Pierce Brosnan on what has kept his career going despite being 'bristly and prickly' at times

Pierce Brosnan has spilled beans on what has guided his career for so long in the Hollywood.

Brosnan, 73, became a huge star playing James Bond in the 1990s and 2000s. He now says acting means constantly building up and breaking down parts of yourself to become a character, and to put yourself into that moment.

"You have to be aware and present within yourself and allow yourself to have these emotions, because it’s always constant as an actor, constructing and destroying somewhat of yourself to make the character, to be the character, to investigate yourself, to put yourself into that moment in time," Brosnan told Interview Magazine in a recent talk.

Brosnan admitted that he has made peace with being forever linked to James Bond, noting that it will stay with him and went on to call the role a "gift that keeps giving."

"I always say it’s the gift that keeps giving, having played that role. It’s allowed me to have the career that I have today, and to find characters ... to find MobLand."

While he celebrates the opportunity to play James Bond, he added that the goal is to find work that really challenges him.

Brosnan has also said that "good fortune" played a big part in his success. Speaking to The Gentleman's Journal, he said it costs nothing to be kind, gracious and polite, on set or off.

"My consistency with that has fragility to it at times, just because sometimes life gets a bit heavy for both hands. That’s some of the makeup of who I am. I’m not always charming — I can be bristly and prickly," he told the outlet.

"Sometimes you get out of the wrong side of bed. I think it comes from the joy of doing what I do, as a man, as an artist and as an actor, being in the company of great people who know their job. It makes life very rewarding."