Pierce Brosnan reveals why his new role in sports film Giant took him back to earliest days as an actor

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Pierce Brosnan had a packed 2025, appearing in films like The Thursday Murder Club, Black Bag (directed by Steven Soderbergh), and the lead role in Guy Ritchie’s series Mobland. And he’s already back with another movie just a week into the new year!

This time, the actor best known for playing James Bond has a leading role in the movie Giant. It’s a biopic about boxing star Prince Naseem Hamed from the 1990s, and focuses on his close working relationship with his coach, Brendan Ingle.

Pierce Brosnan portrays Brendan Ingle, an Irish boxing trainer from Sheffield, who died in 2018. He stars alongside Amir El-Masry, who gives a captivating performance as boxer Naseem Hamed. The film tells the story of their close relationship and how it changed as Hamed’s boxing career soared.

I connected with the role both as an actor and remembering what it was like to be a young man myself,” he said. “I discovered theater at a fantastic place called the Ovalhouse Theatre in Brixton, South London, and I recognized the creative spirit and core personality of the character mirrored that experience.

For years, Ingle ran a boxing gym in Sheffield, aiming to give local young people positive opportunities. He successfully trained several well-known boxers, including Johnny Nelson, Herol “Bomber” Graham, Junior Witter, and Kell Brook, helping them launch their professional careers.

For 18 years, from age seven to 25, Ingle mentored Hamed. However, their relationship eventually ended, partly because Ingle received 25% of the boxer’s income as part of their agreement.

The movie delves into the consequences of this conflict. When asked if he could understand why Hamed betrayed Ingle, Brosnan said he didn’t concern himself with trying to analyze Hamed’s motivations.

I approached the role thinking about my own relationship with my child. I saw it as a father-son dynamic. However, what really resonated with me were the shared qualities of the characters – their anger, drive, and intense ambition. Both men were also somewhat disconnected from the world around them, and that’s what I connected with most.

He explained that he couldn’t predict what would become of their connection. He described Brendan Ingle as a truly remarkable and kind person, like a saint.

He was a man deeply devoted to his community, his wife, and his family, with a strong drive to achieve something significant. He ultimately discovered that purpose in helping Prince Naseem, a promising young athlete.

El-Masry pointed out the heartwarming nature of the situation, explaining how this man wasn’t motivated by wealth, but by a desire to create a secure and welcoming community for young people, offering them a safe haven no matter their background.

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Giant is now showing in UK cinemas.

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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2026-01-09 15:39