JAMES BOND actor Daniel Craig has turned himself into a global superstar after landing the role of 007.
He's recently become a father again with the birth of his second daughter - here's the lowdown on the actor..
Who is Daniel Craig? What is his background?
Daniel Wroughton Craig was born March 2, 1968, and is an English actor.
His mum Carol, was an art teacher and his dad, Timothy, a pub landlord.
He trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991.
He made his film debut in 1992 in The Power of One, and starred in the hit TV series Our Friends in the North in 1996.
But Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) was his big break role.
After that, the bigger parts started coming in, including Road to Perdition (2002) Layer Cake (2004) and Munich (2005).
New james bond movie release date. But Daniel really hit superstardom when he was cast as James Bond in 2005, replacing Pierce Brosnan.
He has played 007 in Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre.
When will Daniel Craig stop playing James Bond?
Daniel Craig had said he would not be doing another Bond film and would 'rather slash his wrists'.
![How Many James Bond Movies How Many James Bond Movies](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/riQRlfZsX5s/maxresdefault.jpg)
But in a major U-turn, the actor will be stepping back into that Aston Martin and will be enjoying another shaken, but not stirred martini.
The star has confirmed he will be back for ONE more film.
Bond 25 is set to be released in 2019, but the release date has been pushed back so that Daniel can help his pregnant wife, Rachel Weisz.
The bets are now on to see who will be his replacement after his last film.
Who is Daniel Craig married to and does he have any children?
Daniel has been married twice.
In 1992, he married actress Fiona Loudon, and they went on to have a daughter, Ella - but the marriage ended in divorce in 1994.
After they split, Daniel was in a seven-year relationship with German actress Heike Makatsch, ending in 2001.
He then dated film producer Satsuki Mitchell from 2005 until 2010.
But after being friends for years, Daniel and actress Rachel Weisz began dating in December 2010 and married on June 22, 2011, in New York.
The couple announced on April 20, 2018, they are going to have their first baby together.
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James Bond filming cancelled after Daniel Craig injures ankle in JamaicaHow much is Daniel Craig worth?
Daniel has amassed quite a fortune thanks to his fame as an actor, and of course, playing James Bond.
In the 2017 Sunday Times rich list, Daniel and Rachel were listed as being worth £82million.
He lives in a £6million London mansion with wife Rachel. Find flash drive version.
The actor was reportedly offered £116million to do two more Bond films.
Following Sean Connery's departure from the Bond franchise, producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman turned to British TV star, Roger Moore, to fill those rather large shoes. While he was a star in England and America thanks to his six seasons on 'The Saint,' Moore was roundly criticized even before his first Bond film as being too much of a lightweight to play the role.
Though it took a couple of movies, Moore actually settled into the part rather well despite continued calls that he had traded Connery's suave super agent for a campier version who was quicker with a wink than with his Walther PPK. Regardless, Moore spent 12 years as a James Bond actor and accounted for at least a few of the franchise's best films.
'Live and Let Die' – 1973
Once Sean Connery left the franchise for good after 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971), Moore made his debut as James Bond in this blaxploitation-themed addition to the series. In 'Live and Let Die,' Bond battles a Harlem drug lord named Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big (Yaphet Kotto), who plans on driving out the world’s drug cartels by flooding the streets with free heroin in order to gain a monopoly on the market. It's not exactly the world domination plots from Bond movies of old, which makes 'Live and Let Die' feel small in comparison. Despite criticism for the movie’s racial overtones and skepticism with Moore’s cheeky portrayal of 007, the film was a commercial hit, though it was a rather unimpressive debut.
'The Man with the Golden Gun' – 1974
Outside of Moore’s last Bond movie, 'A View to a Kill,' 'The Man with the Golden Gun' was a true low point in the entire Bond franchise. And that’s putting it mildly. Here Bond faces off against Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), the titular villain who plots to acquire a super weapon called the Solex Agitator, which harnesses the power of the sun into a destructive weapon, while also seeking to assassinate Bond. Thinking he is Bond’s equal, Scaramanga was certainly one of the better Bond villains, thanks in large part to Lee’s convincing performance. But the film itself is long and slow – really, did we need to see Moore’s entire flight to Scaramanga’s hideout? – and boasts one of the silliest fight scenes, where Scaramanga’s dwarf henchman, Nick Nack (Herve Villechaize), tries to attack Bond with a knife and winds up being thrown into the ocean in a suitcase.
