A home in paradise, a wonderful wife and a career still going strong - Pierce Brosnan has few complaints. In an exclusive interview from Hawaii, he talks Bond, beaches and beauties with Shereen Low Pierce Brosnan is suave (unarguably), sexy (immensely), successful (hugely). And right now I have his personal phone number - direct to his Hawaiian home.

The former Bond star has a cottage on the island of Kauai, well away from his main Californian home, where he can spend quality time with his wife Keely and their sons Dylan and Paris.

Answering on the second ring, he says in his unmistakably languid tones: "I've been living the life of Riley for the last eight months. I finished three movies back to back last year, so I've been home with the family since October."

Brosnan, 59, who is promoting his role in Danish film-maker Susanne Bier's part-Danish, part-English romantic drama Love Is All You Need, was recently pictured shirtless on the beach in grey shorts - and compared to TV mogul Simon Cowell.

Laughing, he says: "I haven't seen them, but oh dear - poor Simon Cowell. At least it will all be wrapped in fish and chips tomorrow."

Brosnan is not shaken or stirred by the paparazzi shots, saying: "It never used to happen when we first came here, but now the local boyos are intrusive, so there's nothing you can do. It's really out of my power."

Island life is an idyllic dream for the Irish-born actor and keen painter, who was raised in London.

"It's one of those lovely luxuries that come with hard work and good timing. We always wanted to get away so we found this place - it's a small three-bedroom cottage that sits right on the water's edge," he reveals.

"This is the most magical place - life here is very beautiful and very simple. We have a beautiful garden of Eden and the sea is at my feet," he continues. "Keely is a gardener and I do my painting in my little grass hut on the beach - and look like Simon Cowell!"

In his latest role, Brosnan gives an acclaimed performance as widower and father-of-one Philip, whose life changes after he meets cancer survivor Ida (Trine Dyrholm).

He is the only non-Danish-speaker in the cast. "Danish is a very tricky language to get your tongue around, so to speak, and everyone speaks English. I only know 'Du er smuk', which means 'you are beautiful'. That's a good one to learn," he says, with a chuckle.

"It was one of my concerns going into the project," he adds. "But it was a rewarding experience. The Danish actors were just so embracing of me. I was assured by Susanne that she would take care of me and she did."

Brosnan has personal experience of cancer, having lost his first wife Cassandra Harris to the disease in 1991. They'd married in 1980 and had a son, Sean, together in 1983.

"That was such a distance in my past, and our lives are completely different. As a man who has gone through the rigours of loss and dealing with family, I guess there was something there I could draw on," he says.

Despite having starred in 43 films, Brosnan says he's proud of this project.

"It was a joy to film in Sorrento and make a piece which has a complexity that is pretty sophisticated compared to other fare," he explains.

"I think it's warm and an embracing film. It has relevance, a healing quality and is a celebration of love, courage, strength and new beginnings."

Of course, Bond will always be his most "significant" role. Brosnan played the iconic MI6 agent for seven years, featuring in four films.

"That was, without a question, one of the most rewarding roles. That character, and the opportunities it gave one, is the gift that keeps giving, because once you're a Bond, you're a Bond for life," he says.

Despite earlier comments that he was disappointed about not making a fifth film, he has only compliments for current Bond star Daniel Craig. "Daniel is doing superbly well: a Bond for the day and the season," he says.

And Brosnan's post-Bond career is nothing to be scoffed at. He's worked fairly consistently over the years, appearing in the likes of Dante's Peak, Mamma Mia! and The Ghost Writer.

He also produces (The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador) through his production company Irish DreamTime.

"I enjoy producing," he says. "It gives you a sense of control in directing your career, but it's the joy of ownership - finding the material, working on the text, bringing the cast together and getting the money."

He's spoken about a desire to direct in the past, but now admits he's had a change of heart. "I thought about it but I've never really gotten around to doing it. The want has never been that burning."

The same goes for the stage, which was where his career started. "I have a romantic notion about the theatre, but again the want is not that strong to go and do eight shows a week for months. I always enjoyed doing it when I was younger, but I don't really want to do that now."

Work aside, Brosnan sounds deliriously happy in his personal life. He met American journalist Keely in 1994 - she was interviewing him - and they married in Ireland in 2001.

"She is the most beautiful woman and someone who has been my North Star for many a day and a year now. We just celebrated 19 years of life together," he says.

"We look forward to the time now when the boys go off to college and my darling will be able to travel with me on these movies. It's very hard right now because the boys are 16 and 12."

Thankfully, she has no problem with her husband sharing screen time with the likes of Halle Berry, Meryl Streep and Sarah Jessica Parker.

"My wife is very cool. She calls it 'legal cheating'," says Brosnan. "She has a great sense of humour about it, a great sense of who she is as a woman and security and faith within me."

His 29-year-old son Sean has followed in his film footsteps, and Brosnan says the younger boys have expressed interest too.

"The 12-year-old makes movies online and will show me how he did this stunt, and he's about to start filming an adaptation with his brother. It's in the blood, it's in the family. It's fantastic," he says. "All we ask is that they get their grades, then they can go and do anything they jolly well please."

Brosnan will next star in Love Punch with Emma Thompson and the adaptation of Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down alongside Toni Collette. And he's soon set to start work on espionage thriller November Man, which he'll produce and star in alongside Dominic Cooper.

"I'm hungry for work and I want to make more movies. That's always a burning passion for me. I have smaller films I want to make, and one with Sean," he says.

"I've been very lucky and very grateful to stay at the table for as long as I have. I seem to have employment, some hairline and some small piece of talent in the back pocket that I can polish."

Extra time - Life after Bond What's happened to the other former Bonds? Sam Mayers takes a look...

:: Sean Connery - The original film Bond, Scotsman Connery, now 82, starred in seven Bond titles between 1962 and 1983. He went on to feature in a string of other movies including Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade and was named 'sexiest man alive' by People magazine in his late 60s. Following a 10-year hiatus, he voiced the eponymous role in 2012's animated movie Sir Billi.

:: George Lazenby - Australian Lazenby appeared just once as Bond, in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. A steady TV career followed and, now 73, he's enjoying life in his native homeland with his three children, awaiting publication of his autobiography, The Other Fella, later this year.

:: Roger Moore - He fell into acting after appearing as an extra but became one of the best-known Bonds, taking over from Connery and playing 007 seven times between 1973 and 1985. Now married to his fourth wife, he's still working and recently appeared in comedy A Princess For Christmas.

:: Timothy Dalton - The Welsh actor played Bond twice, in 1987 and 1989. He's since kept busy with roles in films like Hot Fuzz, Toy Story 3 and TV shows including Dr Who.

:: Love Is All You Need opens in cinemas on Friday, April 19