In a recent interview with The Sunday TimesDaniel Craig revealed he couldn’t have played his role in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Queer when he was still playing James Bond.

The actor pointed out that such a decision during his tenure as the iconic detective may appear to be an attempt to showcase his range rather than a natural progression in his career.

“I couldn’t do that while doing Bond. It would seem reactionary, like I was showing my limits,” Craig said.

Reflecting on his time as an MI6 agent, Craig admitted that the demands of the role left little room for other projects. “In the beginning with Bond, I thought I would have to do other things, but I didn’t. I was becoming a star, whatever that meant, and people wanted to see me in their movies. Incredible. Most actors don’t have a huge amount of work, so you take your job offers – but they left me blank,” he said.

Craig also described the physical and emotional impact of the Bond films. He shared, “I was so exhausted at the end of Bond that it would take me six months to recover emotionally,” adding that although his career often took priority, he always believed that life came first. Should come.

In Queer, based on the 1985 semi-autobiographical novel by William S. Burroughs, Craig plays William Lee, an American expatriate who becomes infatuated with Eugene Allerton, a retired US Navy soldier played by Drew Starkey.

The film marks a significant departure from Craig’s previous roles, particularly his 15-year tenure as Bond.