Irish movie star Pierce Brosnan endured nervous journeys to work when he was shooting THE MATADOR in Mexico City, because potential kidnappers tried to ambush him and his co-stars.

The former JAMES BOND star admits tensions were high on the set following months of reported violence and kidnapping in the turbulent city - and he almost became a victim when gang leaders used tricks to get him out of his armoured car.

The actor explains, "We had bodyguards on us at all times and we were in armoured cars and there were a few blow-outs of the tyres going to work.

"It's a trick - they let your tyres down and then when you get out on the freeway you have to get out of the car, and then somebody comes by... But nothing really happened, the city embraced us."

Brosnan had to constantly reassure his family everything was OK because they feared the worst.

He adds, "The week before I went there was a huge article in the LA Times (newspaper)... about the violence, about the kidnappings and I saw this on a Sunday morning.

"My wife was very apprehensive. I hid it under the sofa. Later that day, the kids came and jumped on me - we were having tea - and she saw the article."