar nominations will be announced by the Academy on Tuesday 11th February 2003.

The 75th Academy awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 23rd March 2003 in the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Actor and comedian Steve Martin will host the prestigious event.