'The Spy Who Loved Me' – 1977
After the disappointment of his first two films, Moore finally hit his stride in 'The Spy Who Loved Me,' not only the best of the Roger Moore era, but one of the best movies in the entire series. This one has it all: a great opening ski chase that ends in a rousing parachute jump from a cliff that proudly displays the Union Jack; a stunningly beautiful Bond Girl, Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach), who goes by the code name Agent XXX; a classic Bond villain (Curt Jürgens) hell-bent on destroying the world; and everybody’s favorite indestructible henchman, Jaws (Richard Kiel), who uses overwhelming strength and reinforced steel teeth to overpower his victims. Sure, the campy humor is still there, but it’s measured well against the great action sequences and undeniable chemistry between Moore and Bach. The film was a massive hit with critics and audiences, and contained one of the series’ most memorable theme songs, “Nobody Does It Better,” by Carly Simon.
'Moonraker' – 1979
Most people dismiss 'Moonraker' for its over-the-top action, absurd characters, and all-too-campy humor. But it’s exactly because of those qualities many love this movie and rank it high on the list of all-time best Bond movies. This time Bond battles madman billionaire, Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale), who builds a fleet of space shuttles and plans to use them to release poison gas across the globe, killing Earth’s entire population, before repopulating the planet with genetically perfect humans. Yes, Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) wasn’t the most exciting or glamorous Bond Girl, but Jaws makes his second, and presumably last, appearance, attacking Bond during a parachute dive and on a cable car, only to wind up helping 007 dispatch Drax after he falls in love. Maybe the filmmakers went too far with Bond’s inflatable gondola, but 'Moonraker' is still great fun and became one of the highest-grossing movies of the franchise.
'For Your Eyes Only' – 1981
In an effort to tone down the over-the-top action and campy humor, the filmmakers returned to Bond’s espionage roots with 'For Your Eyes Only,' a film that has divided critics and audiences since its 1981 release. Combining two Ian Fleming short stories, the film focused on Bond’s attempt to find a missile command system while becoming entwined with the vengeance-minded daughter (Carole Bouquet) of two marine archeologists murdered by a Cuban hitman. That leads to Greek smuggler Aristotle Kristatos (Julian Glover), who also wants to get his hands on the missile system. While there was plenty of camp in the opening sequence, where Bond turns the tables on a wheelchair-bound Blofeld, 'For Your Eyes Only' does manage to stay within the lines. The action sequences are fantastic – especially the ski chase on the bobsled track – but the in-between moments are dull, while real-life figure skater, Lynn-Holly Johnson, makes for one of the most annoying Bond Girls ever.
'Octopussy' – 1983
A return to the tongue-in-cheek tone of the previous Moore films, 'Octopussy' again divided fans and critics despite being another big box office hit. By this point in his tenure, Moore was showing signs of his age, but he still managed to pull off the role with his usual aplomb. Here Bond tries to uncover the death of British agent 009, who was found stabbed in the back while wearing a clown costume and holding a fake Fabergé egg. That leads 007 to uncover a plot by Russian General Orlov (Steven Berkoff) and wealthy Afghan prince Kamal Kham (Louis Jordan) to detonate a nuclear weapon at a U.S. Army base in West Germany and force NATO to withdraw so the Soviet Union can invade. Along the way, he engages the titular Octopussy (Maud Adams), a wealthy businesswoman who leads a cult of female acrobats and helps Khan smuggle priceless jewels. Yes, it’s a bit much when Bond yells like Tarzan while swinging on vines through the jungle or convincing an attacking tiger to sit, but 'Octopussy' is a fun movie and is not as bad as some people say.
