Daniel Craig: Licence to kill

Filling up the shoes of Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan is no mean task but there is no meaner man on the job than Daniel Craig. Here’s what the new James Bond had to say about Casino Royale.

What’s it been like?

It’s been extraordinary, an epic adventure. And it’s been a huge learning curve, which is obvious really. If you take on something this size, it’s going to be a lot of new things to discover.

Have you tried to ignore all the buzz going on ever since it was announced you had the part?

I would be lying to you if I said I ignored. I’ve become ambivalent about it, but what’s the point? Because there will be another story tomorrow. And unless someone seriously slanders me, then that’s a different matter. But it’s playground stuff.

As far as the work is concerned, I’m just doing my best here and that is all that matters for me because I know that everybody around me is doing their best as well. We have some of the most skilled people in the world on this movie producing something special. It’s going to give Bond fans — and believe me I’m careful about that, because I know what it means to them — it’s going to give them what they want.

Are there times when you look up and think ‘oh wow, I’m in the middle of a Bond movie’?

There have been plenty of moments scattered throughout. Like the times when I’ve been driving the (Aston Martin) DBS around. That model isn’t even out until next year and it’s incredible.

Did you look at any of the previous Bond films or did you feel that it wouldn’t be helpful?

Look, I’ve got the box set and I went through them religiously. I had to. Not because I can answer questions at press conferences when someone says ‘in Man With A Golden Gun in scene 54…’, although if you want to test me…(laughs). But you know, for tips. I just wanted to go through them and there was stuff that Sean (Connery) did and stuff that Roger (Moore) did that were their little keys and you go ‘oh that’s cute, the way they did that’.

Why do you think Bond has been so successful for so long?

Cubby Broccoli was such a showman and that played a huge part. And you know it always seems to tap into the zeitgeist, somehow, it always gets a flavour of it. And touch wood, we have too. And you know Bond is a classic hero this guy who says ‘I’m going to get the job done and this is how I’m going to do it. I don’t care about your rules!’ And that was such an exciting thing, you know, women wanted to sleep with him and men wanted to be with him, it was that classic scenario but he was one of the first.

Where are we on a second one? Will you do another one?

There’s no announcement at the moment but it’s looking good for next year. I mean, I signed up for it. So let’s get on with it. I’d like the second one out of the way so I can take a break (laughs).

Is your Bond going to be a little more down and dirty, as they say?

Yes, and that was a desire of mine. I wanted us to question him. Is he right to do this stuff? For me, I always want to try to figure something out and to try to figure someone’s motives out. I wanted the audience to have to think about that, about why he does what he does.