Acclaimed British actress Helen Mirren has criticised the James Bond franchise for the way in which it portrays women, saying “the whole concept” of the movies is “drenched and born out of profound sexism.

Helen Mirren says she is opposed to a female James Bond, believing the character was sexist toward women and true stories of female spies should be told instead.

The Fast X star has multiple connections to the Bond film series, which is based on the character created by novelist Ian Fleming. Her late cousin Tania Mallet starred as Tilly Masterson, the sister of Bond girl Jill, in the 1964 installment Goldfinger.