Helen Mirren details ‘boring’ time on ‘MobLand’ set with Pierce Brosnan

Dame Helen Mirren has revealed that it is “really quiet and boring” behind the scenes with MobLand co-star Pierce Brosnan when they are not filming.

The award-winning actress stars in the Paramount crime series as Maeve Harrigan, whose husband Conrad (Brosnan) heads a powerful mob family facing a high-stakes battle to maintain control of north London.

Speaking to the Press Association, the 81-year-old reflected on how she and her on-screen husband differ from their gun-wielding and drug-dealing characters.

Dame Helen praised working with Irish actor Brosnan as they “like and love each other” adding, “We work in the same way.”

“When we’re not shooting, we sit quietly. The two of us in the corner with our books or whatever we’re doing,” she opened up, admitting, “It’s really quiet, really boring.”

Detailing how she and Brosnan immediately get into character when it’s time to film, Mirren said, “Then we get up and boom, we’re in it. We’re the Harrigans – and it’s very weird. It just happens to us, and it’s out of our control.”

The Mamma Mia star agreed that his role as patriarch Conrad is “out of my control” and suggested production on the third series of MobLand begins soon as he reflected on the difficulties of getting into character.

He told PA, “As I come closer to the third season, November 15 I think we kick off, I draw breath. I think, ‘oh God, I have to put this armour on again.’”

Despite the challenges, the 73-year-old explained that he “loves” his role, adding, “I love it even more when I have a text in front of me.”

“Because otherwise you’re dealing in the abstract world of ‘how am I going to do this again?’” he said.

“I saw the first episodes with my wife and children just before I set sail for this press tour and it’s like, ‘oh my God, what happened? How did we get there? How did we do that?’” Pierce Brosnsan exclaimed.

MobLand series two will premiere globally on Paramount on September 18.