'A View to a Kill' – 1985
This was the last and definitely the worst Bond movie starring Roger Moore, which is saying something considering his first two efforts. Already past his prime in 'Octopussy,' Moore – who was 57 at the time of filming 'A View to a Kill' – had visibly aged since the last time fans saw him as 007, something even Moore himself acknowledged after the fact. Making matters worse was Bond girl Tanya Roberts, whose portrayal of Stacey Sutton was grating at best. Christopher Walken earned deserved kudos for playing psychopathic villain, Max Zorin, who plots to destroy Silicon Valley with an earthquake and gain a monopoly in the market. Both Moore and Walken criticized the movie for being too violent and over the top, while not adhering to the classic Bond mold.
He's the most iconic character in cinema, he's best mates with the Queen and he's been in more movies than Freddy Krueger, Harry Potter and Iron Man combined, yet still James Bond remains something of a mystery. There are only a few things that everyone knows about 007 – his favourite gun, how he mixes his drinks, that he's a wildcat in the sack – but he famously steers clear of Hello! Magazine photospreads and he's rarely seen on the cover of heat. So join us as we attempt to throw some light on Blighty's foremost secret agent ahead of the release of Skyfall, with 25 things you (probably) didn't know about James Bond.
1. Shaken, Not Stirred
Bond's preferred tipple in Ian Fleming's first Bond book, Casino Royale, was the Vesper Martini – part gin, part vodka and a touch of Lillet Blanc wine. However, when it came to filming the first Bond movie, Dr. No, Smirnoff paid to have their vodka promoted, meaning they didn't want the gin mentioned. Bond's brand of booze quickly caught on and changed cocktail culture forever.
2. Bond The Boffin
According to Bond lore, young James was briefly educated at Eton, before going on to study at Fettes College in Edinburgh, a public school which was attended by Ian Fleming himself, and some bloke called Tony Blair. As unlikely as it sounds, Sean Connery was once the school's milkman ('I'll have a pint. Skimmed… not semi-skimmed').
3. Britain's Finest
The best of Blighty is actually half Scottish and half Swiss. In the Bond novels, James' parents – Andrew Bond and Monique Delacroix-Bond – die in a climbing accident in the French Alps, orphaning him at the age of 11. He then went to live with his aunt in a small village near Kent called Pett Bottom, which perhaps explains his attitude towards women.
4. The Basis For Bond
Author Ian Fleming based 007 on a number of different spies – not to mention his own experiences, given that he served as a Naval Intelligence Officer during WWII – but the biggest inspiration for Bond was English polymath John Dee. An all-round genius and 16th century badass, Dee would sign his letters to monarch Elizabeth I with a '007' glyph, signifying they were for her eyes only.
5. Tux Cuts
Fifth Bond Pierce Brosnan was long pursued by the Eon producers for the role, but the character is bigger than any single actor's career prospects. When he signed his contract for GoldenEye, Brosnan was informed that, though he was free to pursue other additional roles in-between Bond movies, the actor could not appear in another film wearing a tuxedo.
6. Names Bond
When it came to giving his secret agent a name, Fleming wanted a 'flat, quiet' name, aiming to make him an 'extremely dull, uninteresting' man to whom interesting things happened. Fleming spotted an ornithology book, 'Birds Of The West Indies' by James Bond, and thought: 'By God… it's the dullest name I ever heard.' Clearly he'd never seen snooker played Nigel Bond in action.
7. Bond's Blueprint
Among the other inspirations for the character of James Bond was Ian Fleming's beloved elder brother Peter, a journeyed travel writer and explorer. Another Bond-esque figure thought to be factored into 007's DNA was a British intelligence officer and MI6 station head in Paris – given point six above, we're lucky England's greatest secret agent didn't introduce himself as 'Dunderdale… Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale.'
8. Bond's Beef
It's as rare to see James Bond eating as it is to see Jack Bauer having a wee, but Ian Fleming detailed plenty of 007's eating habits in his books. Bond's favourite foods when off duty include grilled sole, oeufs en cocotte (eggs and crème fraîche to you and me) and cold roast beef with potato salad. We bet he puts away more than a few Maccy Ds on the road, though.
9. Meet Jimmy Bond
Sean Connery was not the first actor to play James Bond, and no, it wasn't Blockbusters host Bob Holness either. The first man to ever embody 007 was American actor Barry Nelson, who played card shark 'Jimmy Bond' in a terrible adaptation of Casino Royale for US TV. Nelson went on to play the manager of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.
