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Daniel Craig reveals that playing James Bond left him ’empty and exhausted’ and admits he could never have taken on racy new film Queer if he was still 007

BBG News

As a lifestyle expert reflecting on the career of Daniel Craig, it is clear that his experiences as James Bond have left an indelible mark on him, both physically and emotionally. The toll of each movie was so great that he felt “empty” and “exhausted,” needing six months to recover emotionally after each film.

In simpler terms, Daniel Craig shared that he experienced a sense of emotional emptiness and exhaustion following the completion of each of his James Bond films.

Over a span of 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, the seasoned actor appeared in five Bond films, and more recently, he confessed that these financially successful movies had a significant impact on his physical and emotional well-being.

After leaving the Bond role, he has appeared in various other movies and is set to feature next in the provocative film titled “Queer.

In Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film, which is based on William Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novella and generating much anticipation, he shares the screen with Drew Starkey, who is 31 years old.

In the 1950s-set romantic drama, the story unfolds in Mexico City, where the protagonist, American expat and war veteran William Lee (portrayed by Craig), becomes romantically involved with Eugene Allerton (Starkey), a former sailor struggling with addiction.

In reminiscing about my Bond experiences, I shared with The Sunday Times over the weekend that I simply couldn’t have taken on a role like the one in ‘Queer’ during those days. To do so might have been perceived as backward or limited, giving the impression that I was merely demonstrating my versatility.

At the start, I believed there were other tasks associated with Bond, but in reality, there weren’t. Instead, I was ascending to stardom, though I wasn’t quite sure what that entailed, and filmmakers sought my presence in their projects. Remarkable, indeed.

Many actors find themselves unemployed for extended periods, causing them to accept any job offers that come their way. However, these opportunities often turned out to be unfulfilling. Ultimately, though, I received payment for my work.

After wrapping up a strenuous project like Bond, I needed nearly half a year to regain my emotional balance. I’ve always believed that living should take priority, but when work became the top priority for some time, I found myself drained.

Daniel continues to hold a strong affection for the James Bond series, and he eagerly awaits to discover the direction that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson plan to steer it in next.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I find myself in a position where speculating about the potential next James Bond isn’t within my purview. However, I can certainly express hope and good fortune towards those entrusted with making that choice.

After Daniel admitted that he wrote numerous dialogues for the 2008 film Quantum of Solace, he acknowledged that the movie didn’t quite meet expectations.

He reminisced his time on set but bluntly admitted it was a ‘f***ing nightmare’ – as they were short of writers and production started without a script.

On The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast, the Knives Out actor candidly admitted: “Making a follow-up film has been a real challenge and a total headache.

After Paul Haggis reviewed the script, he left to participate in a protest, which left us without any available screenwriters.

It wasn’t wise to start producing the film, and it is something I may not want to acknowledge.)

The English actor continued: ‘There are some amazing stunt sequences in it but it just didn’t quite work.

As I embarked on this cinematic journey without a well-crafted script, I quickly realized the importance of compelling storytelling. This experience served as a valuable reminder: beginning a filmmaking project without a clear narrative isn’t wise.

In that very interview, the actor additionally disclosed that at first, he turned down the offer to portray James Bond due to his apprehension that it might constrain other acting roles for him within the film industry.

As a lifestyle authority, I stepped into the iconic role of James Bond, portraying him in five films from Casino Royale in 2006 to No Time To Die in 2021. Yet, I must confess, there were moments of hesitation when I first accepted this extraordinary opportunity, embracing a legendary character who carries such global recognition and expectation.

Daniel confessed that he indeed felt apprehensive regarding the Bond role. He even declined the offer, expressing his refusal by saying, “No.

At that moment, since there was no script available, my overconfidence was quite astonishing. But in essence, I simply thought, ‘I can’t come to a conclusion without first seeing the script.’

Additionally, it was the same apprehension, as you’ve mentioned, regarding that matter and numerous others, concerning its potential impact on my existence.

At that point, I was quite content with my earnings, so continuing along the same path would have made me extremely satisfied.

‘But it was really one of those things where – I mean to be typecast as James Bond? Boo-hoo.’

Between his Bond movie appearances, Daniel also accepted various film roles like Defiance and Cowboys & Aliens. However, he admitted that these endeavors aimed at demonstrating his acting range ultimately left him feeling exhausted.

He mentioned that he believed there was a need for him to demonstrate his abilities. Later on, he recognized that he no longer possessed the necessary vigor for such endeavors.

‘It’s not knocking movies like ‘Defiance’, because I’m very proud of them. 

In essence, acting as Bond becomes your entire existence during production – every film represents approximately two years of your life; you’re away from home for more than half a year; and the pressure to accommodate another role to demonstrate versatility to the world seems ludicrous. Consequently, I chose to abandon that practice.

Among the films I’ve worked on, there are a few I took great pride in. However, during their production, I found myself feeling quite fatigued. In hindsight, it seems more beneficial for me to focus solely on the Bond series instead.

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2024-12-08 12:34

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