The leap from international man of mystery to singing-dancing showman is, let's be honest, not exaclty an obvious one to make. But Pierce Brosnan, perhaps hardended by his 007 stunt experience, made the jump undaunted. Here, he describes how he had the time of his life jumping around, dancing and singing in Mamma Mia! and tells the world of his deep admiration for his co-star Meryl Streep and, of course, the legendary music group ABBA. 

Q:    So tell me how much fun did you have being part of this phenomena?
A:    I gotta say I had the time of my life, I really did. It sounds boring but when the agents called up and said Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!, Greece I said yes straight off.  I was in London at the time and they said well stick around and go see the show. It’s a show that I wouldn’t have gone to see. I don’t rush out to musicals.  But I went to see it with my mother and my children and just loved it, and you could see the beauty (and how it) ... would translate well and I kept on thinking, well if Meryl’s doing it, it’s gotta be good.  Meryl’s doing it, that’s all I remember thinking, Meryl’s doing it.

Q:    And singing all those Abba songs what was that like for you?
A:    Mildly terrifying to start with. I was made very comfortable by Benny and Bjorn and they took care of me and Martin Lowe who is the musical director was a great support because I’m terrible at counting. (When) you see the film, you can see my eyes flick, I haven’t told that to anybody, but there you go.  I just had a fantastic time and with Meryl a magnificent actress who I’ve adored and been enamored by for many a day in the year, she was so gracious, fun to be with.

Q:    What is it about the music of ABBAthat just kind of gets to our core?
A:    They tell good stories in their songs. Bono said they are the ultimate pop group, they’re very clever musically, it has quite a sophistication to it, their scores.  But it’s the story telling. Bjorn writes really beautiful lyrics, I mean when you come to a song that I sing when all is said and done, it’s such a beautiful piece of poetry.  Even SOS, here’s this man trying to get back to her, trying to make her see that I love you, I love you and he starts singing to her and he just makes sense.  I don’t know.

Q:    What can audiences look forward to from this film?
A:    I hope a great night at the cinema.  I hope it puts a smile on their face to see me jump around and dance and sing.  To see the brilliant Meryl Streep just inhabit another character so magnificently.  So see Amanda Seyfried, this young fresh beauty sing like an angel.  Julie Walters scene stealing greatly.  Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard to see us three frumpy guys trying to hold our own, it’s just pure entertainment.

Q:    And seeing it with your kids that must have been great and the show.
A:    Well they haven’t seen it yet.

Q:    No I meant, just the whole premise.
A:    Yeah they were there, they came out to London, that was one of the great joys that I got to go back to London and spend the summer with my mother and my children and they got to see all their friends and come to the set and then go to Greece, it’s a big part of the family’s life.

Q:    It was great to see you.  Thank you.