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It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unidentified Nottingham gallery - an exhibit featuring the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would likewise address fulfill fans.

But the gallery's owner has exposed how her income and credibility were 'messed up' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months negotiating the exhibit of a lifetime turned out not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.

Simone Simms has spoken for the very first time about how she fell for the elaborate expert system (AI) fraud which led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.

Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after selling ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art enthusiasts with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had actually been fooled.

Scammers used AI to produce a convincing similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.

Ms Simms remembered 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'squealed with excitement that he remained in my living-room speaking to me' before taking the bait and sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping charges' for the art.

Her problem started when she called what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would show his paintings at her venue.

She then states she was gotten in touch with by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged in between them on the Telegram messaging app, including a number of voice notes going over the exhibition.

The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that fooled art gallery owner Simone Simms

Mrs Simms (imagined, left) succumbed to a rip-off that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery

More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had deepfaked to appear like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii

A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages through Telegram with who she believed was the Bond star

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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's distinct Irish accent talks about the forthcoming exhibition.

'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for not being able to set up a meeting,' the voice says.

'I've been overloaded recently. Please let your team understand that I really value the invitation to the art exhibition.

'I have high expectations it will be a substantial success.'

In a subsequent video call, Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen but the noise was off. Messages from the person on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological problem.

Two of Ms Simms's buddies were also in the video meeting, one of 2 Ms Simms believed she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both deceived, insisting she was not an 'moron'.

Among them, artist Neil Adcock, akropolistravel.com said: 'It appeared like his real face. He said his boy had actually set it up for him. He said the noise issue was on our end. It continued for a while.'

Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida

After the fake event was scheduled, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and greet'

The real Pierce's art work. Mrs Simms advertised ₤ 500 'meet and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan

Another painting the real Mr . Mrs Simms says she wants the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain

Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: forum.batman.gainedge.org Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings

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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms booked and marketed her program, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibit including his art online and annunciogratis.net provided a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a satisfy and greet'.

His legal representatives sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she marketed the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.

A 'horrified' Ms Simms realised her mistake and tearfully remembered: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my reputation.

'Pierce harmed me by releasing the statement. He ought to have done more research study before he did since he would realise I was just a fan connecting however he villainised me and that's where it started to fail.

'I wish he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to tell the general public about what really took place and set the tone.

'I do not dislike him, because he is a victim too. People abused his photo. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never have set up the exhibit or offered the tickets.'

A photo by Piers Brosnan portraying a green location on the coast

Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the incident left her reputation in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan

One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings illustrating a woman resting

As quickly as she understood she had actually been duped, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her track record in tatters, with lots of still believing she had actually attempted to scam them.

Others have actually reported being gotten in touch with by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their favourite before asking for elearnportal.science cash.

It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a divorced female was duped into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt and requested cash to money his immediate kidney cancer treatment.

Mr Brosnan has been approached for comment.

NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii