Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig, born on March 2, 1968, in Chester, Cheshire, England, is a renowned English actor best known for his portrayal of the iconic fictional secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series. He has appeared as James Bond in five installments, starting with "Casino Royale" in 2006 and concluding with "No Time to Die" in 2021.
Craig's acting journey began with training at the National Youth Theatre in London, followed by his graduation from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991. He made his debut on stage and gradually ventured into film and television. Notable early roles include appearances in "The Power of One" (1992) and the drama series "Our Friends in the North" (1996), which marked his breakthrough.


Before taking on the role of James Bond, Craig gained recognition for his supporting performances in various films, including "Elizabeth" (1998), "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001), "Road to Perdition" (2002), "Layer Cake" (2004), and "Munich" (2005).
His portrayal of James Bond in "Casino Royale" earned him critical acclaim, with a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Apart from his Bond films, Craig has appeared in a diverse range of movies, including "The Golden Compass" (2007), "Defiance" (2008), "Cowboys & Aliens" (2011), "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2011), and "Logan Lucky" (2017).


Craig has also showcased his talent on stage, making his Broadway debut in the revival of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" alongside his wife, Rachel Weisz, in 2011. He later starred in the New York Theatre Workshop production of "Othello" as Iago in 2016. In 2022, Craig returned to Broadway in the title role of "Macbeth" alongside Ruth Negga.
Additionally, Craig received acclaim for his role as Detective Benoit Blanc in the comedy mystery films "Knives Out" (2019) and its sequel "Glass Onion" (2022), earning two Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances.
Throughout his career, Daniel Craig has established himself as a versatile and highly talented actor, garnering praise for his memorable performances across stage and screen.


Daniel Wroughton Craig, born on March 2, 1968, in Chester, Cheshire, England, is the son of Carol Olivia (née Williams), an art teacher, and Timothy John Wroughton Craig, who initially served as a midshipman in the Merchant Navy before becoming a steel erector and later a pub landlord. Daniel has an older sister named Lea, born in 1965, and a younger half-brother named Harry, born in 1991. His father managed two pubs in Cheshire: the Ring o' Bells in Frodsham and the Boot Inn in Tarporley.


Following his parents' divorce in 1972, Daniel and his sister relocated to the Wirral Peninsula with their mother. He attended primary school in Hoylake and later studied at Hilbre High School in West Kirby before completing his sixth form education at Calday Grange Grammar School. During his teenage years, Daniel was involved in rugby union, playing for Hoylake RFC.
Daniel's interest in acting sparked at a young age, participating in school plays and making his stage debut in the production of "Oliver!" at Frodsham Primary School when he was six years old. He further nurtured his passion for acting by attending performances at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre with his mother. At age 14, he performed in productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cinderella" at Hilbre High School. In 1984, he joined the National Youth Theatre, which led him to relocate to London, where he worked part-time in restaurants to support himself while pursuing his acting education.
He continued honing his craft with the National Youth Theatre, performing in productions that toured to Valencia and Moscow under the direction of Edward Wilson. In 1988, Daniel enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1991 after completing a three-year course under the guidance of actor Colin McCormack, known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.


Daniel Craig's early career saw him taking on a variety of roles in both film and television. In 1992, he made his screen debut playing an Afrikaner in "The Power of One." He followed this with minor roles in various television shows and films, including "Anglo-Saxon Attitudes," "Covington Cross," and "Boon." In November 1993, he portrayed Joe in the Royal National Theatre's production of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America."
Throughout the mid-1990s, Craig continued to appear in a range of television programs, including American shows like "Zorro" and "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," as well as British series such as "Heartbeat," "Between the Lines," "Drop the Dead Donkey," and "Sharpe's Eagle." He also starred in the BBC drama serial "Our Friends in the North" in 1996, which is considered his breakthrough role. In the same year, he guest-starred in an episode of the HBO series "Tales from the Crypt" and appeared in the BBC television film "Saint-Ex."


Craig's film roles during this period included "A Kid in King Arthur's Court" (1995), "Obsession" (1997), and "Hurlyburly" (1997). He also appeared in the biographical drama "Elizabeth" (1998), where he portrayed Jesuit priest John Ballard, and in "Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon" (1998), where he played the role of George Dyer.
In 1999, Craig starred in the television drama "Shockers: The Visitor" and the independent war film "The Trench," set during World War I. His performance in "Some Voices" (2000), where he played a schizophrenic man, earned critical acclaim. Craig also appeared in "Hotel Splendide" (2000) and "I Dreamed of Africa" (2000) that year.
In 2001, Craig gained further recognition for his role as Lara Croft's love interest in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." He also starred in the Channel 4 drama "Sword of Honour," based on the novels of the same name. Craig's diverse portfolio showcased his versatility as an actor, laying the groundwork for his future success.


In 2002, Daniel Craig starred in two significant projects. First, he appeared in Sam Mendes' crime film "Road to Perdition," alongside Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, portraying Irish mobster Connor Rooney. Later that year, he took on the role of German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg in the BBC television drama "Copenhagen," which explored Heisenberg's involvement in the German nuclear weapon project during World War II.
On stage, Craig starred opposite Michael Gambon in the original production of Caryl Churchill's play "A Number" from September to November 2002 at the Royal Court Theatre. His performance earned him a nomination for the London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor.
The following year, Craig starred as poet Ted Hughes opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in the biographical film "Sylvia" (2003), depicting the romance between Hughes and Sylvia Plath. Additionally, he appeared in "The Mother" (2003), playing a character engaged in an affair with the mother of his lover and best friend, portrayed by Anne Reid.
In 2004, Craig delivered a standout performance in the crime thriller "Layer Cake," directed by Matthew Vaughn. His portrayal of the unnamed London-based cocaine supplier received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising his suave and fascinating performance. Craig continued his successful streak with "Enduring Love" (2004), where he played a man stalked by a stranger after they witness a deadly accident together.
In 2005, Craig appeared in three theatrical films in supporting roles. He starred in the thriller "The Jacket" and made a brief appearance in the Hungarian film "Fateless." He also portrayed a South African driver involved in a covert Israeli government assassination mission in Steven Spielberg's "Munich," based on the events of the 1972 Summer Olympics massacre. Additionally, Craig starred in the BBC television film "Archangel," based on Robert Harris' novel, as an English academic who discovers a notebook believed to have belonged to Joseph Stalin.

References

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2. Gant, Charles (5 December 2012). "Skyfall windfall is UK box office's biggest ever". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
3. ^ "Golden Globes 2020: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
4. Novak, Kim (26 August 2020). "James Bond Star Daniel Craig's Father Tim Craig Dies Aged 77". Metro. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
5. "Filmography: Daniel Craig". Cinenews.be. cinenews. 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
6. "Daniel Craig Family Tree & History, Ancestry & Genealogy - FameChain". www.famechain.com.
7. "Je m'appelle Bond... James Bond". Genealogy Reviews. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.