Rosamund Pike wishes she could do a James Bond film again – as she and Sacha Baron Cohen revisit their earliest film memories

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The new comedy film, Ladies First, is now streaming on Netflix. It’s a satirical take on gender roles and features a talented cast of British and Irish actors, including Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen.

He plays Damien Sachs, a deeply unlikeable and sexist company executive. After suffering a head injury, he finds himself in a reality turned upside down, where women hold all the power.

Alex Fox, a woman from Pike’s, was someone Damien had previously mistreated. Now, with the power dynamics reversed, he’s forced to change how he acts, which causes a lot of comical trouble.

To celebrate the release, TopMob interviewed the duo as part of our Film Flashbacks series, covering topics from their earliest movie experiences to Pike’s first film role in the James Bond movie Die Another Day.

What are your earliest memories of going to the cinema and watching films when you were younger?

I started my film career with E.T., and it’s always my answer when people ask about influential or favorite movies – even the most important film of the 20th century! It’s really my default response. I feel incredibly fortunate that E.T. was my first experience in the industry.

I first understood the power of acting when I saw Daniel Day-Lewis in ‘In the Name of the Father.’ It was shocking to realize how deeply a film could affect me – I didn’t know I could become so invested in a character and be moved to tears. That moment really showed me the unique power of cinema.

I’d say ‘Life of Brian’ is the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. I think it came out in 1979, and I was around eight years old when my older brothers snuck me into the theater. It was both shocking and hilarious!

I remember seeing ‘The Meaning of Life’ and early Monty Python films when they first came out, and they really had a strong impact on me. That kind of comedy – shocking but funny – stuck with me. Looking back, I think it’s okay to expose kids to adult films sometimes. It can either be damaging, or it can make them a little different, like me.

Did you know from that point really early on that that is what you wanted to do as a career?

SBC: That’s an interesting question, because I started doing comedy sketches around the age of six.

RP: What would you do?

SBC: I’d do them in front of adults. Just trying to be funny, and then I’d start writing them down.

RP: Would you play adults or play very extreme people?

I honestly don’t recall! They weren’t particularly good jokes, but I was only six years old at the time. That’s when I began writing them down and developing little scenes.

RP: Oh, that’d be a good book to find!

Did you have any comedy actors that you looked up to when you were younger?

I watched a lot of British comedies, mostly on television. Shows like ‘The Good Life,’ ‘As Time Goes By’ with Judi Dench, and ‘One Foot in the Grave’ – those really made me laugh. It was the detailed portrayal of everyday people that I found so funny. And Rowan Atkinson, as Mr. Bean, is a comedic genius, in my opinion.

SBC: Prior to that, Not the Nine O’Clock News. Remember that?

RP: No.

You’re still a bit young to appreciate that! I’m talking about the early days of comedy – shows like the Nine O’Clock News with Rowan Atkinson were brilliant, and Blackadder, before he did Mr. Bean, was absolutely fantastic.

Yes, Blackadder, but I grew up with Mr. Bean, so I always found him hilarious. I could watch the episode where he goes to the swimming pool over and over again – it was just so funny.

Being in ‘Johnny English’ and watching Rowan Atkinson make people laugh all day with something as simple as an office chair was amazing. It reminded me of Sacha Baron Cohen – both of them have this incredible talent for finding humor in ordinary, everyday things. It’s really wonderful to see.

Sacha your first film role I have down as The Jolly Boys Last Stand.

SBC: Oh my goodness, wow. Yeah, that really… I was 21 I think. With Andy Serkis.

How do you look back at stuff like that now?

I was out of work and had never made a film before. It was a really low-budget project – only about £2000. Andy Serkis actually acted in it! Honestly, it’s not very good, so I wouldn’t recommend watching it. The story is basically about what happens during a single day, as seen through the lens of a camcorder. I’d borrowed the camcorder intending to secretly film a video with my girlfriend, which was my contribution to the project. Some things never change, I guess!

