Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig | |
|---|---|
 Craig at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in February 2007 | |
| Born | Daniel Wroughton Craig |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992—present |
| Spouse | Fiona Loudon 1992 - 1994 divorced |
Daniel Wroughton Craig[1] (born 2 March 1968) is an English actor, best known as the sixth actor to portray the fictional secret agent James Bond in the film series of the same name. He made his debut as the character in the 21st film, Casino Royale, to much critical acclaim and was also nominated for a BAFTA award.[2]
Brought up in Frodsham, Craig joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of sixteen and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991. His early films included The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episode Sharpe's Eagle.
Biography
Early life
Craig was born in Chester, England on March 2, 1968, the son of Olivia (née Williams), an art teacher, and Timothy John Wroughton Craig, who served as a midshipman in the Merchant Navy and worked in various occupations when he came ashore.
Craig was brought up in Frodsham where his father was landlord of the pubs "Ring 'O Bells" and "The Boot". He attended Hilbre High School and Calday Grange Grammar School. He played for Hoylake Rugby Club.[3] Craig moved to London when he was sixteen to join the National Youth Theatre after a brief stay at Calday.
Breakthrough: 1990s
Craig studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1991, and appeared in several minor roles including Sharpe's Eagle and an episode of Drop The Dead Donkey in 1993. His first major leading role on screen was as a co-star in the 1996 BBC Television serial Our Friends in the North. He continued his work with the BBC by starring in the 1997 Francis Bacon biopic Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon, portraying Bacon's jilted lover George Dyer. In the latter movie, Craig agreed to be shot in the nude, including full-frontals. 1997 also saw the release of a TV mystery drama, from the Minette Walters novel "The Ice House", in which Craig played D.S. Andy McLoughlin.
Following an introduction to international audiences as Angelina Jolie's rival and love interest in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), he continued his career in the United States in Sam Mendes's movie Road to Perdition (2002), with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Craig played Connor Rooney, the son of an Irish mob boss (played by Newman) and a conniving murderer who hides behind his mobster father's shadow. Other leading film roles include The Mother (2003) with Anne Reid, Layer Cake (2004) with Sienna Miller, Sword of Honour (2001), Sylvia (2003) with Gwyneth Paltrow, Enduring Love (2004) with Rhys Ifans, Steven Spielberg's Munich (2005) and Infamous (2006).
James Bond (2005–present)
In February 2005, Craig had been named in the media as a possible James Bond actor. On April 6, 2005, Craig was reported to have been signed by EON Productions as part of a three-film contract worth £15 million (US $29,696,972).[4] However, the news was later debunked by the BBC who contacted EON for an official report.[5]
On 23 October 2005, Craig signed a three-film contract, with Casino Royale releasing on 14 November 2006. He stated that he "was aware of the challenges" of the James Bond franchise which he consideres "a big machine" that "makes a lot of money". He aimed at bringing more "emotional depth" to the character.[6]
Significant controversy followed with some fans threatening a boycott of the film.[7] A website was also set up for the protest.[8][9] The reason was Craig being blond unlike all preceding James Bond actors. Media coverage of the controversy resulted in numerous actors publicly voicing their support of Craig. Most notably, three of the five previous actors who portrayed Bond—Timothy Dalton, Sean Connery, Roger Moore—called his casting a good decision. Clive Owen, who had been linked to the role, also spoke in defense of Craig, as did co-star Judi Dench.[10] In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Pierce Brosnan was asked, "What do you think of the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, and will you be watching Casino Royale?" He contradicted his own earlier responses and replied, "I'm looking forward to it like we're all looking forward to it. Daniel Craig is a great actor, and he's going to do a fantastic job".[11]
After the film was released, Craig's performance was highly acclaimed. Critic Paul Arendt of BBC Films,[12] Kim Newman of Empire[13] and Todd McCarthy of Variety[14] all described Craig as the first actor to truly embody the original James Bond from Ian Fleming's novels: "ironic, brutal, and cold." He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor on January 2006, and won the Best Actor award at the Evening Standard British Film Awards on 2 February 2007, both firsts for an actor in the role of James Bond.
Craig had to go on the Zone diet, the diet that Brad Pitt was on for his role in Fight Club, and Queen Latifah for certain scenes in the Last Holiday. The diet consist of a high protein low carbohydrate diet.[15][16][17] A widely circulated report on several news channels and newspapers claimed that Craig had lost two teeth filming a fight scene; Craig later said it was just a crown that had come loose. Producer Barbara Broccoli also denied other rumors in an interview with Variety.
As production of Casino Royale reached its conclusion, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced that pre-production work had already begun on the 22nd Bond film. After several months of speculation as to the release date, Wilson and Broccoli officially announced on 20 July 2006 that the currently un-named follow-up film, known only as Bond 22, will be released on 7 November 2008 and that Craig has been signed to play Bond, with an option for a third film.[18] On October 25, 2007, MGM CEO Harry Sloan revealed at the Forbes Meet II Conference that Craig had signed on for four more Bond films, through to Bond 25.[19]
In 2006, Casino Royale became #5 best-selling Bond film of all time; however, with recent DVD and box office sales, it rose to the #2 best-selling Bond film of all time as of 2007. The same year, Craig was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[20][21]
In 2007, Craig moved on to portraying the character of Lord Asriel in the The Golden Compass, the film adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel.[22] Eva Green, who played Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, also starred in the film, although did not appear in any scenes with Craig. In a stage version of the book, Asriel had previously been played by Timothy Dalton, one of Craig's predecessors in the role of James Bond.
