Post-007, British actor Daniel Craig has traded in his tuxedos for quirky however elegant outfits (and a special accent) to play an equally charming and likeable bloke – Benoit Blanc.
He is the Southern gentleman sleuth, first launched in the 2019 hit film Knives Out, whom Craig reprises in the second Knives Out outing from writer-director Rian Johnson.
In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the ace detective goes to a distant Greek island upon receiving an invite to attend a murder mystery occasion held at the residence of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton).
Others on the visitor checklist are Miles’ former enterprise accomplice Andi Brand (Janelle Monae); typically politically incorrect clothier/former mannequin Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) and her private assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick); good scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr); shady politician Claire (Kathryn Hahn); and over-the-top influencer Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) and his girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline).
As the occasion parlour recreation turns into one thing extra harmful, Benoit will get on the case to do what he does finest – to smell out the responsible occasion.
While Craig is nice at taking part in somebody with a knack for fixing murder mysteries, the 54-year-old himself admits he’s not “great at the murder mystery party thing” or puzzles.
“I mean, I like the gathering of people and I like the socialising – I love hanging out – but it’s not really my thing,” he tells StarLifestyle with a smile, on this unique interview.
“But I try and do the crossword every day. I’m no great shakes, but, you know, I try and do, and keep my brain going.”
Ever the skilled, the actor turns up trying sharp in a gray swimsuit paired with a darkish vest and a polka dot black tie for our Zoom interview.
His blue eyes stay piercing on our laptop display and he seems pleasant throughout the five-minute chat, which is nice information contemplating he was sick only a week in the past and he’s nonetheless sniffling now.
That stage of dedication in direction of his job is one thing that Craig brings to each undertaking he’s in.
His bodily transformation to inhabit the function of James Bond is public information, as are the many accidents he has racked up in the course of of creating these films.
Although the bodily toll is over, together with his exit as Ian Fleming’s iconic British Secret Service agent with final yr’s No Time To Die, it doesn’t imply Craig is taking it simple relating to his efficiency.
He adopted up the twenty fifth James Bond film with an “explosive turn” in Macbeth on Broadway reverse Ruth Negga, and a vodka advert (directed by Taika Waititi) that has him dancing by a luxurious lodge in Paris.
For the advert, Craig has stated that it was difficult as a result of he doesn’t dance, and credit the choreographer for all the strikes we see him make in the two-and-a-half-minute video.
Likewise, throughout our interview, he sings praises of the individuals he labored with on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,.
He surmises that, what he nonetheless enjoys about appearing and going to set each time is the likelihood to work with inventive individuals, from the solid and crew to the administrators.
“There’s something wonderful that can happen on a movie set and that sense of camaraderie, of togetherness, and it being a collaboration,” shares Craig, star of movies like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Layer Cake, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Logan Lucky and the 2011 film Dream House, the place he met his spouse, actress Rachel Weisz.
“And it was very much so in this film that we had an ensemble cast – brilliant, brilliant actors, all of whom are funny and wonderful people to spend time with. They work so incredibly hard.
“What you’re watching on the screen may look simple and easy, but actually it’s because the work has been put in. So much work has been put in, and to work with such professionals is just a joy.
“Every day I go to work, I learn something new and I seem to keep doing that. And as long as I’m doing that, I’ll keep working.”
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is out on Netflix on Dec 23.
Daniel Craig (proper) together with his actress daughter Ella at the 2022 London Film Festival. Photo: AP
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