A report from Leicester Square: Daniel Craig at the `Defiance` premiere

07-Jan-2009 • Event

He wasn't playing James Bond, but actor Daniel Craig showed he can still pull off the polished style of his alter ego at the premiere of his latest film.

Click here for red carpet pictures from the "Defiance" premiere (at dailymail.co.uk)

In a smart grey three-piece suit and with his very own Bond girl - film producer Satsuki Mitchel - by his side, the actor arrived at the European premiere of Defiance in London's Leicester Square Odeon.

But while Craig looked every inch the polished star, guest Vanessa Feltz had a different attitude when she found the cameras on her.

The presenter gave partner Ben Ofoedu a large kiss, before opening her eyes wide in surprise as he lent in to kiss her generous chest.

Her exhibition was in marked contrast to that of the actors and actresses who star in the holocaust-themed action movie.

Craig talked about the true story on which the movie is based, saying it was something he wanted the world to know.

'We didn't do it for the money, this movie, we did it because we loved doing it,' he said.

'We had a laugh - we had to. It was just as soon as I read the material I saw it was something I wanted to get involved in and expose to the world.'

The film tells the story of three Jewish brothers, the Bielskis, who escape Nazi-occupied Poland and take refuge in the woods they have known since childhood.

From there they begin to fight back against the Nazis and are joined in battle by men and women of all ages.

Director Edward Zwick said there was a sense of urgency about telling stories like that of the Bielski brothers while Holocaust survivors were still alive.

'This is the 11th hour,' he said. 'The last survivors at this moment will within five or 10 years all be gone.

'There's a certain anxiety attached to that and maybe some sort of urgency to try to tell the rest of the stories that aren't known.'

He also added his voice to the praise showered on Bond star Craig by his co-stars Jamie Bell and Liev Schreiber, who play the other two brothers, and Alexa Davalos.

'He was always available, he was never in his trailer, he was accessible,' he said.

Bell described the film as educational for him.

'I didn't know about Jewish resistance,' he said.

'Doing this movie has been an incredibly educational process. I've learned so much and I hope this movie will maybe change the perspective on the Jewish people at this time in history.

'They weren't silent and passive, they were incredibly resilient and resistant.'

Craig said he did not have any further projects lined up but said he would be open to doing theatre as well as films.

He laughed off rumours that singer Noel Gallagher wanted him to play him in a film about Oasis.

'I can't play guitar so I don't really know how it's going to work,' he said. 'I heard that this morning, but I'm not sure about it. (Noel) hasn't spoken to me about it.'

A horde of excited fans had braved the cold to catch a glimpse of stars on the red carpet, who also included Ray Mears, Terry Gilliam and Lorraine Kelly.

Defiance goes on general release on Friday.