I had a strange but insightful experience during auditions. As one of the producers, I noticed people were unusually friendly towards me, and it suddenly hit me – they were trying to impress me in hopes of getting a part! That’s when I realized we needed to create ‘Ladies First’ – a project where we could be the ones making the decisions.

Landing a role in a James Bond movie – Die Another Day was your first film, which is huge! Considering you had some TV experience beforehand, what was that initial experience like?

Switching from a typical English period piece to a James Bond film is a huge change – they’re totally different worlds.

SBC: How old were you?

RP: 21. And Pierce [Brosnan] was 52. It was quite an age gap.

SBC: And you had a romantic scene together?

We definitely did! It just didn’t seem unusual then, which is strange when I think about it now. It took me a long time to work with a co-star who was close to my age – I wasn’t often cast opposite men my age. But Pierce was incredibly kind and supportive, always a true gentleman.

Looking back, I wish I’d had the knowledge I have today. I really did my best, putting in a lot of effort – I even trained intensely in fencing. But now, I have the opportunity to speak with people who actually work at MI5 or MI6. It’s like being an actor playing a judge, and finally getting to consult with real judges at the very top of their profession.

It’s frustrating when you don’t know how to request the resources you need to truly deliver your best work. I’d jump at the chance to reprise the role of Miranda Frost – I really enjoyed that experience. But honestly, it’s the whole environment. Being on the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios was incredible – they even constructed a full ice palace inside! It was absolutely phenomenal.

SBC: I need to rewatch that.

RP: Yeah, go ahead!

You’ve played such a variety of characters, from comedic roles like Ali G and Borat to more serious parts. What interests you when you’re choosing a new role now?

I’m usually drawn to roles that really interest me, and I enjoy becoming a character. I don’t often work on projects where I’m not the central focus, but I made an exception for the movie The Trial of the Chicago 7. I was fascinated by the character of Abby Hoffman and thought it would be amazing to portray him.

That’s generally how it works. Occasionally, a director will come along and I’ll feel like a character has potential, but needs a little work. I’ll then see if the director is interested in developing it further. If they are, great, but if not, I’m limited in what I can do.

Rosamund, while Sacha is known for his comedy, do you enjoy opportunities to perform in explicitly comedic roles?

I absolutely love making people laugh – it’s the best feeling! I enjoy laughing myself, too. People often see me as serious, but I actually have a really good sense of humor.

I don’t have the same natural talent as Sacha. I’m good at delivering lines convincingly when they feel realistic, but I can’t create the over-the-top, exaggerated characters he does. My humor comes from observing everyday life and pointing out what’s funny about it.

I was really struck by the actress’s performance – she’s hilarious! She plays two characters, and the one in the alternate reality is basically a really awful, prejudiced woman. But it’s done so brilliantly, and with such keen observation, that I burst out laughing the moment I saw it. It’s just incredibly funny.

I was at Victor’s Secret – a lingerie store for men – and saw a woman walk in with a young, fit man. It was funny because the situation was so unexpected and perfectly captured a funny dynamic. It really made me chuckle.

Basically, I just thought about how male actors would handle these scenes in old movies, or even today, or in real life. So, there’s this young actor, and I play a bit of a sleazy older actor who gets to, you know, size him up and even touch his butt. It’s a little wild, because we’re so used to seeing that dynamic reversed… and honestly, it’s pretty funny!

SBC: And I suppose what makes it comical is it’s just a simple flip.

RP: It’s an inversion, it’s just an inversion.

SBC: So just seeing somebody else do something that you’ve seen the other…

We filmed a romantic scene where all I had to do was walk towards Sacha while unbuckling my belt. It’s a classic move – you’ve probably seen it a million times in movies, like with cowboys getting ready for something. It felt very familiar.

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Ladies First is now streaming on Netflix.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering both theatrical releases and streaming titles. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed a wide variety of films.

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2026-05-22 18:06