Daniel Craig Says Playing James Bond Was ‘Emotionally Kind of Difficult’ for His Family: ‘Fame Is Weird’

Daniel Craig faced a level of fame and attention due to his 007 role that impacted his family.

During a live conversation held at the BFI in London on Monday, Dec. 9, the Queer actor, 56, said, according to a report from Variety, that he indeed “loved every second” of playing James Bond, though it came with some strain on his personal life.

“I mean,” he continued, “some of it was tough and weird and strange and emotionally kind of difficult for everybody, including my family. The fame is weird.”

Craig first played the iconic spy character in 2006’s Casino Royale, then continued for four more installments: Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).

The British actor married actress Rachel Weisz, his costar from the 2011 horror movie Dream House, in June 2011, and they share a 6-year-old daughter Grace.

He is also dad to daughter Ella Loudon, with ex-wife Fiona Loudon, and Weisz, 54, shares son Henry, 18, with her The Fountain director, ex-fiancé Darren Aronofsky.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Craig opened up about grappling with increased fame due to the Bond movies.

“I’ve had to examine myself a lot over the past 20 years to try and deal with it. There was a time when I locked myself away,” he recalled. “This is where the madness lies: You think, ‘I can’t go there because I’m so important.’ ”

He further added, “Celebrity kills you. Really, it’s a terrible, terrible thing that can happen, and I think you’ve got to really fight against all of the things that it throws in your face, because it’s so easy to be tempted.”

Oscar-winner Weisz has also spoken about her approach to fame and privacy. The Mummy actress told The Guardian in 2023, “Celebrity — it really doesn’t mean anything to me. And it’s no work at all to keep not showing up at events. It’s no work at all to keep a private life.”

“Life can be demanding,” she continued. “Life in a family can be complicated, but I don’t even know what ‘celebrity’ means. I don’t think of myself like that.”

“I’m used to it now,” added Weisz at the time. “Like, if someone recognizes my husband, it’s just part of life. They’re normally really nice and go, ‘Best Bond ever!’ or whatever. It’s not in a place where it’s difficult or oppressive.”

Queer, for which Craig earned a Golden Globe nomination, is in theaters now.