10. For Your Size Only
It's quite possible the James Bond we know and love owes his popularity to leprechauns: producer Albert R. Broccoli hired Sean Connery for Dr. No after seeing him in Disney film Darby O'Gill And The Little People. Think that's weird? George Lazenby got the job after being spotted in an ad for Fry's Chocolate Cream.
11. Sex Bomb
A frisky blighter and no mistaking, James Bond has done more than his fair share of blowing away the stereotype that Brits are unadventurous lovers. Places where 007 has 'attempted re-entry' include a train, a plane, a forest, a stable, a motorised iceberg (obviously), a hospital, a submarine, a dinghy and a space shuttle. Whatever it takes to keep the British end up, dude.
12. Rank And File
Though his military rank is never explicitly detailed in the films, James Bond served as a Commander in the Royal Navy (he's referred to as such in A View To A Kill and GoldenEye) before he began working for the British Secret Service. When Bond fakes his death in You Only Live Twice, his 'funeral' looks awfully similar to a Navy burial at sea.
13. Bond's Birds
James Bond has been saving the world on screen for 50 years now, but his record with the ladies is even more impressive. Since the release of Dr. No in 1962, 007's bed post has been notched 52 times – each sexual partner boasting a name more ridiculous than the last. Around three-quarters of the ladies he's bedded have tried to kill him, which is about average, right guys? Guys?
14. Double-0 Also-Rans
We all know Bond's rank is 007, but what of the other 00-agents at MI6? Some are glimpsed in the movies – 002 is killed by The Man With The Golden Gun, 003 dies in the opening scenes of A View To A Kill, 004 eats it in The Living Daylights and 006 was Sean Bean – while others, such as the mythical 001, remain a mystery. Spare a thought for poor old 009, however – he was killed while dressed as a clown in Octopussy.
15. The Spy Who Killed Me
Across his 22 canonical films (Never Say Never Again and 1967's Casino Royale don't count), Bond has ended a whopping 352 lives. Pierce Brosnan is by far the deadliest Bond – he killed 47 people alone in GoldenEye – while Sean Connery was the biggest pacifist, dispatching a mere four men in Dr. No. Roger Moore did his fair share of death-dealing, but he only got to cap one ass in The Man With The Golden Gun, the lowest kill-count of any Bond movie.
16. Bond's Family Motto
How Many James Bond Movies Is There
Most Bond films get their titles from the original Ian Fleming novels, or incidental details relating to Fleming's personal life (GoldenEye was the name of his holiday house in Jamaica), but you may be wondering where the title The World Is Not Enough originates. Crack serial number. Well, it's actually a translation of the Bond family motto, 'Orbit Non Sufficit'. Yeah, we thought it was better suited to supervillains too.
17. Bond's Favourite Game
To watch Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, you'd assume that poker – particular Texas Hold 'Em – was Bond's card game of choice. You'd be wrong. James' favourite card-based pastime is actually Baccarat; Connery plays a hand or two as far back as Dr. No, and Pierce Brosnan even gets in on the game in GoldenEye. Bond is also reportedly brilliant at Snap.
18. The Bond Homestead
He's stayed in some of the most luxurious hotels in the most exotic countries in the world, but where does Bond officially lay his hat? It hasn't been confirmed that it's officially his off-duty home, but Skyfall gets its name from Bond's ancestral home in Scotland: Skyfall Lodge. We hope he has insurance: the shot of Javier Bardem walking away from a flaming building in the trailer does not bode well.
19. The Bond Who Wasn't Bond
There's nothing more iconic in Bond lore than the opening gun barrel sequence, but did you know that the man who turns and shoots in the first three Bond movies isn't Sean Connery? It's actually stuntman Bob Simmons, whose silhouette was used by designer Maurice Binder when Connery was unavailable. Fun Bob Simmons fact: he was the man who pioneered the use of trampolines in the field of jumping away from explosions.
20. The Look Of Bond
Ever wondered how Fleming intended James Bond to look? On two occasions, Bond is remarked to resemble the American singer-songwriter Hoagy Carmichael (below), except with a 'cruel mouth' and a 'coldness in the eyes'. Other physical details that have since been ditched include a three-inch scar on his cheek and the faint scar of a Russian Cyrillic letter carved onto his hand by a SMERSH agent who had marked him as a spy.
21. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
We all remember the needless furore surrounding the appointment of a blonde Daniel Craig as Bond in 2005, but more shocking is the fact that Sean Connery wore a toupee for every single one of his outings as 007. Did you know that by the time he starred in A View To A Kill in 1985, Roger Moore's hair had to be professionally thickened before each take?
22. The Bonds That Never Were
Only six men have been lucky enough to play James Bond on screen, but they leave in their wake a huddled mass of weeping actors denied their dream role. The men who almost played Bond include Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, James Purefoy, Julian McMahon, Gerard Butler, Sam Neill, Clint Eastwood (!) and Dougray Scott, who famously lost the role of Wolverine early in the X-Men shoot too.
23. James Bond Jr.
No, not the short-lived (and terrible) cartoon: James Bond actually sired a child. At least, he did in Ian Fleming's version of You Only Live Twice, anyway: Bond gets Kissy Suzuki pregnant before departing for pastures new. In 1997, a short Bond story called Blast From The Past was published in Playboy, in which Bond's adult son contacts him from New York, only to be killed when his old man turns up for Dad duties. Nice one, pop.
24. The Name's Seagal… Steven Seagal
Bond learned from the best: Sean Connery's martial arts instructor on non-canon remake Never Say Never Again was none-other-than Steven Seagal, who accidentally broke Connery's wrist in training. Rumours that Seagal went on to yell 'Who sent you? WHO SENT YOU?' are sadly unconfirmed.
25. Act Your Age
Technically, though the character did age accordingly throughout the Connery-Moore years (1962-85), Bond doesn't actually get older – unfortunately, the actors who play him do. Connery was 53 when he shot Never Say Never Again, while Roger Moore was 57 in A View To A Kill, bedding a girl almost 30 years his junior. Daniel Craig was the first Bond who was younger than the series itself.
PLAYING James Bond is one of the most coveted roles for any actor and, over the years, a whole host of names have taken the helm.
We all know the likes of Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, but who else has played Bond and who has been the secret agent the most times?
Who played the first 007 and who's portrayed the secret MI6 agent the most times?
Sean Connery played the first James Bond on the big screen, but before the Ian Fleming books became movies there was a TV series.
In 1954, Barry Nielsen played Bond in the series called Climax!, which was an adaptation of Casino Royale.
It came eight years before Sean Connery appeared in Dr No.
Sean Connery and Roger Moore have both played James Bond seven times – a number which is yet to be beaten by any other Bond actor.
Full list of Bond actors
Sean Connery: 1962-67, 1971 and 1983
Sean Connery was the first actor to play the MI6 agent on the big screen.
He first appeared in Dr No, which became an instant success and led to more Ian Fleming novels from the series being adapted.
He went on to star in From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, before a brief break.
Sean returned to star in Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and then again for Never Say Never Again in 1983.
George Lazenby: 1969
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Australian actor George played Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Age 29, he was the youngest actor to play the character and he is the only Bond to received a Golden Globe nomination.
Roger Moore: 1972- 1985
Roger Moore is the longest running James Bond, having spent 12 years making seven films in the famous franchise.
How Many James Bond Movies Did Pierce
He took over from Sean Connery in 1972 and made his debut in Live and Let Die and retired from the role in 1985.
His starred in: Moonraker, A View to a Kill, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octupussy, For Your Eyes Only and The Spy Who Loved me.
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Here's what you need to know about late James Bond actor Roger MooreTimothy Dalton: 1986-1994
Timothy Dalton took over from Roger Moore and appeared in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
He was expected to continue the role but after a five year gap between making his two films, he officially left in 1994.
Pierce Brosnan: 1995-2004
Pierce was initially asked to play Bond in 1986 but couldn’t due to his commitments on the TV series Remington Steele.
He appeared in Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
Daniel Craig: 2005-present
Daniel Craig became the sixth actor to win the role of James Bond in 2005 and his debut was in Casino Royale.
He's appeared in Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre. Daniel will be reprising his role for the next instalment of the film.
He also played Bond at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, alongside the Queen.