LOS ANGELES, California―Oh, what success does to some actors! They learn a word that’s anathema to journalists: privacy.
When they are just starting, they blabber on and on. But when they become famous, they suddenly learn to say, “That’s private. I won’t talk about that anymore.”
While we respect the stars’ right to privacy, as journalists we think “privacy” is, well, almost like a curse word.
In a recent London press con, Daniel Craig, hugely successful as the new James Bond in “Casino Royale,” did not want to talk about his Christmas plans, among other things. While we thought, “Good for you!” we also commiserated with several reporters who groused after the interview, “What happened to Daniel Craig?”
In the following excerpts of our interview with the star of “The Golden Compass” (the film version of the first book in Philip Pullman’s trilogy), we did not bother to include the “witty repartee” between Daniel and a few reporters over his polite refusal to answer certain questions. To his credit, the actor was generally playful and his British wit never failed him.
Have you started working on the next James Bond film?
I’ve started rehearsing. This is kind of a little break for me.
When you were first cast as James Bond, some folks made really rude comments that they didn’t see you as Bond at all. How did you cope with that?
I genuinely just got on with the job. I didn’t make the decision to do the film, not knowing that there would be criticism. I knew I would be attacked. I knew that people would question―why change? Why move on? Why do this? I settled everything I could in my mind. I knew that we had a good script, good director, great cast and we were going to make a good movie. Beyond that, there’s nothing else I could do. I certainly wouldn’t respond to the criticisms now because there are bigger problems in life.
Are you glad to be a rougher kind of Bond?
I think he’s quite sophisticated in my mind (laughter).
Are you worried that you will be typecast as James Bond?
I don’t find it a particular problem. If it is, it’s a very high class problem to have. I’ve been continuing. “The Golden Compass” is the third movie I’ve done this year which has nothing to do with James Bond.
Marc Forster told us in an interview that one of the reasons he is directing the next Bond movie is that because he respects you so much as an actor.
I will throw the compliment right back at him. If you look at Marc’s body of work, from “Monster’s Ball” and “Finding Neverland” to “The Kite Runner,” he’s incredibly versatile.
So how do you feel about this next Bond film?
I’m over the moon. Aside from Marc, we’ve got Dennis Gassner, who’s also the production designer of “The Golden Compass.” I’ve worked with him in “Road to Perdition.” We’ve got the same stunt team we had before. The sets are being built at Pinewood as we speak. The locations have been set. We’re getting the cast together. I am raring to go.
What are your expectations?
We made a good movie last time. It was very successful, which was obviously a huge bonus. The problem is, we have to make a better one this time.
What lessons did you learn from being in a Bond movie?
I suppose what I got out of doing Bond was that the same problems arise. If a movie costs $10 million, it has its own problems, usually lack of money but if a movie has $250 million, it has problems as well. So you try and keep those problems to a minimum. The same rules apply. You have to commit. I’ll tell you how tired I was after I finished the movie, but it was great to get to the end. I saw that the work I put in seems to have paid off. The day that it stops (paying off), then I’ll have to re-think.
You are one of GQ magazine’s Men of the Year. How much do you care about fashion?
It’s the suit. I’m very lucky because suits are given to me. They are made for me which is a real joy. If you haven’t had a suit made for you, I recommend at some stage in your life to have a suit done for you. I love good tailoring.
How has your fashion taste changed since playing James Bond?
Very little. I’ve always liked classic tailoring. Styles change and it’s interesting to see how they do, but they’re very subtle with men’s tailoring. Sometimes the lapels get like this (he pointed at his suit’s lapels) but if you keep things fairly classic, I think it works. That’s my fashion tip of the week.
Nicole Kidman told us that your kissing scene in “The Golden Compass” ended on the cutting room floor.
Oh, well.
Do you think that kissing scene will be shot again if there’s going to be a second installment?
I don’t think so (laughter).
What can you tell us?
Just plans for now. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. It’s a very important scene that didn’t make it in the movie for a very good reason―it’s a very distressing moment. The way the movie ends now, it’s more of a cliffhanger which makes us feel that we need to continue the story. That’s a cynical way of looking at it but if we ended on that moment that includes the kiss, it would have been a horrible moment to end the movie.
If you had a golden compass which tells the truth and the future, what would you ask?
Nothing at all. I would never use the golden compass. The world would unravel very quickly if we had one of those.
If you could go on an expedition just like your character Lord Asriel does, where would you go?
I’d love to make a trip to Antarctica. There are a few other places that I’d love to go to. Madagascar is one of them.
You’ve done a few films dealing with the Holocaust or touching on Jewish history, including “Defiance.” Was this by coincidence or was it a conscious choice on your part?
Sadly, what happened in the Second World War is not the end of the story. There is genocide occurring today. A movie like “Defiance,” which is about survival and how humanity wins, is a good story to tell. That’s a simple answer to that. But I have an emotional connection to the story. I grew up in Europe.
What do you miss doing now that more people recognize you since you played James Bond?
Just the small things. I can’t go and sit in a pub for very long without somebody hassling me. But nothing that I would complain about because I also get huge benefits out of playing Bond. I can’t really complain about the fact that I can’t sit in the pub for longer than two pints because I can drink two pints quite quickly so that’s fine (laughter).
Is that all you miss, not being able to go to a pub?
Does it sound kind of puerile? It probably does but it’s true. I can’t go and visit very public places, like there’s an exhibit down at the Tate Modern. Thankfully, it’s balanced out. I was in Madrid last year and we got a private viewing at the Prado Museum.
Are you more physically fit now?
I’m knackered. But I’m fitter than I was. I’ve started training again for the next Bond movie. One of the reasons that I really have to get fit for a movie is that because if I’m not fit, I get injuries. But I don’t diet. I eat what I want.
You have a big birthday coming up next year.
Maybe (laughter). I’m really private about this. Yeah, I’m 39.
Are you thinking about this big milestone?
I don’t know. I’m thankfully working next year when I’m 40. It will pass by. It will go. Someone actually said to me yesterday that turning 40 is not a problem, it’s turning 41 that is. So we’ll see (laughter).
What will be a good way of surprising you on your birthday?
Are you going to surprise me? What are you planning (laughter)?
No, but what birthdays were memorable for you?
It wasn’t a very good birthday if I could remember it (laughter).
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