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You probably recognize Pierce Brosnan – and his preferred choice of martini preparation – for his iconic role as James Bond in four films between 1995 and 2005. You’d be forgiven, however, if you’ve never heard of his 26-year-old son, Dylan Brosnan.
Born in 1997, Dylan recently graduated college and is well-positioned to take on the world. Dare we say he might outshine his father?
The Brosnan Family
According to Hello! Magazine, Dylan is one of four siblings, having three brothers and one sister. Pierce Brosnan met his first wife, Cassandra Harris, shortly after leaving drama school. She had two children with her deceased husband, Chris and Charlotte, whom Brosnan adopted. The couple had their first child together, Sean, in 1983. Sadly, Harris passed away in 1991 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.
In 1994, Brosnan met Dylan’s mom, Keely Shay Smith, an American journalist. The couple has two sons, Dylan and Paris, and married in 2001 in Ireland.
It’s no secret that Pierce Brosnan truly admires his wife Keely Shaye Smith and their relationship that has lasted over 20 years. In an interview with the Independent, Brosnan said about his wife:
“I love her vitality, her passion. She has this strength that I wouldn’t be able to live without. When Keely looks at me, I go weak.”
In 2013, tragedy hit the Brosnan family once again when Charlotte died of ovarian cancer aged 42. Pierce spoke of how his daughter fought cancer with humanity, dignity, courage, and grace.
“Charlotte fought her cancer with rare grace and humanity, courage and dignity,” Brosnan said in a statement at the time, according to the Guardian. “Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl.
Growing up the son of an Actor
Can you imagine the life Dylan must have had? Not only was his dad an actor, but a well-known, well-admired one at that! That kind of life indeed comes with its perks and privileges, but that never got to Dylan’s head. Speaking to the Inquirer in January, Dylan said life growing up as Pierce Brosnan’s son was “incredibly normal.”
“He’s a great guy, and a great dad,” Dylan said at the time.
While his famous dad might have tried to offer the children as down-to-earth an upbringing as possible, being part of the Brosnan bunch did come with at least some of the Hollywood glamour you’d imagine. According to Dylan, he and his younger brother Paris got to travel with their dad and spend their days on movie sets. “I remember being there on the James Bond sets and what not, early on,” Dylan shared.
A Supportive dad
While growing up on film sets might have been exciting, Dylan says he isn’t interested in following his father’s footsteps into an acting career – not, at least, for now. He has, however, taken on some other similarities from the iconic actor. “I’d say artistry. Calm demeanor,” he said. “When it’s me and dad, it’s very calm and civilized. We get along really well.” Despite the pressure that might come with being the son of such a famous individual, Dylan says he can’t think of any downsides having Pierce Brosnan as a dad might have.
“Growing up, I was always proud that he was my dad. I didn’t want to hide it, but I wouldn’t tell everyone,” he said.
The doting father made it his goal to encourage and inspire his children to take on the world by storm. In the interview, Dylan and Paris revealed that their dad would tell them to “Be bold, be great,” when he dropped off the boys at school. “Close to every morning,” Dylan said.
Making a Name for Himself
The 23-year-old started his modeling career in 2014, when he became the face for Saint Laurent, appearing in their Spring/Summer catalog alongside Jack Kilmer, son of American actor Val Kilmer. Just one year later, Dylan made his catwalk debut at the Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.
In 2017, Dylan appeared on the cover of Germany’s GQ Style Magazine. Since then, he’s modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, H&M, and Moschino. According to French Vogue, agents have told him that his freckles, naturally wavy hair, and angelic face make him especially desirable in the industry.
Working Alongside his Parents
Apart from modeling, Dylan also took a dab in the film industry, both in front and behind the cameras. He’s had roles in movies like Out of Reach (2015) and Iconic (2019). He also worked as a director of photography for the film The Young Motivators Club in 2018.
