Man with the golden role
Daniel Craig is trying to find his own ‘Quantum of Solace’
INTERVIEW. Vendettas. Blackmail. Bond. Some would argue 007 never looked quite as good as the incarnation brought to life by 40-year-old British actor Daniel Craig, who courted controversy when signing up as the iconic MI6 agent for the franchise’s 21st film, “Casino Royale,” in 2005. But that movie was a gritty game changer for a franchise that had lost its edge, and its follow-up, “Quantum of Solace,” is an equally powerful portrayal of James Bond as anti-hero. Picking up shortly after “Casino” ends, “Solace” finds the spy caught up — without any allies he can trust — in an international environmental conspiracy. While not quite on par with taking down an evil coup, playing Bond does present its own challenges. Craig explains.
How much has your life changed since “Casino Royale”?
I’m trying to remain as normal as possible. ... But I can’t go drinking at a pub. You know, if you are going to a pub, you wanna have a quiet drink. I can’t do that. It’s nothing bad; I just need to plan my life a bit more than I normally would. It’s not like I am running away from everybody, but I do feel uncomfortable when a lot of people are around. But I am still living in London; I didn’t move, and I don’t want to.
How much has Bond changed between “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace”?
Not a lot, as we move straight on from the first film to the second. In “Solace,” everybody around Bond thinks that he is doing things out of revenge, and because of this, he is dangerous. But that’s not the case. He just doesn’t know who he can trust. But when he realizes that he has made a mistake, he apologizes.
You mentioned that Bond isn’t motivated by revenge. What motivates you in your life?
Family and friends. That’s the most important thing in life. I’m trying to do things right.
Did you bring any of your own traits to the Bond character?
I haven’t really. What I find fascinating is the moral ambiguity of this character. He kills people for a living. But this is a Bond movie, so it’s a fantasy world.
When you’re done with Bond, do you think you’ll be typecast as the suave badass and it will be harder to find a variety of roles?
I hope that I can play in any kind of film. I’m still looking for interesting scripts. If they offer me a script and it’s good, I’m making the movie. I’m not thinking about what type of character I should play. I just don’t want to stop doing good movies.