In early 2007, Craig expressed an interest in being a part of the Star Trek franchise, professing his love of the series to the World Entertainment News Network and a desire to have a "stint in the TV show or a film. It's been a secret ambition of mine for years."[23] On 16 March 2007, Craig made a cameo appearance as himself in a sketch with Catherine Tate who appeared in the guise of her character Elaine Figgis from The Catherine Tate Show. The sketch was made for the BBC Red Nose Day 2007 fundraising programme.[24]
Personal life
Craig was married to British actress Fiona Loudon in 1992 and bore a girl, Ella, but the marriage ended in a divorce in 1994.[25]. He was rumoured of having a relationship with Sienna Miller.[26] In late 2007, he proposed to movie producer Satsuki Mitchell who has produced The Jacket and Searching for Debra Winger. [27]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Power of One | Sgt. Botha | |
| 1993 | Sharpe's Eagle | Lt. Berry | Television drama |
| 1995 | A Kid in King Arthur's Court | Master Kane | |
| 1996 | The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders | James "Jemmy" Seagrave | Television drama |
| Our Friends in the North | George "Geordie" Peacock | Television drama | |
| 1997 | Obsession – Besessene Seelen | John McHale | |
| 1997 | The Ice House | D.S. Andy McLoughlin | TV Mystery/Drama from the novel by Minette Walters |
| 1998 | Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon | George Dyer | |
| Love and Rage | James Lynchehaun | ||
| Elizabeth | John Ballard | ||
| 1999 | The Trench | Sgt. Telford Winter | |
| 2000 | Some Voices | Ray | |
| I Dreamed of Africa | Declan Fielding | ||
| 2001 | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider | Alex West | |
| Sword of Honour | Guy Crouchback | ||
| 2002 | Copenhagen | Werner Heisenberg | Television drama, stage adaptation |
| Ten Minutes Older: The Cello | Cecil | ||
| Road to Perdition | Connor Rooney | ||
| 2003 | Sylvia | Ted Hughes | |
| The Mother | Darren | ||
| 2004 | Layer Cake | XXXX | |
| Enduring Love | Joe | ||
| 2005 | Munich | Steve | |
| Archangel | Christopher Kelso | Television drama | |
| Fateless | American Soldier | ||
| The Jacket | Rudy Mackenzie | ||
| 2006 | Casino Royale | James Bond | |
| Renaissance | Barthélémy Karas | Voice role | |
| Infamous | Perry Smith | ||
| 2007 | The Golden Compass | Lord Asriel | Released |
| The Invasion | Ben | ||
| 2008 | Bond 22 | James Bond | Pre-production |
| Flashbacks of a Fool | Post-production | ||
| Defiance | Filming | ||
| I, Lucifer | Lucifer | Pre-production |
References
- ^ "GRO Birth Registration Index". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ "'Best Bond ever' vanquishes his greatest foe - the critics". The Times. 2006-11-15. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "A-Hoylake!". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- ^ "Daniel Craig picked for Bond". Guardian Unlimited. 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2006-08-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Bond bosses silent on actor Craig". BBC News Online. 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2006-08-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Daniel Craig: Our Friend in MI6". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "Boycott Casino Royale!".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "DanielCraigIsNotBond.com home of the casino royale boycott".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Phil Gerrard Talks CraigNotBondNotCom".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Owen backs 'proper actor' as Bond". BBC News Online. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2006-09-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Pierce Brosnan answers". The Globe and Mail. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
- ^ Arendt, Paul. "Casino Royale (2006)". BBC Films. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
- ^ Newman, Kim. "Casino Royale". Empire. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd. "Casino Royale". Variety. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
- ^ http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article55614.html
- ^ http://www.craveonline.com/article/filmtv/04648210/queen_latifah_last_holiday.html
- ^ http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=17181
- ^ "Campbell and Broccoli explain the shift from Brosnan to Craig, hints for Bond 22 plotlines"
- ^ Bond, Paul (2007-10-26). "Sloan sees hope in talks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5400194
- ^ http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.06.18.html
- ^ "Craig lands role in Pullman film". BBC News Online. 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2006-08-19.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Forget Matt Damon, Daniel Craig Wants To Be Kirk". SyFy Portal. 2007-01-06. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Michael to be in Tate sketch show". BBC News Online. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ "Royale Family". Daily Record. 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2006-11-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://toronto.fashion-monitor.com/news.php/gossip/20051129Sienna_Miller
- ^ "Latest Bond, Daniel Craig proposes to Movie Producer Satsuki Mitchell". diamondring. Septempber 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- Daniel Craig at IMDb
- Daniel Craig biography and credits at the BFI's Screenonline
- Stage and Screen Online Bond composer David Arnold talks about how Daniel Craig's performance in Casino Royale influenced his music.
- A very detailed biography from Tiscali Film & TV
| Preceded by Pierce Brosnan 1995–2002 |
James Bond actor 2006—2014 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |