Daniel Craig as the first Blonde James Bond won over moviegoers all over the world. His outstanding portrayal of the devastatingly suave and deadly spy not only won over some of his toughest critics, but also saw them singing his praises.
He is heralded for bring a new freshness to the role that had previously been graced by the likes of Sean Connery and Roger Moore. More recently Pierce Brosnan took the reigns for several installments successfully before he was replaced with the first Blond Bond Craig.
His depiction of the British spy has awarded him top Brutish praise in London. Craig was named best actor for “Casino Royale,” his debut outing as James Bond. Craig. The successful debut of Craig won both critical praise and box office acclaim worldwide. It will also see him reprising the role for the famous franchise’s next installment.
Daniel Craig is also up for the best-actor prize at next week’s British Academy Film Awards. The prestigious Evening Standard British Film Awards bestowing such an honor on the courageous actor who faced at the start of filming the now acclaimed performance harsh opposition to his undertaking the role.
Even from the most hardened of Bond fans that joined the skeptics. There were online campaigns against the production of the only Blonde Bond.
To Craig’s credit he pulled off the essence and embodiment of what Bond is most loved for and took it that many steps further to make the character his own. The style of vintage Bond is apparent through his depiction. There is no mistaking that he is Bond.
Others honored on the night for the best actress prize went to Judi Dench awarded for her portrayal of a predatory schoolteacher in “Notes on a Scandal.” Dame Judy Dench beat out Oscar favorite Helen Mirren for her performance as Queen Elizabeth.
Stephen Frears, director of “The Queen,” received a special award for “for making British film reverberate around the world.” The veteran director’s socially conscious films include “My Beautiful Laundrette,” “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Dirty Pretty Things.” While Sacha Baron Cohen, creator of the gauche Kazakh journalist Borat, won the Peter Sellers Award for comedy.
The best-film prize went to “United 93,” Paul Greengrass’ harrowing dramatization of the final flight of one of the planes hijacked in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Peter Morgan won the screenplay award for two scripts – “The Queen” and “The Last King of Scotland.”
The Evening Standard awards are sponsored by London’s afternoon newspaper and selected by a jury of film critics.