Just as his parents, Dylan is a keen environmentalist, so when his journalist mom began working on a documentary about pesticides killing biodiversity in their beloved Hawaii, he knew he wanted to be part of it as well. The 2016 film, titled Poisoned Paradise, unveiled how the island state – which is home to hundreds of endemic species of flora and fauna – had become a hotspot for chemical companies to experiment with genetically engineered seeds and crops’ sensitivity to pesticides. The documentary exposed how biotech companies had been spraying “hundreds of tons” of Restricted Use (RU) pesticides in Western Kauaʻi, home to indigenous people.
A Huge Honor
Earlier this year, both Dylan and brother Paris were invited to serve as the 2020 Golden Globe Awards’ Golden Globe Ambassadors. Every year, the Golden Globes select a son or daughter of a respected contemporary actor, director, or producer to serve as Ambassadors during the prestigious award ceremony and use the honor to promote philanthropic causes of their choosing. Paris and Dylan were the first brothers to be selected for the prestigious role.
Lorenzo Lorio, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, said the committee chose them for their “tremendous success in the fashion world” and “following in their father’s footsteps in entertainment.” As Golden Globe Ambassadors, the brothers chose to use their platform to promote the charity FEED, a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding nutritious meals to school-aged kids across the globe.
“We’re proud to honor our dad’s legacy as we join the incredible roster of previous Golden Globe Ambassadors, many of whom have gone on to pursue their own dreams in the entertainment industry,” Dylan Brosnan told the Golden Globe press. “The biggest lesson our dad taught us is to ‘be kind,’ which was an essential factor in Paris and my decision to study filmmaking and our desire to tell important stories. Having this opportunity to turn the spotlight outward on kids experiencing hunger is a true privilege.”
Dylan’s younger brother, Paris, had previously worked with FEED in Sri Lanka, where he directed a short film to document the vital work The World Food Programme does to feed hungry communities in Asia. Speaking of the project, Paris said the experience had a significant impact on him.
“Meeting the children and meeting a single mother who was supporting four children after the death of her husband made a lasting impression on me,” he said. “These children and their parents want the same things we want. They want to be healthy, to be happy, and they want to be educated. They want economic security; they just don’t have as many advantages and opportunities as we do.”
College Graduate
Dylan graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts in May 2020. Like millions of other graduating seniors, it was not the type of ceremony he had expected, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, he was able to celebrate with his family in his cap and gown. It was clear that Pierce was incredibly proud of his son. He took to Instagram with warm, congratulatory messages for Dylan.
“Congratulations Dylan on your graduation and academic achievements at USC School of Cinematic Arts,” Brosnan wrote. “Go forth into this new world and make it your own. Be fearless, courageous and generous. Love, Dad.”
Mom Keely Shaye Brosnan took to her own Instagram profile to gush on her newly-graduated son as well.
“Heartfelt congratulations Dylan Thomas on your graduation from the #USC School of Cinematic Arts! ✨” she wrote. “Bravo class of #2020.”
Wait…There’s More
As if Dylan doesn’t already have enough achievements to add to his resume, he’s also the lead singer of the band Raspberry Blonde. Their most well-known song, Belong, was released in 2016.
And now, the big question: is he single?
Sorry, ladies, but the answer is “no.” Dylan has been in a relationship with Avery Wheless for a few years now and has accompanied him on the red carpet at many high profile events. Most recently, the two made a splash on the black carpet at this years’ Grammy Awards afterparty. According to the Daily Mail, Wheless is a film-maker and artist, two passions which are very in line with her creative boyfriend.
She also regularly appears in some of the Brosnan family’s photos on Instagram, which probably means she’s a part of the family by now. Back in May, the young creative teamed up with her boyfriend’s famous dad to create a short video of the actor reading the children’s book The Pig on the Hill. The video was part of the Save With Stories campaign by Save the Children and No Kid Hungry, who were raising funds to help feed children who have limited access to food out of school during the coronavirus pandemic.
So, what do you think of the up and coming Dylan Brosnan? Is he truly set to outshine his father? We’d love to know your thoughts, and don’t forget to pass this story with your friends
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