Actually, one of the funniest things in this movie was that I had this suit, and it was a shrinking suit. We had to be very quick on the takes because as soon as it got wet, it started shrinking. And if you look at the movie, when Halle runs up on the parapet and I run up, you see these Pee-Wee Herman pants. They shrunk and got stiffer on you, so you couldn't move.

There have been some pretenders to Bond's title this year, how do you react to people trying to take the crown from Bond?

I really haven't seen the film xXx. I've seen bits of it and I've heard it's a great ride in the cinema. There are always imitators, it's always been the case. In Connery's day, there was Our Man Flint. It's just the nature of the beast, of playing Bond. People want to be him. The family, Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, have ownership of this character, name, title, stature and everything. So there really is only one James Bond.

After playing Bond for so long, do you ever feel constricted by the role?

When I put this to bed on December 31st, I get back to my family, to my own productions but I'm forever stamped with this role. But I knew that when I went into it and that you have to be aware of it. You accept the role with the greatest of heart and intentions to do the best that you possibly can, with the knowledge that, if you get it right, then you'll be part of the legacy. But that is something you make peace with, way before you sign the paper.

You've been asked many times, but how many Bond films do you have left in you?

Well, I've been invited back by Barbara and Michael to make a fifth and I've happily said yes. There's always that feeling of the next one I'm really going to get it right, I'm really going to nail it, it's going to be the definitive Bond. But there will come a time. I can't look beyond that. I don't know what the future holds - nor should I.

How did you find having Madonna on set?

It was great. Everyone had high expectations and everyone's a fan of her work. I thought it was a great casting coup to get her in to do this role and that she should sing the song as well. She came in, she was very professional and she went.

Didn't you have a slight misunderstanding over Like A Virgin?

Yes, We were in the back trailer, all hanging out and singing Like A Virgin. Then I was on the set and I had the sword and she was over there lining up the shot and I started singing "Like a Virgin…" and she turned around and thought I was dissing her. She said, "Are you dissing me?" "No, I'm not dissing you, no." And that's when Lee came over and asked "What's going on here?" She got a bit prickly over that thing, but we got it sorted out. It was fine.

Do you get all of Bond's clothes after you finish each film?

I do. I've got a wardrobe, which is massive. And I never wear any of them. I give them away to friends and to charities. I live out in California by the beach and there's only so many possessions you can have. Some of them are sentimental - the tuxedo from Goldeneye, I've still got that. I keep the small hand props from the last few films. I have a treasure trove from each of the movies.

You must know Bond better than most people. Have you ever considered trying to direct a Bond movie?

Oh god, no. I've watched Lee and others before him do it. You have to have a passion, a vision, an intellect, a desire and the stamina of a humdred men to do these films. This is my fourth and I still had the same sort of nerves as I had at the first one. The stakes are so high. But you have someone like Lee standing there, who's a warrior and who's pushing you on to be good for him. He's there constantly every day. I get to go out there do a fight scene and then go back to my trailer and watch the telly - the lingerie channel… or sports. To direct this… it's just ferocious. I remember seeing Lee standing on the runway one day, He'd just got thinner and thinner as the film went on.

Now that this film is done, will you be getting involved in more personal movies like Evelyn?

The intention with Irish Dreamtime is to go back to Ireland and keep making films there - and also in Hollywood or in London or wherever the work may take us. There are Irish stories I have in mind and I've no idea as to where the wind is going to take me and that's the joy of being an actor, the danger of being an actor, of how one job can turn your life around. We have small stories and big stories on our plate.

Are you still planning to do a Lochinvar movie?

Lochinvar we're still working on, yes. It's from the Walter Scott poem, "The Legend of Lochinvar" - it's epic and a big piece. The Holy wars, so we're chipping away at it. We're finding a director for it now, that's the next ingredient.

Pierce, do you think it's possible for Bond to ever grow up and have a family?