Daniel Craig
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
“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.” |
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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.
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.
“I've
been working so hard, for however long it is I've
been doing this, to try and stick to doing stuff
I totally believe in and that would be wiped out.
I thought, God, this is all right: I'm doing what
I want to do. And that was a huge weight off my
shoulders” - Craig on 007
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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.
“This is what I do for a living. If I don’t
take on challenges like this, then what’s the point?” |
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 maintains
that 007 will not alter his love for dynamic and differing
roles in television and theatre as well as feature length films.
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.
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Best actor for “Casino
Royale” at the 2007 Empire Awards
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Best actor for “Casino
Royale” at the 2007 Evening Standard
Awards
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Best actor of the year for “Enduring
Love” at the 2005 London Critics Circle
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Best foreign actor for “Casino
Royale” & “Enduring Love” at
the 2007 Sant Jordi Awards
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Best actor for “Some
Voiced” at the 2000 British Independent
Film Awards
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Best British performance for “Love
is the Devil” at the 1998 Edinburgh Film
Festival
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Biographies
Daniel Craig - Ultimate Professional - Pre-Order
Daniel Craig - The Biography - Buy
Now
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