Daniel Wroughton Craig[3] (born 2 March 1968) is an English actor, best known for playing British secret agent James Bond since 2006.[4]
Daniel Craig | |
|---|---|
 Craig at Skyfall premiere in Sydney, on 16 November 2012 | |
| Born | Daniel Wroughton Craig 2 March 1968[1][2] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) | Fiona Loudon (1992–1994) Rachel Weisz (2011–present) |
| Children | 1 |
Craig is an alumnus of the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began his career on stage. His early on screen appearances were in the films Elizabeth, The Power of One and A Kid in King Arthur's Court, and on Sharpe's Eagle and Zorro in television. His appearances in the British films Love Is the Devil, The Trench and Some Voices attracted the industry's attention, leading to roles in bigger productions such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Road to Perdition, Layer Cake and Munich.
Craig achieved international fame when chosen as the seventh actor to play the role of James Bond, replacing Pierce Brosnan. Though he was initially greeted with scepticism, his debut in Casino Royale was highly acclaimed and earned him a BAFTA award nomination, with the film becoming the highest-grossing in the series at the time. Quantum of Solace followed two years later. His third Bond film, Skyfall, premiered in 2012 and is now the highest-grossing film in the series.[5][6]
In 2006, Craig joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Since taking the role of Bond, he has continued to appear in other films, most recently starring in the English language adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Craig made a guest appearance as Bond in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, alongside Queen Elizabeth II.
Early life
Craig was born in West Cheshire Hospital, in Chester, England.[7] His mother, Carol Olivia (née Williams), was an art teacher, and his father, Timothy John Wroughton Craig, was the landlord of the pubs "Ring o' Bells" (in Frodsham) and the "Boot Inn" (Willington, Tarporley), and also served as a midshipman in the Merchant Navy.[8][9][10] Both of Craig's parents were of half Welsh descent.[11]
Craig was brought-up on the Wirral Peninsula,[12] near Liverpool, and attended primary school in Frodsham, and later Holy Trinity Primary School[13] in Hoylake. After failing his Eleven plus, Craig (along with his older sister, Lea) attended Hilbre High School in nearby West Kirby.[14] Upon finishing his compulsory secondary school education at the age of sixteen, he joined Calday Grange Grammar School briefly as a sixth form student.[15] Craig played for Hoylake RFC Rugby Union Club.[16] Daniel began acting in school plays at the age of six. He was introduced to serious acting by attending the Everyman theatre in nearby Liverpool city centre with his mother.[17] Craig moved to London when he was sixteen to join the National Youth Theatre.[10] He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican and graduated in 1991 after three years of study under Colin McCormack.
Career
Overview
Craig appeared as Joe in the Royal National Theatre's production of Tony Kushner's Angels in America in November 1993. Also in 1993, Craig appeared in an episode of Yorkshire Television's Heartbeat, which aired 31 October 1993.[18] An early starring role was as 'Geordie' in the BBC's 1996 drama Our Friends in the North, with early film roles being as Angelina Jolie's rival and love interest in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), before appearing in Sam Mendes's movie Road to Perdition (2002), with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Other leading film roles include Sword of Honour (2001), The Mother (2003) with Anne Reid, Sylvia (2003) with Gwyneth Paltrow, Layer Cake (2004) with Sienna Miller, Enduring Love (2004) with Rhys Ifans, Steven Spielberg's Munich (2005) with Eric Bana, Infamous and Casino Royale (2006), The Golden Compass (2007), Quantum of Solace, Defiance (2008), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and Skyfall (2012).
