Daniel Craig has revealed he felt “empty” and emotionally “exhausted” after filming each of his James Bond films.

The 56-year-old actor starred in five Bond films between 2006 and 2021, and Daniel has now admitted that the money-grabbing films took a toll on him physically and emotionally.

Since leaving his Bond role behind him, he has appeared in numerous other films and will next be seen in the fast-paced new film Queer.

He stars opposite Drew Starkey, 31, in Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated film based on the semi-autobiographical novella of the same name by William Burroughs.

Set in 1950s Mexico City, the historical romantic drama 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 Marine.

But reflecting on his Bond days, he told the Sunday Times this weekend: “I couldn’t have done that (Queer) while I was doing Bond.” It would look reactionary, like I was showing my range.

“At the beginning of Bond I thought I would have to do other work, but I didn’t. I became a star, whatever that means, and people wanted me in their films. Incredible.

“Most actors are out of work for a long time, so they accept their job offers – but they left me empty.” The bottom line is that I got paid.

“I was so exhausted at the end of Bond that it took me six months to recover emotionally. “I always had the attitude that life had to come first, and when work came first for a while, it annoyed me.”

Daniel still has a lot of love for the Bond franchise and he’s excited to see where producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson go next.

He added that it was “not my decision or my problem” who might be the next Bond, but said that he wished those who choose “good luck.”

This comes after Daniel revealed he “wrote a lot of lines” in Bond’s 2008 film Quantum of Solace – and admitted the film “just didn’t quite work”.

He recalled his time on set but bluntly admitted it was a “f***ing nightmare” – as there was a lack of writers and production began without a script.

The “Knives Out” star told The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast: “Difficult second album – a f***ing nightmare.”

“Paul Haggis passed on the script. Then he went and joined the picket line, and we had no writers.

“We should never have started production. “I ended up writing a lot of the movie, which I probably shouldn’t say.”

The English actor continued: “There are some great stunt sequences in there, but it just didn’t quite work.”

“The storytelling was non-existent, that’s a lesson – starting a film without a script is not a good idea.”

In the same interview, the actor also admitted that he initially turned down the chance to play James Bond because he feared it might limit other opportunities for him in the film industry.

He portrayed 007 in five films, from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time to Die, but admits he had reservations about taking on the role of the legendary spy.

When asked if he was nervous about taking on the Bond role, Daniel replied: “Yes, definitely.” That’s why I turned it down – I mean, I said “no”.

“There wasn’t a script back then, so again my arrogance was unbelievable, but I just thought, ‘Well, until I see a script, I can’t possibly make a decision.’

“And the very thing you’re talking about was the fear of this thing and many others, that it would turn my life upside down.”

“I was earning pretty well back then. So if I had spent my life doing what I did back then, I would have been more than happy.”

“But it was really one of those things where – I mean, being classified as James Bond? Buuuuh.”

Daniel took on other film roles between Bond films – such as “Defiance” and “Cowboys and Aliens” – but explained that his attempts to showcase his versatility as an actor left him burnt out.

He said, “I think I felt like I had to prove myself.” And after a while I just realized I didn’t have the energy to do it.

“It’s not about films like Defiance, because I’m very proud of them.”

But Bond is your life if you do it – each film is about about two years of your life; You have been away from home for over six months; And the idea of ​​bringing in someone else because I need to prove to the world that I have reach is kind of ridiculous, so I stopped doing it.

“I made some films that I was incredibly proud of.” But I was exhausted making those films. It was better to just focus on the bonds.”