The article below. I found it online in Spanish, translated it with Google servises and edited. Enjoy! There are minor spoilers!
DANIEL CRAIG: "I DON'T SEE WHY THE NEXT JAMES BOND HAS TO BE A WOMAN"
Daniel Craig leaves him. His election as a new James Bond 15 years ago was the most controversial in history. Now, about to release his last reincarnation of the famous spy, the man who has transformed Bond into a "more real murderer" retires after having starred in the four biggest blockbusters of the saga. Before going for the fifth, we talked to him exclusively.
By Fernando Goitia
"I'm not James Bond, ask my wife, my family ... This guy in front of you can't be further from that." Daniel Craig wears white boot type shoes and knitted sweater. His blue eyes, but that very blue, look you straight and he laughs often when talking about the character that has made him a living myth of the celluloid. Perhaps because of this, the English actor born in Chester 52 years ago defends his identity as if he needed to get away from the famous spy who has incarnated longer than anyone. In 15 years and five films - the last one No time to die, premieres on April 2 - Craig has turned the longest saga in history upside down. In the first place, due to the economic impact: the four already released are the highest grossing of the franchise, adding together 3200 million dollars, almost as much as the previous 20. Then, because he has transformed that frivolous, misogynist and talkative character into an introverted ruthless and direct murderer, who is capable of falling in love, without eroding an iota that charm at the service of his majesty that has been dragging masses into cinemas for 58 years.
Accomplished his mission, Craig says goodbye in a big way. His fifth reincarnation of Bond will be the most expensive and, in addition to closing the plot started at Casino Royale - his first appearance as a spy in 2006 - it includes, they say, the biggest film explosion ever seen. Before saying goodbye to his character, he talks with XLSemanal at a hotel in New York about the 15 years that have changed his life and that of, as he would say, Bond, James Bond.
XLS weekly. Five years ago, at the end of Specter - the previous one - you said that you prefer to slash your wrists rather than do James Bond again ...
Daniel Craig. Yes, that's what I thought, but, you see, shits that one says [laughs]. I said it when I finished shooting, I was exhausted and I had a broken leg; I thought that my physique was no longer up to par and that with Specter Bond and I had finished. Work loses appeal if you break a bone, you know? So complaining and being ironic and sarcastic is normal, although maybe you shouldn't open your mouth [laughs]. I also thought about my wife and my family, I didn't want them to worry anymore.
"Bond has changed with me, I tried to file his misogyny, but he has his tares and is imperfect"
XL: You also said that, if you do another one "it would be only for the money" What finally made you return?
D.C.: Well, it is well paid, of course, but the main thing is that, after resting, I thought it would be a shame not to finish off the story we developed in the previous four. Now, everything is well tied and that gives a compact body to my contribution. It is a great ending.
XL: The real ending would be Bond's death, right?
D.C.: But what are you saying? Bond will never die [laughs]. You make it harder and harder, you stretch the rope, but whoever watches a Bond movie wants the world to be safe in the end.
XL: In any case, this is, now, your last James Bond.
D.C.: That is, now yes. I am sad that it ends, but I feel emotionally satisfied. If I had left it after Specter, I would have regretted it sooner or later.
XL: Your films are the most profitable in the saga. Have you not been urged to continue?
D.C.: No, there were going to be four and I made five, so I gave them one more.
In No time to die there is an agent 007 - Lashana Lynch - which is also black. Anticipating a revolution in the franchise!
XL: In No time to die a black agent 007 appears. Successor?
D.C.: I don't know anything about that [smiles]. I just hope that whoever happens be after me does not have to live everything I lived.
XL: Yes, a good amount. The tabloids of your country positioned themselves against your choice, social networks burned, threatened you with death, accused you of being short, blond, unworthy of Bond ...
D.C.: Yes, but I have to say that today I understand those reactions. There are extremely passionate fans; they feel Bond as their own and have strong opinions about how it should be done and who interprets him.
XL: You go from understanding ...
D.C.: They were in their right.
XL: In any case, after living all that, what advice would you give to your successor ... or female successor?
D.C.: «Please, don't do any shit. Do it well, be fantastic, because it is an incredible opportunity».
“I like to think that there are people out there, intelligent men and women, who, perhaps with murky methods, take care of us. And they do it in silence. That's why we live in peace ”
XL: Do you think the world is ready for a black 007?
D.C.: The world is prepared for anything, but I don't see the need to put a woman in the role of Bond either. It is a wrong answer to that debate. What is needed, in general, is to write great scripts for women and make good movies.
XL: Is that an element that went around in 15 years?
D.C.: It was a long conversation, yes: what to do about that misogyny that characterizes Bond? I tried to change that aspect during my tenure and I think something has improved, but he has his defects, is imperfect and it is not for me to judge him, but to the public. Bond is an interesting character: a hero who is deeply beaten and, although we make no excuses, we show very strong women to create problems. All the actresses' choice starts from that premise. Not of their beauty, but of their ability to give character to those characters.
XL: Like a prime minister or president, you will be James Bond forever. Do you feel part of the history of cinema?
D.C.: That is true. Although it is only a small part, I feel very grateful, it has been an immense honor.
XL: Now that you know James Bond so well, tell me: are you conservative or labor?
D.C.: [Laughs] My romantic idea is that Bond is a public servant, very particular yes, at the service of the Crown and the people. Protects his fellow citizens no matter who lives on 10 Downing Street. He doesn't get into politics, as I do; It is limited to preserving the security of your country. Now what does that mean after Brexit? No idea.
XL: Precisely, would Bond be for or against Brexit?