James Bond: 2005–present
In 2005, Craig was contracted by Eon Productions to portray James Bond. He stated he "was aware of the challenges" of the Bond franchise which he considered "a big machine" that "makes a lot of money". He aimed at bringing more "emotional depth" to the character.[19] Born in 1968, Craig is the first actor to portray James Bond to have been born after the Bond series started, and Ian Fleming, the novels' writer, had died. Significant controversy followed the decision, as it was doubted if the producers had made the right choice. Throughout the entire production period Internet campaigns expressed their dissatisfaction and threatened to boycott the film in protest.[20]
The 5-foot-10-inch (178 cm) blond Craig was not considered by some protesters to fit the tall, dark Bond portrayed by the previous Bond actors, and to which viewers had apparently become accustomed.[21] The Daily Mirror ran a front page news story critical of Craig, with the headline, "The Name's Bland – James Bland".[22] Although the choice of Craig was controversial, numerous actors publicly voiced their support, most notably, four of the five actors who had previously portrayed Bond – Pierce Brosnan,[23] Timothy Dalton, Sean Connery and Roger Moore – called his casting a good decision. George Lazenby has since voiced his approval of Craig also.[24] Clive Owen, who had been linked to the role, also spoke in defence of Craig.[25]
The first film, Casino Royale, premiered 14 November 2006, and grossed a total of US$594,239,066 worldwide, which made it the highest-grossing Bond film to date.[26] After the film was released, Craig's performance was highly acclaimed.[27] 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 follow-up film, Quantum of Solace,[28] was to be released on 7 November 2008, and that Craig plays Bond with an option for a third film.[29] On 25 October 2007, MGM CEO Harry Sloan revealed at the Forbes Meet II Conference that Craig had signed on to make four more Bond films, through to Bond 25.[30]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended a membership invitation to Craig in 2006 .[31] Craig sliced off the top of one of his fingers 12 June 2008, while filming Quantum of Solace.[32] The accident was one of a string of incidents surrounding the shoot, including a fire at one of the sets in Pinewood Studios, a car crash that left the stunt driver in a serious condition, and an Aston Martin skidding off the road and plunging into Lake Garda while being transported to the set in Italy.[33]
Craig describes his portrayal of Bond as an anti-hero: "The question I keep asking myself while playing the role is, 'Am I the good guy or just a bad guy who works for the good side?' Bond's role, after all, is that of an assassin when you come down to it. I have never played a role in which someone's dark side shouldn't be explored. I don't think it should be confusing by the end of the film, but during the film you should be questioning who he is."[34] Craig has stated his own favourite previous Bond actor was Sean Connery, but says, "I'd never copy somebody else. I would never do an impression of anybody else or try and improve on what they did. That would be a pointless exercise for me." His own favourite Bond film is From Russia with Love.[35] On a James Bond-centric episode of The South Bank Show, Connery divulged his thoughts on Craig's casting as Bond, whom he described as "fantastic, marvelous in the part". When told that Craig had taken particular note of his performances, Connery said that he was "flattered" and that Craig really gets the "danger element" to Bond's character.[36]
The 19 April 2010-release of Craig's expected third Bond film (the 23rd overall in the series) was delayed, because of financial troubles with MGM,[37] but the film (Skyfall) was released on 23 October 2012, and was part of the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Dr. No.[38] On 8 September 2012, Bond producers announced Craig had signed on for two future Bond films and not five as previously reported. This would bring his total to five films, which would be two fewer than Roger Moore's record of seven.
