Pierce Brosnan Takes on Critics Over Irish Accent in MobLand: 'I Gave It Full Tilt'

Pierce Brosnan Claps Back After Accent Critique in MobLand

Pierce Brosnan isn’t shrugging off the chatter about his Irish accent in MobLand. When the Paramount+ crime series dropped, fans and critics alike didn’t hold back. Some thought his brogue was over the top, others called it laughable. So what’s his take? Brosnan set the record straight: he actually put a lot of intention—and a good dose of Irish stubbornness—into nailing the right voice for Conrad Harrigan, the show’s matriarchal gangster.

Brosnan, who grew up in Kerry after being born in Drogheda, usually speaks with a gentler Irish accent. But Conrad Harrigan warranted something punchier. "My own accent is very soft," Brosnan explained. Wanting Conrad to sound as authentic as possible, he asked a dialect coach to point him toward a true Kerry sound. The coach gave Brosnan the name of a local, and like anyone in the 21st century, he went straight to Google to get his research. Brosnan insists, "I needed a Kerry accent," and based Conrad's style on this inspiration, aiming for a version that would ring true to anyone from the region. "I just gave it full tilt," Brosnan said, not holding back in his performance—even if it meant splitting opinion.

MobLand’s Turbulent Start: Style, Star Power, and Plenty of Noise

MobLand, steered by Guy Ritchie, isn’t your average mob saga. The story sends the Harrigan and Stevenson crime families clashing in a brutal turf battle, and the cast is as impressive as the body count. Brosnan heads the Harrigans alongside Helen Mirren, while Tom Hardy grabs attention as the unpredictable Harry Da Souza. The series wasted no time making a splash—its March 30 premiere drew 2.2 million viewers, setting a new record for Paramount+’s debut numbers.

But the response? All over the map. Many viewers and critics loved the dark, stylish direction and the loaded performances, especially Hardy’s wild card character. Others, though, latched onto problems with the pacing and, of course, Brosnan’s accent. The Independent didn’t hold back, calling it "utterly ridiculous," even comparing it to "a leprechaun… on ketamine." That stung, but not just Brosnan—Helen Mirren’s accent got a few raised eyebrows, though the backlash was quieter.

Still, MobLand isn’t drowning in negativity. It’s holding steady with a 74% critic score and a 73% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans describe it as gritty and character-driven, and the brawny storytelling holds its own against a backdrop of recent crime dramas. Sure, the accents are divisive, but nobody’s accusing the cast of phoning it in. Brosnan, for his part, isn’t losing sleep over the criticism—he set out to capture a real Kerry flavor for Conrad, with zero apologies for going big. "I just gave it full tilt," he said—and with MobLand's buzz, he certainly got people talking.