Daniel Craig

By MI6 Staff

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Datastream
Full Name: Daniel Wroughton Craig
Date of Birth: 2nd March 1968
Place of Birth: Cheshire, England
Height: 5’ 10” (1.78m)
Also Famous For: Layer Cake, Tomb Raider
Active Duty: 2005-present
Only Bond: He is the first Bond actor to have been born after the Bond series began

Bondography
2006 - Casino Royale
2008 - Quantum of Solace
2010 - Blood Stone (voice & likeness)
2010 - GoldenEye 007 (voice & likeness)
2011 - GoldenEye Reloaded (voice & likeness)
2012 - Skyfall
2015 - SPECTRE

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale

“Sean Connery set and defined the character. He did something extraordinary with that role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and stylish, and it is because of him I am here today. I wanted Sean Connery’s approval and he sent me messages of support, which meant a lot to me.”

Biography
Daniel Wroughton Craig was born on the 2nd of March 1968 to Tim and Carol Craig in Chester, England. The younger of two siblings, Daniel grew up in Chester and moved to Liverpool – after his parents’ split – where he attended Hilbre High School. During his childhood, Craig’s father worked as a merchant sailor, a steel erector and the landlord of a Cheshire pub. Young Daniel was inspired to pursue the dramatic arts after regular visits to the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool with his mother. Daniel Craig was following the Bond franchise as early as ’73, when his father took him to see Roger Moore’s first 007 outing in “Live And Let Die”.

In 1984, as a young 16-year-old, Craig moved to London to participate in the National Youth Theatre. He won his first lead and made his stage debut in “Troilus and Cressida” and was invited to tour with the troupe to Eastern Europe and Russia. In the late ‘80s, Craig decided to enrol in a London drama-school – attending audition after audition before being accepted at Guildhall School of Music of Drama in 1988. Craig thrived in drama school, after struggling with the day-to-day nature of college, and attended classes with the likes of Ewan McGregor and Rhys Ifans.

Daniel Craig in the pretitles sequence for Casino Royale

Craig graduated college in 1992, but even before this he won his first on-screen role in “The Power of One”, the John G. Avildsen film based on the famous novel by Bryce Courtenay. Out of drama-school Craig jumped at the chance to perform roles in a variety of BBC features including “Sharpe’s Eagle” and “Zorro” but failed to break into the US or movie market – however the charming Brit actor would not have to wait long.

Daniel Craig began his American career by adding “Young Indiana Jones” and “Drop The Dead Donkey” to his quickly growing CV. While these credits would not bring critical acclaim, Craig eventually landed a lucrative role that would help him successfully break into the American market, the role of Master Kane in Disney’s “A Kid in King Arthur’s Court”.

During this period Craig became engaged and married to the Scottish actress Fiona Loudon, with whom he had one daughter before their eventual devoice in 1994. Craig’s daughter Ella lives with her mother in London. Daniel Craig has stipulated in many an interview that while he’s happy to discuss every facet of filmmaking, he remains that his private life should be just that – private.

As his career developed, Daniel Craig began to make a name for himself in UK television and theatre, performing onstage in the original run of “Angels in America” and various other productions with the Royal National Theatre.

In 1996, after hard work and a huge variety of roles, Craig landed a role in the successful TV mini-series “Our Friends In The North” in which the aspiring actor played the lead role of George Peacock, alongside Christopher Eccleston and Mark Strong.

Thanks to this role, the 007-to-be began to raise his credentials among critics and lose his “freshman” status – which only encouraged Craig to widen his dramatic range and critical accomplishment. That same year, he performed in “Saint-Ex”, the story of Antoine de Saint-Exupery in which Craig portrays the author-come-pilot’s best friend, Guillaumet.

In the late 1990’s he gained a wide variety of experience in all corners of the dramatic scene, performing in the likes of erotic vampire series "The Hunger”, and dramatic period biopic “Elizabeth” – where Daniel Craig performed opposite Cate Blanchette and again, Christopher Eccleston.

The turn of the century saw Craig make a break in Hollywood when he made the role of Alex West in fantasy adventure “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”. Although he reported later that he regretted the role, the big-budget action picture, added to Craig’s diverse collection of characters and saw him performing some action sequences – something that he’s proved particularly good at. His next blockbuster proved a meatier plotline and one which would catch critics attention. In 2002 Craig successfully took on a role in Sam Mendes’ graphic novel adaptation, “Road to Perdition”.

The following years saw a host of varying role, including the un-named lead in Mathew Vaughn’s debut directorial picture “Layer Cake”. Daniel Craig gives a stellar performance in the mobster outing and acts opposite some big British stars, including Michael Gambon. The same year, Craig teamed up with Roger Mitchell to make the dramatic “Enduring Love”.

Without leaping directly into Hollywood, Craig had caught the attention of many in the movie game – carefully selecting roles he felt suit his character, advance his career and would be appropriate for his status as a modern actor. Despite somewhat classical training, Daniel Craig’s style of drama is entirely modern and keeping with the mantle of a budding master of the silver screen.

When Craig signed on to the multi-million dollar James Bond franchise he threw himself into the spotlight. From the word go, and the 14th of October 2005, Daniel Craig was well and truly capturing press attention. His jet-boat appearance (thanks to the British navy) and press-packed photo call was the beginning of the big time for the new 007 actor.

Craig underwent press and fan scrutiny in the weeks and months leading up to the 21st Bond outing “Casino Royale”. For a period he bore the brunt of speculation from a range of sources and oftentimes ridiculous rumours– but actions speak far louder than words. “Casino Royale” saw a dazzling return for Bond and a fresh, new direction for the franchise, in a large part thanks to Craig himself.

Although now a respected Hollywood performer, Craig maintained that 007 would not alter his love for dynamic and differing roles in television and theatre as well as feature length films. Since taking over the mantle of Bond, Craig has continued to throw himself into an array of non-Bond projects. He starred as a member of the Bielski family in "Definance" who lived as outlaws and rescued Jews from the Nazis in Poland in the 1940s. He headed to Broadway opposite Hugh Jackman as Chicago police officers who mistakenly discharge a young boy into the custody of a serial killer. The error transforms their lives and threatens their friendship. The play ran for a strict 12 week run and called for the actor to grow a very un-Bond-like mustache.

He went on to the English-language adaptation of Stieg Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" with David Fincher, playing opposite the dynamic Rooney Mara. Although the troubled production of "Dream House" met with mostly negative reviews, Craig got the first opportunity to work with his would-be wife Rachel Weisz during the filming. The pair married in June 2011.

Throughout his career Daniel Craig has pledged his support to the UK based charity, Barnardo's, who help children to lead the lives they deserve, and in 2015 he worked with the UN to advociate for the complete elimination of mines.

Awards

British Artist of the Year at the 2012 Brittania Awards
Best actor for “Casino Royale” at the 2007 Empire Awards
Best actor for “Casino Royale” at the 2007 Evening Standard Awards
Best actor of the year for “Enduring Love” at the 2005 London Critics Circle
Best foreign actor for “Casino Royale” & “Enduring Love” at the 2007 Sant Jordi Awards
Best actor for “Some Voiced” at the 2000 British Independent Film Awards
Best British performance for “Love is the Devil” at the 1998 Edinburgh Film Festival