Daniel Craig’s Best Roles

Daniel Craig is an actor who will forever be associated with one of cinema’s most iconic characters, James Bond. When he was first cast, he faced intense scrutiny, but he quickly silenced all critics with a debut that redefined the super spy for the 21st century. Over five films, he crafted a Bond who was not only a physical force but also a man with deep emotional scars, bringing a previously unseen vulnerability and grit to the legendary role.

Long before he ever ordered a shaken martini, Craig had already established himself as a formidable and respected actor on the British stage and screen. His career is filled with a wide array of complex and challenging roles that showcase his incredible range. From slick criminals and troubled journalists to eccentric detectives and historical figures, he has consistently proven that he is far more than just a secret agent, delivering compelling performances across every genre.

‘Our Friends in the North’ (1996)

In the epic BBC drama ‘Our Friends in the North’, Craig had his breakout role as George “Geordie” Peacock. The nine-part series is considered a landmark in British television, following the lives of four friends from Newcastle over a period of more than three decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. Geordie’s journey is arguably the most tragic of the four.

The series charts Geordie’s decline from an idealistic young man into a cynical figure involved in London’s criminal underworld, eventually leading to a life of homelessness and despair. Craig’s powerful and heartbreaking performance was a showcase of his immense talent, and the role established him as one of the most promising actors of his generation.

‘Casino Royale’ (2006)

This film marked Craig’s explosive debut as James Bond and served as a complete reboot of the franchise. The story is an origin for the character, showing a newly promoted and reckless 007 on his first major mission. He is tasked with taking down a terrorist financier by beating him in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro.

‘Casino Royale’ was a massive critical and commercial success, praised for its gritty realism and emotional depth. Craig’s performance was lauded for reinventing the character, presenting a Bond who was a blunt instrument, capable of making mistakes and falling in love. The film single-handedly revitalized the series for a new era.

‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Craig introduced audiences to a brand new iconic character with the eccentric private detective Benoit Blanc in ‘Knives Out’. When a wealthy crime novelist is found dead, the brilliant Blanc is mysteriously hired to investigate the death. He must sift through the lies and secrets of the deceased’s dysfunctional family to uncover the truth.

With a thick Southern accent and a flair for the dramatic, Craig’s performance was a comedic and charismatic delight. The film was a huge hit, praised for its clever script and entertaining ensemble cast. The role of Benoit Blanc provided Craig with a new, successful franchise to lead after his time as James Bond.

‘Skyfall’ (2012)

In his third outing as James Bond, Craig delivered a performance in a film that is often cited as one of the best in the entire series. In ‘Skyfall’, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her in the form of a vengeful former agent. The mission becomes deeply personal, forcing Bond to confront his own childhood trauma.

The film was a global phenomenon, becoming the first Bond movie to earn over a billion dollars at the box office. It was praised for its stunning cinematography, compelling villain, and its deep dive into Bond’s psychology. Craig’s performance was central to its success, showing a world-weary and vulnerable but ultimately resilient agent.

‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)

Craig stars as Mikael Blomkvist in the American adaptation of the best-selling Swedish novel, directed by David Fincher. Blomkvist is a disgraced financial journalist who is hired by a wealthy industrialist to solve a 40-year-old murder mystery. He teams up with a troubled but brilliant computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, to unravel the dark secrets of a powerful family.

Craig effectively portrays Blomkvist as a determined and morally grounded man who finds himself in a deeply disturbing world. The film is a dark and stylish thriller, and his grounded performance provides an anchor for the intense and often graphic story. His chemistry with his co-star, Rooney Mara, was a key element of the film’s success.

‘Road to Perdition’ (2002)

In the period gangster film ‘Road to Perdition’, Craig plays Connor Rooney, the volatile and insecure son of an Irish mob boss played by Paul Newman. Connor’s jealous and reckless actions set off a tragic chain of events that forces a mob enforcer, played by Tom Hanks, to go on the run with his young son.

The role showcased Craig’s ability to play a truly despicable villain. He portrays Connor as a weak, entitled man who hides his insecurities behind a veneer of violent bravado. It was an important early Hollywood role that demonstrated his range and his ability to hold his own in a cast of legendary actors.

‘Munich’ (2005)

In this historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, Craig plays Steve, a South African driver and explosives expert. He is part of a secret Israeli team assembled to assassinate the Palestinian terrorists responsible for the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Steve is one of the more hawkish and pragmatic members of the team.

The film is a serious and morally complex thriller that explores the personal cost of revenge and violence. Craig’s role as the cool and professional operative was a key part of the ensemble. His performance in this film, along with ‘Layer Cake’, helped solidify his credentials as a tough and capable action star.