Other projects
In 1999, Craig starred as Richard in a TV drama called Shockers: The Visitor. He portrayed Lord Asriel in The Golden Compass, the 2007 film adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel.[39] Eva Green, who played Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, also starred in the film, although she 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 2001, 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."[40] 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.[41]
In 2008's Defiance, he played Tuvia Bielski, a Jewish resistance fighter in the forests of Belarus during World War II who saved 1,200 people[42] The shot in Casino Royale of Craig sporting swimming trunks has often topped many sexiest male celebrity polls,[43] and in 2009 Del Monte Foods launched an ice pop moulded to resemble Craig emerging from the sea.[44] He co-starred with Hugh Jackman, in a limited engagement of the drama A Steady Rain, on Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre, which played 10 September through 6 December 2009.[45]
Craig lent his voice and likeness as James Bond for both the Wii game GoldenEye 007, an enhanced remake of the 1997 game for the Nintendo 64, and James Bond 007: Blood Stone, an original game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and Microsoft Windows.[46] In August 2010, Craig was cast as crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist in David Fincher's 2011 adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.[47] Craig co-starred with Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde in Cowboys & Aliens, an American science fiction Western film, based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's 2006 graphic novel of the same name.[48][49]
Craig hosted the American late-night live television sketch comedy Saturday Night Live on 6 October 2012.[50][51]
Personal life
In 1992, Craig married actress Fiona Loudon, with whom he had a daughter, Ella. The marriage ended in divorce in 1994.[52]
After his divorce, he was in a seven-year relationship with German actress Heike Makatsch, ending in 2001.[53] He subsequently dated film producer Satsuki Mitchell from 2004 until 2010.[54]
Craig and actress Rachel Weisz had been friends for many years, and worked together on the movie Dream House. They began dating in December 2010 and married on 22 June 2011,[54][55][56] in a private New York City ceremony, with just four guests in attendance, including Craig's 18-year-old daughter, Ella, and Weisz's four-year-old son, Henry.[57]
In October 2008, Craig paid £4 million for an apartment in a converted old house in Primrose Hill near Regent's Park, London.[58] He is a Liverpool F.C. supporter.[59] In 2013 he was given for his 45th birthday an Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster by his wife Rachel Weisz.
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Zorro | Lt. Hidalgo | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Fixx | Episode: "George and His Daughter" |
| 1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Schiller | Episode: "Palestine, October 1917"; unaired |
| 1993 | Between the Lines | Joe Rance | Second series, part 1 |
| 1993 | Heartbeat | Peter Begg | Episode: "A Chilly Reception" |
| 1993 | Screen Two | Lieutenant Guth, Schatz's replacement | Episode: "Genghis Cohn" |
| 1996 | Our Friends in the North | Geordie Peacock | TV mini-series |
| 1996 | Tales from the Crypt | Barry | Episode: "Smoke Wrings" |
| 1997 | The Hunger | Jerry Pritchard | Episode: "Menage a Trois" |
| 2012 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Daniel Craig/Muse" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 007: Quantum of Solace | James Bond |
| 2010 | GoldenEye 007 | James Bond |
| 2010 | James Bond 007: Blood Stone | James Bond |
References
- ^ Web. Researcha.Com [dead link]
- ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1249. 8 March 2013. p. 20.
- ^ "GRO Birth Registration Index". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
- ^ Calhoun, Dave. "Daniel Craig exclusive interview". Time Out-London. Timeout.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ "IMDB Release Info". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (15 November 2006). "'Best Bond ever' vanquishes his greatest foe – the critics". The Times. UK. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
- ^ Chester Chronicle – Biography of Daniel Craig
- ^ Holmes, David. "Chester secures advance screening of new Bond film Quantum of Solace". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ "People Profile, Daniel Craig". Cigar Aficionado. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ a b The Boot Inn (Tarporley, Cheshire). – Old World Pubs.
- ^ Robin Turner. "News – Wales News – Daniel Craig's Welsh links revealed". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ Marshall, Sarah (2008). Daniel Craig: The Biography. John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84454-604-7.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Hoylake Holy Trinity – Homepage
- ^ Chester Chronicle (25 January 2011). "Biography". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ Royal seal of approval for Daniel Craig's 007 Skyfall premiere
- ^ Slater, Matt (17 July 2006). "A-Hoylake!". BBC News Online. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
- ^ Daniel Craig Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story – Biography.com
- ^ "Bond star in Heartbeat". Whitby Gazette. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Daniel Craig: Our Friend in MI6". BBC News Online. 14 October 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
- ^ "Anti-Bond protests". Moono. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ La Monica, Paul R. (6 November 2006). "Blond, James Blond". CNN. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
- ^ "The Name's Bland ... James Bland". Daily Mirror. UK. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2006. [dead link]
- ^ Medley, Mark. "Pierce Brosnan answers." The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "The George Lazenby of 007s: A Conversation with George Lazenby". popcultureaddict.com. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Owen backs 'proper actor' as Bond". BBC News Online. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2006.
