Pierce Brosnan always has his wife’s back: Inside his marriage with Keely

There are many couples in Hollywood whose relationship doesn’t stand the test of time.

I can imagine it’s hard to live your life under the spotlight with the world and his wife documenting your every move, not to mention the critical voices on social media.

Known for playing the ultimate charmer onscreen, starring opposite many beautiful leading ladies, Pierce Brosnan is often portrayed as quite the Casanova. But behind the scenes, he is the ultimate family man and devoted husband.

The relationship that Bond star Pierce Brosnan has with his journalist, author and television host wife Keely Shaye Smith is one we can all aspire to.

After more than a quarter of a century together, the passionate duo still only have eyes for each other. Their marriage shows that despite fame, age, and all the physical changes that accompany it — true love never dies.

Pierce and Keely have been best friends, companions, and lovers for almost 30 years now. The couple began dating in 1994 and got married seven years after they first met at a bar in Mexico.

Keely and Pierce met when she was sent to interview Ted Danson and ended up connecting with Pierce instead.

Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

Their very first date is something straight out of a romantic movie. According to Keely, they “sat down under the stars and he held my hand. There were fireworks going off over our heads, and Kenny Loggins was singing. We talked until 3 in the morning.”

“He was captivating,” Keely told People in 2001, according to PopSugar.

“Tall, dark and handsome, everything that everybody would immediately be attracted to. He had this mischievous sparkle in his eyes. I thought, ‘Wow! Wow!’”

Pierce immediately knew Keely was something very special.

Keely Shaye Smith is seen on August 30, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG002/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

“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,” he said.

Pierce and Keely had a romantic wedding in Ireland in 2001.

The idea was that the couple would tie the knot in 2000, but then Pierce’s 16-year-old son was involved in a traffic accident in the USA. As a result, he suffered a spinal injury, and his dad postponed the wedding ceremony.

Keely Shaye Smith is seen on April 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

But in the end, Pierce and Keely got their dream wedding in Ashford Castle – a stunning 13th-century Irish fortress. The newlyweds had invited 120 close friends and family to the fairytale hotel – but Pierce also paid for an intense security operation to keep the media and the public away.