‘Layer Cake’ (2004)

Craig takes the lead role in the stylish British crime thriller ‘Layer Cake’. He plays a successful and sophisticated cocaine dealer, known only as XXXX, who is planning to get out of the criminal underworld for good. Before he can retire, his boss tasks him with two final difficult jobs that quickly spiral out of his control.

This role is widely considered to be the one that convinced producers to cast him as the next James Bond. He portrays the character as a cool, intelligent, and pragmatic anti-hero who is both charming and capable of violence. The film was a critical success and has become a cult classic of the British crime genre.

‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

In his fifth and final performance as James Bond, Craig brings his character’s story to a definitive and emotional conclusion. The film finds a retired Bond living a quiet life, but he is pulled back into service for one last mission. The plot involves a dangerous new technology and a villain with a mysterious connection to Bond’s love interest, Madeleine Swann.

‘No Time to Die’ serves as the epic finale to the overarching narrative that began in ‘Casino Royale’. The film explores a more emotional and world-weary Bond, a man who has loved, lost, and is now grappling with his legacy. Craig’s performance was praised for bringing a powerful sense of closure to his celebrated tenure as 007.

‘The Adventures of Tintin’ (2011)

In this animated adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, Craig provides the voice and motion-capture performance for the main villain, Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine. Sakharine is a sinister collector who is determined to get his hands on a set of model ships that hold the secret to a lost pirate treasure. He becomes the chief antagonist to the young reporter Tintin.

The role allowed Craig to play a classic, scenery-chewing villain, a stark contrast to his more grounded heroic roles. Using performance-capture technology, he was able to create a physically distinct and menacing character. The film was praised for its stunning visuals and old-fashioned sense of adventure.

‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)

Craig reprises his role as the brilliant detective Benoit Blanc in this sequel to ‘Knives Out’. This time, Blanc travels to a private Greek island owned by a tech billionaire who has invited a group of his friends for a murder mystery party. When a real murder occurs, Blanc must once again solve the case.

The film continues to build on the character of Benoit Blanc, showcasing his sharp intellect and theatrical flair. Craig is clearly having a great time in the role, surrounded by another all-star ensemble cast. The movie was another critical and popular success, solidifying Benoit Blanc as one of cinema’s great modern detectives.

‘Defiance’ (2008)

Based on a true story, ‘Defiance’ stars Craig as Tuvia Bielski, one of four Jewish brothers living in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II. After their parents are killed, the brothers escape into the Belarusian forests, where they establish a hidden community and safe haven for other Jewish refugees. Tuvia becomes the reluctant leader of this growing settlement.

The role required a powerful and commanding performance from Craig as a man forced to become a leader and a symbol of hope in the darkest of times. The film tells an incredible story of survival and resistance, and his portrayal of Tuvia’s strength and moral conviction is the anchor of the movie.

‘Logan Lucky’ (2017)

In this heist comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh, Craig delivers a hilarious and completely unexpected performance as Joe Bang. He is a tattooed, eccentric, and supposedly brilliant explosives expert who is currently incarcerated. A pair of down-on-their-luck brothers devise a plan to break him out of prison just long enough to help them rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The role was a radical departure for Craig, allowing him to showcase his comedic talents. With a wild accent and unhinged energy, his performance as Joe Bang was a scene-stealing highlight of the film. He was widely praised for his comedic timing and for shedding his serious action-hero persona.

‘Infamous’ (2006)

In ‘Infamous’, Craig portrays Perry Smith, one of the two real-life ex-convicts who murdered the Clutter family in 1959, a crime that was chronicled in Truman Capote’s famous book ‘In Cold Blood’. The film focuses on the complex and intimate relationship that develops between Capote and Smith during the prison interviews.

Craig’s performance captures the sensitive and tormented nature of Perry Smith, a man capable of both shocking violence and surprising vulnerability. The film was released shortly after another movie about the same events, ‘Capote’, but his nuanced and powerful portrayal of the killer was singled out for praise by critics.

‘The Mother’ (2003)

In this provocative British drama, Craig plays Darren, a handyman who is half the age of the woman he is working for. After the woman’s husband dies, she begins an intense and passionate affair with Darren, who is also involved with her own daughter. The film is a bold exploration of late-life sexuality and complicated family dynamics.

This early role was notable for its challenging and unconventional subject matter. Craig’s performance is charismatic and complex, portraying a character who is both a catalyst for the main character’s liberation and a source of great turmoil. The role showed his willingness to take on daring and thought-provoking projects.

Let us know which Daniel Craig role you think is his most definitive in the comments.