Bond. James Bond. How many times have you uttered those words, either in jest or in play acting, imagining yourself to be the British super spy immortalized by Ian Flemming's novels and the more than 20 movies? If your name happens to be Daniel Craig, you've uttered them for another reason - because you ARE James Bond. Craig is the latest actor to wear the mantle of 007, despite his blond hair (Bond has always been dark haired.) His first outing is also in the Bond film that has held the most anticipation of them all, and one that is heavily flavored with poker.
Casino Royale is set around Bond's first mission with a license to kill, appropriate as this is Craig's first outing as Bond himself. In the movie, based on Ian Fleming's first novel, Bond has to attend a high stakes Texas Holdem poker game to cripple an international terrorist with funds staked to Bond by the British government. Craig has more than a little staked on this role as well - such as perhaps his entire career. But apparently both the actor and the spy have managed everything perfectly. It's interesting to see how convincingly Daniel manipulates cards - according to what the actor said, while filming Casino Royale there're many extra gaming sessions where Daniel and his colleagues had a chance to practice their poker skills. The 5' 11" actor was born Daniel Wroughton Craig on March 2, 1968, in the walled city of Chester, in Cheshire, England. Craig started acting in school plays at 6, played roles in Oliver, Romeo and Juliet at 14, and left Hilbre High at 16 to audition at the National Youth Theatre's (NYT) troupe. Craig is the sixth actor to play James Bond, and is poised to become either the most hated or the most revered to do so.
