Daniel Craig has admitted that he felt “physically and mentally harassed” when he tried to cope with his newly met James Bond fame.
The 53-year-old actor became a world star when he took on the role of 007 in Pierce Brosnan, making his first appearance as a spy at Casino Royale in 2005.
In the Apple TV + Essent James Bond documentary, Daniel explained that he was not prepared for the level of scrutiny involved in accepting the role.
Candidate: Daniel Craig has admitted that he felt “physically and mentally harassed” when he tried to deal with his new James Bond fame (pictured in Skyfall)
He said, “My personal life was affected by being so famous all of a sudden. I used to shut myself in and close the curtains, I was on the ground of cuckoo clouds. I was physically and mentally harassed.
I didn’t like the new level of fame. It was Hugh Jackman who helped me accept and appreciate it. ”
The movie star also admitted that he was initially reluctant to accept the role, saying he would not know what to do with it.
Daniel explained, “As far as I was concerned, I was already more successful than ever as an actor; I didn’t have a fantastic person.
Leading man: The 53-year-old actor became a world star when he took on the role of 007 of Pierce Brosnan, making his first appearance as a spy at Casino Royale in 2005.
‘Pierce had done Remington Steele, Roger Moore had done The Saint – they had done those parts where people had gone,‘ This is James Bond ’.
“I had made weird feature films. It was a tougher sale. And I didn’t really want to do it, because I thought I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I was going to look up the script, read it, and say, ‘Thank you.’ , but no”.
He added: “But I didn’t know, it was Casino Royale. The story was solid, the script was solid.”
However, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said she was determined to hire him: “I always thought that whenever I was on the screen no one else could be seen. It’s lit from the inside. It was clear. who is a movie star and a great actor to begin with.
Fame: Speaking on the Apple TV documentary Being James Bond, Daniel said he was not prepared for the level of scrutiny involved in accepting the role.
Barbara added that the studio wanted the casting agents to meet with other actors, but insisted that Daniel was the man in the piece.
He personally called the actor to tell him he got the role, with Daniel revealing that he immediately “grabbed a bottle of vodka, vermouth” and “a shaker” that caused a three-day hangover.
Daniel also recalled how he broke his leg while filming the 2015 Spectrum, but insisted he would continue filming, instead of having to stop production while he recovered.
The star wore a “bionic leg” during much of the filming, with Barbara adding that “she could barely walk.”
He said, “I didn’t like the new level of fame. It was Hugh Jackman who helped me accept and appreciate it” (Hugh Jackman in August 2021)
The difficult experience was what made Daniel remark that he would rather “cut my wrists” than play Bond again while promoting the film.
However, he was persuaded to return for the last time to No Time To Die, making him the 007 best-serving actor in the franchise.
He said, “I don’t want to continue with Specter’s difficulty, but I needed a break. I needed to shut down.
“At the end of this film I felt really psychologically too old. Barbara has a tough negotiation. I don’t think I ever escaped leaving after Specter.
Role: Daniel added that he made a farewell speech to the cast and crew of No Time To Die during filming and that he is proud of his work in the franchise (pictured in No Time To Die)
Daniel made a farewell speech to the cast and crew of No Time To Die during filming and added that he is proud of his work in the franchise.
He said, “My tenure is what it is, but it’s just part of something bigger. I look back at the movies and I’m incredibly proud of each of them. Leaving that role isn’t easy.
“I can be as cheeky and cheeky as I want to be, but it’s still hard to get away from it. And it’s not about money and fame.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have been able to do that. But I think it’s okay now [to leave the role], and that’s why we made this movie. “
Being James Bond can now be seen on Apple TV +.
He said: “My tenure is what it is, but it’s just part of something bigger. I look back at the movies and I’m incredibly proud of them all. Leaving that role isn’t easy. ‘