With No Time to Die set to release in theatres on November 20, there’s no time like the present to get to know Daniel Craig.
The English actor had a lot to prove when he stepped into Bond’s shoes for the first time. But instead of buckling under pressure, he delivered.
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Come get to know him with these 10+ random facts.
1. He was super hesitant to become James Bond.
When the actor was first approached to audition for the character in 2004, he found himself feeling annoyed .
“It was literally like, ‘[expletive] off. I don’t [expletive]want this. How dare you? How dare you offer this to me?’” he said.
But he told the publication that this was just his defence mechanism.
He became more invested in the role after he demanded to see a script of Casino Royale .
Then, he became even more excited after he got director Sam Mendes on board to film it.
2. He’s a long-standing fan of Liverpool Football Club.
Whenever he’s not chasing bad guys as James Bond, he’s spending his time cheering on his favorite football team!
He’s in good company with other celebs who are fans, including Mike Myers, Brad Pitt, and even Angelina Jolie.
3. He made his acting debut at age 14 in his school’s musical, *Oliver!*
He played Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker. The role ended up changing his life, as it cemented his love of acting.
“I’m not saying it’s like the first time you take really good drugs,” Craig told GQ .
“But it was a body shock of emotion, of adrenaline, in a way that I’d never felt before.”
When he was 16, he moved to London and began acting for the National Youth Theatre.
4. He had a crush on Nicole Kidman.
Watch out, Keith Urban!
After Craig and Kidman bonded on the set of The Invasion , he told W magazine this about the actress:
“She turns me on. Not in a sordid, horrible way. Well, come to think of it…”
5. Angelina Jolie called him one of the best kissers.
The pair locked lips in 2001 for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider .
After Jolie delivered him the sweet compliment, he returned one by telling Marie Claire UK that he felt “honored” and that “she’s not bad herself.”
6. He’s married to Rachel Weisz.
The actors have been married since 2011. While they share a profession, Weisz tod Marie Claire UK that talking about work is off-limits for them.
“I don’t talk about my work, and nor does he. It’s very private.”
“There is nothing worse than two actors getting together and talking about acting. It’s like the end – it’s the worst,” she continued.
Thankfully, they have their daughter to talk about. Their baby girl was welcomed in September 2018.
Craig also shares a 25-year-old daughter, Ella, with his ex-wife, Fiona Loudon.
7. He left home as a teenager to pursue acting.
When he did so, he never looked back.
“The idea that people supported me…at the time, I couldn’t see it. It was ‘I’m on my own. I do my own thing,'” he told GQ .
8. He’s been performing ever since he was a child.
Before his parents split up, they ran a pub called the Ring O’Bells in North West England.
From the time he was a young thing, he would use the patrons of the pub as his audience to perform.
It was there that Craig would mimic comics he had seen TV.
“I’d get money,” he said. “I suppose I’ve been making a living out of this from a very early age.”
We so wish someone had clips of this!
9. People were against him being James Bond from the start.
Craig may be a household name now, but that wasn’t the case back in 2005.
This made people wary about letting a newbie take on such an important role.
Additionally, his looks had some fans concerned.
People thought he didn’t fit the typical “Bond” tall, dark, and handsome look, as Craig is more on the short side and has blonde hair.
This type of criticism got to Craig at one point.
“I remember saying to my mum, ‘Can I play James Bond?’” he recalled to *GQ*.
Thankfully, his mom had his back.
“And she was like, ‘Of course you can. But I am your mother.’ ”
10. He based his James Bond character after the original Ian Fleming books.
Craig knew he had some tough shoes to fill when he stepped up to play Bond.
But instead of crafting a character that was based on what he had seen other actors do, he turned to the books.
While reading *Moonraker* especially, he found a character that was “really [expletive] dark.”
He pointed out one chapter to GQ where Bond tips the drug speed into his Champagne.
“I know we can’t have him having amphetamine and speed and doing all these things,” he said.
“But inside, I know I’m doing that,” he contined.
“And I wanted to inform the part and say that’s what he is. He’s kind of a [expletive] Because this job would [expletive] you up.”
We’re so glad he trusted his gut!
