Claim: Daniel Craig trained at the charity National Youth Theatre.

Daniel Wroughton Craig -LRB- born 2 March 1968 -RRB- is an English actor . He trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991 , before beginning his career on stage . His film debut was in the drama The Power of One -LRB- 1992 -RRB- . Other early appearances were in the Disney family film A Kid in King Arthur 's Court -LRB- 1995 -RRB- and the biographical film Elizabeth -LRB- 1998 -RRB- , as well as in the historical war drama television series Sharpe 's Eagle -LRB- 1993 -RRB- and the action-adventure drama series Zorro . Cast as the fictional British secret agent James Bond in October 2005 , his first film in the role , Casino Royale , was released internationally in November 2006 .   Craig 's appearances in the British television film Love Is the Devil : Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon -LRB- 1998 -RRB- , the indie war film The Trench -LRB- 1999 -RRB- , and the drama Some Voices -LRB- 2000 -RRB- attracted the film industry 's attention . This led to roles in bigger productions such as the action film Lara Croft : Tomb Raider -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , the crime thriller Road to Perdition -LRB- 2002 -RRB- , the crime thriller Layer Cake -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , and the Steven Spielberg historical drama Munich -LRB- 2005 -RRB- . Craig achieved international fame when chosen as the sixth actor to play the role of Ian Fleming 's James Bond in the official film series , taking over from Pierce Brosnan in 2005 . Although his casting was initially greeted with scepticism , his debut was highly acclaimed and earned him a BAFTA award nomination , with Casino Royale becoming the highest-grossing in the series at the time . Quantum of Solace followed two years later .   Craig 's third Bond film , Skyfall , premiered in 2012 and is currently the highest-grossing film in the series , was the highest-grossing film in the UK until 2015 and the fifteenth highest-grossing film of all time . Craig 's fourth Bond film , Spectre , premiered in 2015 . In 2006 , he joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Since taking the role of Bond , he has continued to star in other films , including the World War II film Defiance -LRB- 2008 -RRB- , science fiction Western Cowboys & Aliens -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , and the English-language adaptation of Stieg Larsson 's mystery thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -LRB- 2011 -RRB- . Craig also made a guest appearance as Bond in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games , alongside Queen Elizabeth II . As of 20 February 2017 , Craig is the second longest serving James Bond , surpassed only by Roger Moore .