When Daniel Craig first slipped into James Bond’s iconic tuxedo for 2006’s Casino Royale, he redefined the character with a rugged physicality and emotional depth that was different from some of the womanizing portrayals in the past. While his performance was critically lauded, playing 007 took a lot out of the leading man. As Craig’s Bond films played out over 15 years, the British star took on surprisingly few non-Bond roles. Now, he’s revealing why he didn’t expand his filmography much during this time, and it makes so much sense.
The 56-year-old actor recently sat down with The Times to talk about his latest film with Luca Guadagnino, Queer and his move from Bond. He left the role in 2021 after the release of No Time To Die, and has since gone on to star in the Knives Out franchise as Benoit Blanc. Watching Craig expand into other non-Bond roles has been a treat, as it truly showcases his incredible range. As for why such an expansion into other projects wasn’t really in the cards during Bond, the leading man explained: