The important acting lesson Daniel Craig learned from Paul Newman: “All the same fears”
The ability to take genuine risks is what separates a good actor from a great one, with performers like Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson being dauntless in their approach, always choosing terrifying and bold new projects. Daniel Craig‘s sense of creative freedom seemed somewhat stifled after appearing in the James Bond franchise for many years, with the actor being fairly vocal about his conflicting thoughts on the series and the physical demands of the role.
Before his career as a secret agent, he largely worked in theatre and in gritty independent projects, voicing concern to his agent about accepting such a commercial film with an extensive fan base. However, since the last Bond instalment, he has elevated his career to new heights and found inspiration through one other actor.
Paul Newman is one of the most classic New Hollywood figures, with leading roles in revolutionary films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, becoming synonymous with a daring new movement in cinema that shifted the power from the studios to the directors, with a wave of films that showed how creativity could also be commercially successful. The actor was known for his piercing blue eyes and all-American look, going on to star in some of the most impactful films from this era and beyond.
Interestingly enough, Craig has a reputation similar to Newman’s, with a squeaky, clean persona that was largely influenced by his portrayal of James Bond. The actor first starred in the franchise in 2006, with the last film being released in 2021.
With over ten years dedicated to this role, you can imagine that it would become hard to escape, but Craig has shattered everyone’s expectations by taking risks and starring in unexpected projects. He most recently worked with Luca Guadagnino on his adaptation of the William Burroughs novel Queer, playing a lonely ex-pat living in New Mexico City who becomes infatuated with a younger man.
The film is emotionally shattering and deeply vulnerable, with Craig saying that he was inspired by Newman’s career and one thing he said to him. Craig explained, “When you realise that Tom Hanks is many things, but he is just an actor, and Paul Newman was many things, beautiful things, but was just an actor. When I was talking to Paul Newman, he was an actor who had all the same fears that I had. I was, like, Oh, right, fuck off. OK. Everything’s OK.”
It would be reassuring for anyone to hear that their idol also felt fear and terror over new opportunities and challenges, but this is a natural part of being in the business. If you aren’t terrified by every job you take, then are you truly being challenged at all? It is a philosophy that has led to some of the greatest performances of all time, and even though he was intimidated by going against public ideas about the types of characters he plays, Craig is completely enthralling and devastating in Queer, showing that the risk absolutely paid off.
