Daniel Craig talks about the challenges and evolution of playing James Bond
Actor Daniel Craig recently spoke about one of his primary worries while playing James Bond, the famous MI6 agent, in five different movies.
Looking back on his 15 years as the slick spy, Craig said that one of his “biggest reservations” about taking on the job was the demands society places on masculinity, according to Deadline.
Craig said, “I would say one of my biggest reservations about playing [Bond] would be the construct of masculinity,” according to Deadline, during a recent event promoting his most recent movie, “Queer,” directed by Luca Guadagnino.
“You can’t make fun of it and expect it to succeed, even if it was often really funny. You must believe in it,” he said.
Craig, who played Bond in the 2006 blockbuster Casino Royale, thereafter played the British secret agent in ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008), ‘Skyfall’ (2012), ‘Spectre’ (2015), and ‘No Time to Die’ (2021).
The actor has been rather outspoken about his choice to leave the series, even though his performance as the iconic spy represented a turning point in his career.
Given that the last installment of Craig’s Bond tale ends with a moving sacrifice for his character, Craig has said time and time again that he has no regrets about leaving the role.
Craig did, however, add that his conception of masculinity—which was crucial to portraying Bond—felt constrictive at times.
“We’re all vulnerable,” he said, describing the difficulty of conforming to social expectations around masculine behavior. It makes no difference who you are. Everyone is susceptible, regardless of how tough they are,” he said, adding, “But it’s how boys are brought up, how guys are meant to act, how someone like Burroughs was expected to behave,” according to Deadline.
Craig’s latest work has examined this vulnerability, especially in his portrayal of Lee, an American expatriate in 1950s Mexico City, in Queer.
Based on the book by William S. Burroughs, the movie explores issues of human desire and fragility. Craig said that he would never have been able to play such a part when he was Bond.
“Listen, I’ve spent over 20 years of my life with Bond. I was a single person when I took it on. He clarified, “But I couldn’t have done this movie when I was doing Bond. I’m a completely different person now.” It would have been like, “Why? What are you attempting to demonstrate?
Craig also discussed his feelings of freedom after Bond as he looks back on his Bond career. He now relishes the flexibility to work on projects outside of the shadow of 007 after becoming a worldwide icon thanks to the role.
He also spoke about losing the “freedom” he enjoyed as a semi-anonymous performer prior to the Bond movies catapulting him to global renown, according to Deadline.
Craig’s character in ‘Queer’, in sharp contrast to his action-packed Bond role, is battling love turbulence and emotional isolation.
In addition to exploring issues of identity, desire, and emotional upheaval, the film is set against the background of Mexico City’s dynamic but difficult culture.
