Daniel Craig Says “Construct Of Masculinity” Was Among His “Biggest Reservations” About Playing James Bond

deadline.com:

Daniel Craig has not bought into the societal conception of masculinity, something he noted was among his “biggest reservations” about portraying MI6 secret agent James Bond in five films across 15 years. “I would say one of my biggest reservations about playing [Bond] would be the construct of masculinity,” he told The New Yorkerin a recent Q&A while promoting the limited U.S.

theatrical release of Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. “It was often very laughable, but you can’t mock it and expect it to work. You have to buy into it.” Craig, who has taken on a tonal range of films since portraying 007 via projects like Queer and Rian Johnson’s Knives Out universe, played the suave spy in 2006’s Casino Royale, 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, 2015’s Spectre and 2021’s No Time to Die.

The actor has been vocal about leaving the franchise behind for good (uh, spoiler, his character sacrifices himself at the end of the last blockbuster) and having no regrets about doing so, as well as his lack of involvement in the search for a new Bond to pick up the signature Beretta. “I mean, the vulnerability of human beings is always interesting to me,” he continued, connecting the “artificial” concept of masculinity to the William S.

Burroughs avatar he plays in Queer. “We’re all vulnerable. It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter how tough you are, everybody’s vulnerable.