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Daniel Craig has insisted he wouldn't have starred in Queer and Bond together, in order to prevent people from thinking 'he was trying too hard to be a good actor'.
The 007 icon, 56, stars in the film Queer which follows American expat and war veteran William Lee (played by Craig), who has a romance with a younger man, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey).
After playing fictional secret agent James Bond for five instalments in the film, Daniel said he would have felt very 'self-conscious' if he starred in Queer alongside Bond.
In his upcoming appearance in the Graham Norton Show on Friday night, Daniel says: 'I couldn’t have done it during Bond.
'Not because I wouldn’t have wanted to, but because I would have felt really self-conscious with people thinking I was trying too hard be a good actor.'
Speaking about his performance in the gay love story, after being nominated for a Golden Globes award, he adds: 'I’d read William S Burroughs' Junkie and think I pretended to read Naked Lunch but didn’t know this story.
Daniel Craig, 56, has insisted he wouldn't have starred in Queer and Bond together, in order to prevent people from thinking 'he was trying too hard to be a good actor'
The 007 icon stars in the film Queer which follows American expat and war veteran William Lee (played by Craig), who has a romance with a younger man, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey)
After playing fictional secret agent James Bond, Daniel said he would have felt very 'self-conscious' if he starred in Queer alongside Bond (pictured in No Time To Die film)
'Burroughs' experience of life always involved a lot of drugs, so the movie sets out to be a bit of a trip.
'It is all slightly off kilter with a modern soundtrack and the feel of a movie from the 1940s.
'It blurs the lines around homosexuality which was illegal at the time.
'You had to have a male front and hide it away with no freedom of expression and I guess I’ve always been fascinated by the artifice of masculinity.'
Queer sees him star alongside Drew, 31, in Luca Guadagnino's anticipated movie based on William Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella of the same name.
The period romantic drama, set in 1950s Mexico City, follows American expat and war veteran William Lee (played by Craig), who has a romance with a younger man, Eugene Allerton (Starkey), a drug addict and discharged Navy serviceman.
It comes after Daniel revealed he felt 'empty' and emotionally 'exhausted' after shooting each of his James Bond movies.
He starred in five Bond films between 2006 and 2021, and Daniel has now admitted that the money-spinning movies took a physical and emotional toll on him.
In his upcoming appearance in the Graham Norton Show on Friday night, Daniel says: 'I couldn’t have done it during Bond'
'Not because I wouldn’t have wanted to, but because I would have felt really self-conscious with people thinking I was trying too hard be a good actor'
Speaking about his performance in the gay love story, after being nominated for a Golden Globes awards, he adds: 'I’d read William S Burroughs' Junkie and think I pretended to read Naked Lunch but didn’t know this story'
'Burroughs' experience of life always involved a lot of drugs, so the movie sets out to be a bit of a trip. It is all slightly off kilter with a modern soundtrack and the feel of a movie from the 1940s. It blurs the lines around homosexuality which was illegal at the time'
Daniel appeared alongside Nicola Coughlan, Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin
Queer sees him star alongside Drew, 31, in Luca Guadagnino's anticipated movie based on William Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella of the same name
But reflecting on his Bond days, he told The Sunday Times last weekend: 'I couldn't have done this (Queer) while doing Bond. It would look reactionary, like I was showing my range.
'Early on with Bond I thought I had to do other work, but I didn't. I was becoming a star, whatever that means, and people wanted me in their films. Incredible.
'Most actors are out of work for large chunks so you take your job offers - but they left me empty. Then, bottom line, I got paid.
'I was so exhausted at the end of a Bond it would take me six months to recover emotionally. I always had the attitude that life must come first and, when work came first for a while, it strung me out.'
Daniel remains very fond of the Bond franchise, and he's curious to see where producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson decide to take it next.
He added that who the next Bond could be 'isn't my decision or problem' but said he wished those choosing 'good luck'.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 13th December 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
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