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

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

Simone Simms has actually spoken for the first time about how she fell for the intricate synthetic intelligence (AI) rip-off which led to 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 with the guarantee of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had actually been deceived.

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

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

Her nightmare 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 display his paintings at her place.

She then says she was contacted by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, including a variety of voice notes talking about the exhibit.

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

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

More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the pledge of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had actually deepfaked to appear like 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 thought was the Bond actor

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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 upcoming exhibition.

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

'I have actually been swamped recently. Please let your group know that I truly appreciate the invite 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 concern.

Two of Ms Simms's good friends were also in the video meeting, one of 2 Ms Simms thought she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both fooled, insisting she was not an 'idiot'.

One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It looked like his real face. He said his child had 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 occasion 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 artwork. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'satisfy and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan

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

Others have actually reported being contacted by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings

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Meanwhile, garagesale.es after Ms Simms scheduled and marketed her program, the real Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibit including his art online and provided a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a meet and greet'.

His attorneys sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, 3 days after she advertised the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.

A 'horrified' Ms Simms understood her error and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my reputation.

'Pierce harmed me by issuing the statement. He must have done more research before he did since he would understand I was only a fan reaching out but he villainised me which'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 public about what really happened and set the tone.

'I do not dislike him, since he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never have actually set up the exhibition or sold the tickets.'

A picture by Piers Brosnan depicting a green location on the coast

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

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

As quickly as she realised she had been duped, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her reputation in tatters, with many still believing she had actually tried to scam them.

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

It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a divorced lady was fooled into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer positioning as Brad Pitt and requested for money to money his urgent kidney cancer treatment.

Mr Brosnan has actually been approached for remark.

NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii