Daniel Craig Says Playing James Bond Was ‘Emotionally Difficult’ for His Family and It Was ‘Terrifying’ Being Directed by Spielberg: You Have to ‘S— or Get Off the Pot’

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As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the art of cinema and the actors who breathe life into it, I find Daniel Craig‘s career trajectory nothing short of captivating. His journey from relative obscurity to global fame, particularly as James Bond, is a testament to his talent and resilience in an industry notorious for its challenges.

During a chat at the BFI in London on Monday evening, Daniel Craig reminisced about his over three-decade long career, including his stint as James Bond. While he cherished every moment of portraying 07, he openly acknowledged that the celebrity status was emotionally challenging, not just for him but also for his loved ones.

When Mark Kermode inquired about his feelings towards portraying Bond, Craig responded: “I truly enjoyed it. Every moment was fantastic. Granted, there were challenging and peculiar aspects to it, as well as some emotionally taxing periods for not just me, but also my family. The celebrity status is bewildering.

Before stepping into the role of James Bond, I was primarily recognized for my performances in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-nominated film “Munich” (2005) and supporting roles in movies such as “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001) and Sam Mendes’ “Road to Perdition” (2002). However, taking on the iconic character of Bond completely transformed my career trajectory.

Craig mentioned that while he was busy with work and gained a bit of recognition, it allowed him to occasionally treat himself to a drink at the bar. However, his reservations about fame didn’t stop him from accepting the role, which he held from 2006 to 2021.

Experience of working under Spielberg on “Munich,” a film depicting Mossad’s post-1972 Olympics massacre assassinations, left Craig feeling “frightened.

He remarked that the director, quite cleverly, doesn’t provide much involvement. “He shows up the day prior to filming and departs on the night of,” he explained, drawing a parallel to ‘Jaws’. It seems this is some tradition he follows, thus you rarely spot him on set.

Craig reminisced about the initial scene captured for “Munich,” a complex shot filmed inside a moving vehicle. The camera moved down the street, hovering over the car’s hood, approached me, swung around the back of the car, and then gradually moved away. That was his opening shot, he explained.

Craig chuckled as he expressed, “It felt like, ‘I’m here now, clear?’ And you’re just, ‘Wow!’ But what else can we do? Either face it or move along. In other words, just go for it.

Recently, Craig has been busy with media interviews to publicize his latest movie, “Queer,” which was directed by Luca Guadagnino. On Monday, his acting in the film earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. About this recognition, he expressed: “I try to stay calm about it, but I can’t help feeling excited – it’s fantastic!

Next on Craig’s schedule is taking on the role of Detective Benoit Blanc once more in director Rian Johnson’s third “Knives Out” movie, titled “Wake Up Dead Man.

When queried about the future of the series, Craig expressed that if Johnson continues to write them in such a manner, then he would certainly be a part of it. He further mentioned that playing these roles is less taxing on his physicality compared to portraying Bond.

“Queer” is in U.S. theaters now via A24 and will release in the U.K. on Dec. 13 via Mubi.

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2024-12-10 17:46