Daniel Craig calls for roles 'just as good as James Bond' for women and actors of colour

Daniel Craig has called for roles “just as good as James Bond” for women and actors of colour.

The 53-year-old star is to play 007 for a final time in forthcoming film ‘No Time To Die’, but he has shot down suggestions that a woman could take over from him, as he believes “better parts” should be created for actresses instead.

When asked if he would support a more “diverse” appointment as his replacement, he replied: “The answer to that is very simple.

“There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour.

“Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”

Daniel also admitted he hasn’t felt objectified after a memorable scene in 2006 movie ‘Casino Royale’ – his first outing as the spy – when Bond came out of the sea wearing a tiny pair of blue trunks.

The star admitted he in fact chose the swimming attire because he wanted a similar shock reaction to the famous scene in which Ursula Andress emerged from the sea wearing a white bikini in her role as Honey Ryder in the 1962 Bond film ‘Dr. No’.

Speaking to Radio Times magazine – www.radiotimes.com - Daniel added: “I’m OK with it. I knew what I was doing.

“They showed me some shorts, some swim trunks, and I went, ‘Those’.

“Because of Ursula Andress, and because of that look, I wanted to flip it on its head.”

Daniel recently admitted he used to “lock himself in and close the curtains” after landing the role of Bond, as he struggled to cope with the fame attached to the iconic part.

He said: “My personal life was affected by being that famous all of a sudden.

“I used to lock myself in and close the curtains, I was in cloud cuckoo land.

“I was phyally and mentally under siege.

“I didn’t like the newfound level of fame. It was Hugh Jackman who helped me to come to terms with it and appreciate it.”

The star also read numerous “hate-filled” online comments after it was revealed he was taking over from Pierce Brosnan as the secret agent.

He said: “I went online and stayed up all night and read everything because that is what happens if you do that. And it was tough, really tough – hate-filled.

“And I woke up the following morning I went, ‘F*** it, I know the film is going to be good’. I knew we were doing something really special.”

After producer Barbara Broccoli had offered Daniel the part, he wasted no time getting into character.

The ‘Knives Out’ actor set about getting drunk on Bond’s beverage of choice – martinis.

He said: “She just went, ‘Over to you kiddo’. And I grabbed a bottle of vodka, vermouth, a cocktail shaker and went back to my apartment and started mixing myself vodka martinis.

“It was my first bit of exercise. I had a hangover for three days.”

After ‘Casino Royale’, Daniel starred as Bond in 2008 movie ‘Quantum of Solace’, 2012’s ‘Skyfall’, and 2015’s ‘Spectre’.

He once infamously admitted he would “rather slash his wrists” than play the character again, but he has now said he has “loved every single second” of portraying 007.