Daniel Craig (James Bond)

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2008-10-01

James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), SPECTRE (2015) and Bond 25 (2019).

Daniel Craig is hailed as one of the finest actors of his generation on stage, screen and television.

Craig was born in Chester and brought up in Liverpool, leaving there to join the National Youth Theatre in London at the age of seventeen. He continued his training at the prestigious London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1991.

Craig made his film debut in 1992 in the South African boxing drama THE POWER OF ONE but came to the attention of critics and casting directors in the much lauded 1996 television drama serial “Our Friends in the North”, playing the role of Geordie Peacock.

In 1998 he played the role of George Dyer, painter Francis Bacon’s working class boyfriend in John Maybury’s powerful biopic LOVE IS THE DEVIL In 2000 he was recognised as one of European Films’ “Shooting Stars”. This was followed by roles in the Hollywood blockbuster LARA CROFT, TOMB RAIDER in which he played Lara Croft’s boyfriend, the ensemble black comedy HOTEL SPLENDIDE and THE TRENCH, written and directed by acclaimed author William Boyd.

In 2002, Craig starred in Sam Mendes’ film, THE ROAD TO PERDITION , receiving critical acclaim for his portrayal of Connor Rooney, the troubled son of crime boss John Rooney, played by Paul Newman. The following year he starred in THE MOTHER, a powerful drama directed by Roger Michell in which he played a young man who has an affair with a sixty year-old woman. This was followed by the role of Ted Hughes, starring opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in SYLVIA about the lives of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

In 2004, Craig took leading roles in ENDURING LOVE, directed by Roger Michell, adapted from Ian McEwan’s novel, and LAYER CAKE, Matthew Vaughn’s successful directorial debut about the contemporary criminal drug scene.

A role in John Maybury’s thriller THE JACKET, starring alongside Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley, was followed by the lead in the television adaptation of Robert Harris’ best selling novel ARCHANGEL, and a leading role in Steven Speilberg’s Oscar nominated MUNICH.

In 2006, Craig played Perry Smith in INFAMOUS opposite Toby Jones as Truman Capote (writer of the best-selling novel “In Cold Blood”) based on the murders committed by Smith and Dick Hickock and then starred opposite Nicole Kidman in THE INVASION a horror thriller, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.

After Casino Royale (2006), Daniel Craig teamed again with Kidman to star in THE GOLDEN COMPASS a film based on the first novel in the Philip Pullman trilogy. Followed by FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL, written and directed by Baillie Walsh, and then DEFIANCE directed by Edward Zwick.

In 2008, he returned as James Bond for the second time in Quantum of Solace and in 2012 as 007 for a third time in Skyfall (2012).

Daniel Craig will also portray Ian Fleming's fictional agent in the 2015 film, SPECTRE.

Alongside his film work, Craig is acknowledged as a highly accomplished stage actor. His credits include leading roles in Hurlyburly, with the Peter Hall Company at the Old Vic, Angels in America at the National Theatre, and in 2002 he was nominated for a London Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Number, playing three roles opposite Michael Gambon.

Text written and updated by Anders Frejdh in December 2014

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Daniel Craig (James Bond)

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