Mom spills 007 'secret'
2005-10-14 07:36
London - Attempts to keep secret the identity of the latest actor to play British super-spy James Bond until Friday appear to have failed after his mother blabbed the news to a local newspaper in northern England.
Removing any mystery about the announcement that Daniel Craig - already hotly tipped for the role - would be named the next 007 at a news conference in London, she told the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday about her delight, three national British newspapers reported on Friday.
"Obviously we are thrilled to bits," Carol Craig was quoted as saying in comments picked up by The Times.
The Daily Telegraph also carried the story, but said the mother's name was Olivia.
"It has come at a very good time in his career. He has worked extremely hard all his life and this would be his biggest populist role," she said.
"I think he could bring something very interesting to the part. It will be life-changing."
Closer to Fleming's description of Bond
The British actor, 37, is due to be formally unveiled as the next Bond onboard a boat on London's River Thames later in the day, the Telegraph said.
Despite his fair and receding hairline, the 1.82-metre, 78 kg Craig is closer to author Ian Fleming's description of Bond in height and weight than his predecessors, who include Sean Connery, Roger Moore and most recently Pierce Brosnan.
The role will be the most prestigious yet for Craig, who has played a colourful cast of characters in his career as an actor in largely British films such as Enduring Love, Sylvia and Layer Cake.
Born in 1968 in Chester and raised in Liverpool, northern England, he is the son of a merchant seaman and an art teacher.
Craig left school at 16 to join the National Youth Theatre and was accepted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Friday's expected announcement comes after negotiations for the last James Bond, Irish actor Brosnan, to reprise the role of 007 for a fifth time collapsed last year.
Production on the 21st Bond film, Casino Royale, is scheduled to begin in Britain in January. Casino Royale is based on Fleming's first 007 book, penned in 1953.