When you think of Daniel Craig, you instantly think of smooth operator James Bond – but there was a time that the actor didn’t think he could ever play 007.
Daniel, 53, is gearing up for the release of latest bond film No Time To Die and the last movie in the franchise that will see him play the secret agent.
As he prepares to bid goodbye to Bond once and for all, the movie talent has been reflecting on his time as the much-loved character onscreen and he admits he struggled to deal with the fame that came with playing such an iconic role.
When he was first offered the role of Bond, Daniel admits he ‘didn’t want it’.
He felt like it wasn’t a natural step for him after starring in ‘arty films’, until he read the script for his first bond film Casino Royale and instantly changed his mind.
During filming for the 2006 release, Daniel made his mark and his portrayal of Bond was cemented after pictures of him debuting his buffed-up physique and sporting tiny blue swimming trunks on a beach in Barbados surfaced in the press.
Not surprisingly, fans went wild for the stills from the famous scene that sees Daniel exiting the water rocking his best Blue Steel and he claims those pictures catapulted his level of fame to new heights.
So much so, that he struggled to deal with it.
Speaking to The Sun in a new interview, Daniel revealed: ‘My personal life was affected by being that famous all of a sudden.
‘I used to lock myself in and close the curtains, I was in cloud cuckoo land. I was physically and mentally under siege.’
Not used to that level of attention, it took Daniel a while to get his head round it and he says fellow actor Hugh Jackman had a huge part to play in calming him down.
‘I didn’t like the newfound level of fame,’ Daniel explained. ‘It was Hugh Jackman who helped me to come to terms with it and appreciate it.’
With Daniel’s time as Bond coming to an end, fans are eager to know who will replace him, with the likes of Idris Elba, Luke Evans and Richard Madden all having their name thrown into the ring.
Former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan recently threw his support speculation Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page is being tipped for the role.
Pierce said he thinks the Netflix star would be ‘wonderful’ as Bond, while Regé-Jean has said the rumours are ‘flattering’.
He told GQ: ‘Well, of all the things you’ll read about yourself on the internet, it’s one of the more pleasant and more flattering. But I take it and leave it at that, personally.’
No Time To Die is due for release in cinemas on September 30.
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