OT: Your favourite destination in the world?
Pierce Brosnan: I like Hawaii, which is why I live
OT: Where did you go last?
Pierce Brosnan: My wife and I went to Spain recently — Madrid. I love the colourful and romantic character of the city. Besides, it has my favourite museum in the world — the Museo Nacional del Prado.
OT: Most scenic places you’ve been to?
Pierce Brosnan: That’s a tough one! But I like Mexico. The passion of Mexico in the Catholic churches, eating at local restaurants in Mexico City, and seeing firsthand the works of Rivera, Kahlo and Siqueiros…
OT: What do you like to do on holiday?
Pierce Brosnan: I paint a lot on the road — my family is always complaining about it. My first career was as a commercial artist, and I’ve started plein-air painting — I travel with a little oil set. While filming The Matador in Mexico City, I set up a small studio at the hotel and did a self-portrait of my character Julian, a mustachioed vulgarian with a wonderful sense of humanity.
OT: Have you ever travelled to India?
Pierce Brosnan: Oh yes, several times… I came to India for the first time about 20 years ago to shoot a film with Ismail Merchant (The Deceivers). The first thing I noted, being a painter, was the riot of colour in every part of the country. And the colours, like the people, are so very rich and diverse.
OT: Favourite hotels?
Pierce Brosnan: The Hassler in Rome and the Ritz in Paris. I love their romance, grandeur and place in history. They are the epicentres of the cities they inhabit. It’s as if they’re filled with the dreams of everyone who has walked through them.
OT: Most memorable meal while travelling?
Pierce Brosnan: On a boat in Panama with a group of friends while filming The Tailor of Panama. The boat wasn’t fancy, but it was big and handsome and it had an old frying kettle. We opened several bottles of wine and cooked up a feast of calamari and shrimp and fish — all straight from the sea. But I still love the down-home, wholesome food of my native Ireland: Irish salmon, veggies and lots of mashed potatoes.
OT: Are you ever able to ‘go local’?
Pierce Brosnan: In Hawaii, people recognise me and I greet them as they greet me. I enjoy my life and the bit of fame that I have. It has enabled me to travel far and wide, and to enjoy every level of society. Whether you’re going to Panama City or Rajasthan or Nairobi or Rome, it’s about packing the suitcase and going off and sharing experiences with a bunch of great new people.
OT: What is the one thing you always pack?
Pierce Brosnan: My painting kit. I bring my laptop, and I’ve recently taken up the ukulele. It’s the most humorous, charming instrument. It’s completely portable, and you can learn to play it in about 20 minutes. I also carry my family photos, which I keep in silver frames. As soon as I get into my hotel, I unwrap them and set them up on the desk.
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