May 16, 1953

Pierce Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath. He was brought up by his grandparents and aunt, while his mother worked in England. At 11, he moved to England to join his mother. In an interview with Irish America in 2003, he described it as a difficult transition. He was singled out for being Irish in school. “There certainly were fights,” he said, but the experience made him “resilient.” Brosnan left school at 15 and trained with the circus. Later he was introduced to the Oval House Theatre Club in London. He studied at the Drama Center in London. In 1980, he moved to the United States to star as Rory O’Manion in The Mangans of America, a hugely popular TV series. In 1994, he became the fifth James Bond.