Daniel Craig is a British actor best known for his portrayal of James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’. While the role made him a global icon, Craig has never been shy about how demanding it truly is. Back in 2015, just days after wrapping an eight-month shoot for ‘Spectre’, Craig sat down for a candid interview with Time Out London — and what he said about returning as 007 made headlines instantly.
When Daniel Craig and James Bond hit a rough patch
In a past interview with Time Out London, Craig made no effort to hide his exhaustion with the role. When asked if he could imagine making another Bond film, Craig replied, “Now? I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists… I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.” The interview took place just days after the 47-year-old wrapped his fourth outing as James Bond and it showed.
Daniel Craig and the one reason he would return as James Bond
Despite the strong words, Craig did not completely close the door. “I haven’t given it any thought,” he admitted. “For at least a year or two, I just don’t want to think about it. I don’t know what the next step is. I’ve no idea. Not because I’m trying to be cagey. Who the f— knows? At the moment, we’ve done it. I’m not in discussion with anybody about anything. If I did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money.” A refreshingly blunt admission from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Daniel Craig on why playing James Bond is harder than it looks
Craig also used the interview to shed light on the unique challenge of playing the world’s most famous spy. “The best acting is when you’re not concerned about the surface. And Bond is the opposite of that,” he explained. “You have to be bothered about how you’re looking. It’s a struggle. I know that how Bond wears a suit and walks into a room is important. But as an actor I don’t want to give a f@*k about what I look like! So I have to play with both things.” It was a rare and honest look at the tension between the demands of the role and his instincts as an actor.
Daniel Craig and everything he put into James Bond’s ‘Spectre’
For all his exhaustion, Craig made clear that he gave ‘Spectre’ everything he had. He personally pushed for ‘Skyfall’ director Sam Mendes to return and even contributed ideas to the script.“Every idea I’ve had for a Bond movie, I’ve stuck into this one,” he said. Whatever his feelings about the franchise, he clearly left nothing on the table.