- ^ "Casino Royale box office results". boxofficemojo. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
- ^ Lyall, Sarah (17 November 2006). "New Bond". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ "New Bond film title is confirmed". BBC News Online. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
- ^ "Campbell and Broccoli explain the shift from Brosnan to Craig, hints for Bond 22 plotlines". MI6-HQ.com. 18 November 2006.
- ^ Bond, Paul (26 October 2007). "Sloan sees hope in talks". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
- ^ "Academy Invites 115 to Become Members" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 18 June 2007. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007.
- ^ Fernandez, Colin (25 January 2011). "Bond Curse". Daily Mail. London.
- ^ "Dry Another Day – Bond's Aston Martin crashes into lake" (Press release). 14 December 2010.
- ^ Kevin Sessums (26 October 2008). "The Man Who Loves Being Bad". Parade. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
- ^ "Daniel Craig". 25 January 2011.
- ^ The South Bank Show James Bond Special (2008)
- ^ Taylor, Sophie (20 April 2010). "Daniel Craig's Bond film put on hold indefinitely, People in the News, People". The First Post. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ Daniel Craig signs up for two more Bond movies|NYPOST.com
- ^ "Craig lands role in Pullman film". BBC News Online. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
- ^ Michael Hinman (6 January 2007). "Forget Matt Damon, Daniel Craig Wants To Be Kirk". Airlock Alpha. Retrieved 9 May 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Michael to be in Tate sketch show". BBC News Online. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
- ^ "Voices on Antisemtisim interview with Daneil Craig". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 12 March 2009.
- ^ "Daniel Craig voted sexiest man", The Sun, 1 June 2009
- ^ "Daniel Craig in 007 Lolly", The Daily Telegraph, 1 June 2009
- ^ Gans, Andrew."A Steady Rain, with Craig and Jackman, to Play Broadway's Schoenfeld" Playbill, 9 July 2009
- ^ Saltzman, Marc (13 November 2010). "New generation of gamers play Bond in 'Goldeneye'". USA Today. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (26 July 2010). "Daniel Craig Closes Deal For 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'". New York: Deadline.com. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- ^ The New York Times – PHENOMENON; Comic Genius?
- ^ marketwire – It Books and Platinum Studios Announce "Cowboys & Aliens" Graphic Novel Paperback Edition on Stands 28 June 2011 – from "Platinum Studios, Inc."
- ^ "Daniel Craig hosts 'Saturday Night Live,' spoofs 'Bond'". ontheredcarpet.com. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Simpson, Leah (7 October 2012). "Not the usual Bond girl! Daniel Craig gets up-close-and-personal with his masculine girlfriend in first hosting gig for SNL". Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ People Magazine Celebrity Central (22 October 2012). "Daniel Craig". People. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ Webster, Ben (16 October 2005). "Heike". The Sunday Times. London.
- ^ a b Thompson, Jody (25 June 2011). "The name's Craig, Mrs Craig: Rachel Weisz 'secretly marries James Bond star Daniel Craig in undercover ceremony'". Daily Mail. UK: Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz get married". The Guardian. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz say 'I Do' in a secret wedding!". BeautyMania.biz. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ Zakarin, Jordan (25 June 2011). "Rachel Weisz, Daniel Craig Get Married: Actress, Actor Wed In Secret Ceremony". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Leach, Ben (12 October 2008). "James Bond actor Daniel Craig buys £4 million home in area fit for a spy". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "James Bond star Daniel Craig enjoys Liverpool FC victory over Newcastle". Liverpool Echo. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
Further reading
- Marshall, Sarah (2007). Daniel Craig: The Biography. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84454-454-7.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - O'Brien, Daniel (2007). Daniel Craig – Ultimate Professional. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905287-44-4.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Ogle, Tina (2009). Daniel Craig: The Illustrated Biography. Carlton Books. ISBN 978-1-84732-266-1.
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External links
- Daniel Craig at IMDb
- Daniel Craig at AllMovie
- Daniel Craig at People.com
- Daniel Craig biography and credits at the BFI's Screenonline
- Detailed biography from Tiscali Film & TV
- Personal interview on "being Bond", Parade Magazine 26 Oct 2008
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