D.C. [Laughs] Bond, I don't know, because Brexit doesn't appear in the movie. We did not want people in Europe to see Bond and think about this issue. Yes, I can tell you that I feel European and that is why I have been very active in the defense of continuing in the European Union. It's a big mistake, but it's what we have now and we have to deal with it. I think, yes, that we are still Europeans and that we should stay as close as possible, because together we are better. The reason we were allies is still valid: keep the peace, take care of each other. And that's what people like James Bond take care of.
XL: People, not exactly like James Bond ...
D.C.: No, of course, Ian Fleming's novels show a very romantic idea of the spying world. Any spy really will tell you that that does not exist, but I like to think that there are people out there, intelligent women and men, who, perhaps with murky methods that I prefer not to know, take care of us. The proof is that we enjoy peace. And they do it in silence. In MI6 there is no wall of heroes or anything like that, there are no names. And that makes their work more heroic, because for them it is a citizen service. They do not work for the prime minister or the shift party.
XL: Can you think of any real-world villain that Bond should neutralize?
D.C.: Oh yes, a long list! [Laughs] Let's see, I'm a big fan of democracy. It has been working quite well for a few years and I hope it continues like this a few more. We need better leaders, people who do not throw their allies at the feet of horses. So anyone who tries to fuck our way of life has a serious problem with me [laughs].
XL: In terms of spies, which writer do you prefer?
D.C.: I like the novels of John le Carré, where the dirty and stark side of espionage is shown. Somehow, I wanted to incorporate that into the saga. It is a raw, fascinating game. You accompany the character, empathize with him and, in the end, finish his work. Without sentimentalities The character cannot afford them. To be a spy, you must be tough; and that, deep down, is very sad and interesting at the same time; it breaks your heart to see that they cannot get involved with anyone, that they pretend all the time, living other people's lives, making friends or pretending to be in love. Imagine when the other person realizes that everything is false! It is terrible to do that to someone. That's why it's so interesting.
“I don't know what someone feels when killing, but it must be very disturbing. That I try to convey: that their actions have consequences in their internal life.”
XL: Before you, Bond was mostly a seducer; said Roger Moore himself, who considered your approach the most real of all the Bond: "A true murderer."
D.C.: Well, I ... [stops and thinks]. Phew! I don’t know. Look, do you remember the scene, at the beginning of Casino Royale, when Bond kills for the first time? It's a brutal fight in the bathroom and he drowns the other guy in the sink. Well, now that you say this, I will tell you that to face that scene I thought: «I want the viewer to feel that this is his first dead». I don't know what someone feels in such a situation, but I imagine it must be very disturbing, a brutal shock. And that I tried to convey: that their actions had consequences in their internal life.
In the new band of the saga there is a Spanish presence by Ana de Armas. Craig himself recommended it after working together on “Knives Out”
XL: In the cinema, much has never been revealed about his past, except that he was orphaned when 11 years old and other minimal details. Why do you think people empathize with such a subject for six decades?
D.C: Let's see, I think people ... [stops and thinks]. Phew! The truth is that I have no idea. I guess he's just a fictional character, well done entertainment. The question, as an actor, is to create human being that is affected by what is happening around him. You do it selfishly, so that the audience is emotionally linked to your character. If you do it right, you will continue working [laughs]. To be an actor is to give life to another person and make the audience empathize with it or want to know what will happen to it.
XL: In fact, you have been the only Bond actor nominated for BAFTA for best actor, although, let's face it, nobody expects much depth from a Bond movie.
D.C. Let's see, a Bond movie must be fun, entertaining and memorable. And in this sense, the more value you give the character, the more interesting it will be. I just tried to push and push to do my best and make the saga bigger than it already was.
XL: Bond is less glamorous today, less damaged than his predecessors. Didn't you feel comfortable playing playboy?
D.C.: When I was proposed, the first thing I knew was not to imitate any previous Bond. In addition, I am terrible as an imitator, I give embarrassment to others [laughs]. In any case, he still wears a tuxedo and impeccable suits, drives an Aston Martin, drinks martinis ... Something has changed, but the glamor is still there, the difference is that it is no longer underlined. And that, in my opinion, makes the character have more class.
XL: Moore had a tip for the new Bond: "Keep the costumes and don't fall for the shoot." Have you followed it?
D.C. Yes, of course, don't bump into the furniture [laughs]. Two great tips that I tried to follow.
XL: But you broke an ankle in the shoot ...
D.C.: Yes, it's because I get into everything I do. The idea of suffering an injury was around my head, but I didn't think it could be so serious. I had to go through the operating room, motionless for two weeks and six without running. The truth is that this time I had to work twice as hard because, at 51, being as fit as Bond costs more and more.
XL: Would you say that making James Bond is a risk profession?
D.C.: As much as being a footballer. You suffer the same type of injuries: twisting or breaking your ankle, leg ... It is normal in such physical roles, but I do not play in my life or take great risks. That is done by other people for me.
XL: What plans do you have now?
D.C.: Each shoot takes six or seven months, triple than a normal one, so I will spend more time with my family. But I will continue doing the usual: work. In these years, I never considered, for example, making characters that were antithesis of Bond to detoxify me and stuff. In this business, things are not like that. You do not have a wish list. You simply keep an open mind to what may arise.
Very private
• His mother was an art teacher and his father, sailor and owner of two pubs. They divorced when he was 4 years old.
• His grandparents fought in World War II.
• He started school at 6 years, and at 16 he entered the National Youth Theater. «I act as a professional since I was 17».
• He has a daughter with actress Fiona Loudon, his first wife, and another with Rachel Weisz, his wife since 2011.
• It is active in causes such as the fight against AIDS and land mines, gender equality or education.
• His salary as Bond - there is talk of 25 million dollars - places him as the highest paid actor.
• He has worked in more than 40 films with directors such as Spielberg, Soderbergh, Sam Mendes or David Fincher.
• In The Force Awakens, he played (with a mask) a stormtrooper.