Daniel Craig attends the Royal Film Performance of Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2015. Photo / Getty Images
Daniel Craig attends the Royal Film Performance of Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2015. Photo / Getty Images
Daniel Craig used to "lock himself in and close the curtains" after landing the role of James Bond, as he struggled to cope with the fame attached to the iconic part.
The 53-year-old actor is to portray the suave spy for a final time in the forthcoming film No Time To Die, but he has recalled how he felt "physically and mentally under siege" when he first got the part of 007.
Craig, who made his Bond debut in the 2006 movie Casino Royale, said: "My personal life was affected by being that famous all of a sudden.
"I used to lock myself in and close the curtains, I was in cloud cuckoo land.
"I didn't like the newfound level of fame. It was Hugh Jackman who helped me to come to terms with it and appreciate it."
Daniel Craig poses as James Bond. Photo / Getty Images
The star also read numerous "hate-filled" online comments after it was revealed he was taking over from Pierce Brosnan as the secret agent.
He said: "I went online and stayed up all night and read everything because that is what happens if you do that. And it was tough, really tough - hate-filled.
"And I woke up the following morning I went, 'F*** it, I know the film is going to be good'. I knew we were doing something really special."
After producer Barbara Broccoli had offered Daniel the part, he wasted no time getting into character.
The Knives Out actor set about getting drunk on Bond's beverage of choice - martinis.
He said: "She just went, 'Over to you kiddo'. And I grabbed a bottle of vodka, vermouth, a cocktail shaker and went back to my apartment and started mixing myself vodka martinis.
"It was my first bit of exercise. I had a hangover for three days."
But Craig nearly didn't have that hangover.
The star admitted he was prepared to pass up the chance to be Bond - but after he read the "solid" Casino Royale script he couldn't say no to the role.
Speaking in Apple TV+ documentary "Being James Bond", he added: "As far as I was concerned I was already more successful than I would ever be as an actor - I did not have a cool persona.
"Pierce had done Remington Steele, Roger Moore had done The Saint - they had done these parts where people had gone, 'That's James Bond'.
"I had done weird arty movies. It was a harder sell. And I didn't really want to do it, because I thought I wouldn't know what to do with it.
"I was going to get the script, read it, and say, 'Thanks but no'.
"But little did I know, it was 'Casino Royale'. The story was solid, the script was solid."
After Casino Royale, Daniel starred as Bond in 2008 movie Quantum of Solace, 2012's "Skyfall, and 2015's Spectre.
He once infamously admitted he would "rather slash his wrists" than play the character again, but he has now said he has "loved every single second" of portraying 007.
"I am incredibly proud and incredibly fortunate to do this," he said.
"I've loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one because I've got up every morning and I've had the chance to work with you guys, and that has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
