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It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unknown Nottingham gallery - an exhibit including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also address satisfy fans.

But the gallery's owner has exposed how her livelihood and reputation were 'ruined' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months negotiating the exhibition of a lifetime turned out not to be the Bond star however a 'deepfake'.

Simone Simms has actually spoken for the very first time about how she succumbed to the fancy expert system (AI) fraud which resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.

Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after offering ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art fans with the promise of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had been deceived.

Scammers utilized AI to produce a persuading likeness of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.

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

Her problem began when she contacted what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would exhibit his paintings at her location.

She then states she was contacted 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 deceived art gallery owner Simone Simms

Mrs Simms (envisioned, left) succumbed to a scam that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery

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

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

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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, classihub.in a voice with Mr Brosnan's unique Irish accent talks about the upcoming exhibit.

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

'I've been swamped recently. Please let your team understand that I truly value the invitation to the art exhibit.

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

In a subsequent video call, Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen however the sound was off. Messages from the individual on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological issue.

Two of Ms Simms's buddies were likewise in the video conference, one of two Ms Simms thought she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'idiot'.

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

Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida

After the phony occasion was booked, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and welcome'

The genuine Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'meet and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan

Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wishes the actor would acknowledge her as a victim instead of a villain

Others have actually reported being called by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: One of the genuine Mr Brosnan's paintings

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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms reserved and marketed her program, the real Mr saw an advertisement for the exhibition including his art online and provided a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and welcome'.

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

A 'frightened' Ms Simms understood her error and tearfully remembered: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.

'Pierce harmed me by providing the declaration. He ought to have done more research before he did due to the fact that he would realise I was just a fan reaching out however he villainised me and that's where it started to fail.

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

'I do not hate him, due to the fact that he is a victim too. People abused his photo. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never ever have actually established the exhibit or offered the tickets.'

An image by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green location on the coast

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

One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings portraying a lady resting

As soon as she realised she had been deceived, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her credibility in tatters, with numerous still thinking she had attempted to fraud them.

Others have actually reported being contacted by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their favourite before requesting for money.

It comes as last month The Mail revealed how a separated lady was duped into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt and requested money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.

Mr Brosnan has actually been approached for remark.

NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii