Daniel Craig has revealed he initially rejected the chance to play James Bond as he was fearful it could limit other opportunities for him in the movie industry.

The actor, 56, portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time To Die, but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy.

When asked if he was nervous about accepting the Bond role, Daniel told The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast: ‘Yes, for sure. That’s why I turned it down – I mean, I said, “No”. There wasn’t a script at the time, so again, my arrogance was unbelievable, but I was just like, ‘Well, until I see a script, I couldn’t possibly make a a decision.’

‘And it was fear, exactly what you’re talking about, of that thing and many others, how it would flip my life. I was making a pretty good living at the time, so if I spent my life doing what I was doing at the time, I would’ve been more than happy.

‘But it was really one of those things where – I mean to be typecast as James Bond? Boo-hoo.’

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

Daniel Craig has revealed he initially rejected the chance to play James Bond as he was fearful it could limit other opportunities for him in the movie industry

The actor, 56, portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time To Die , but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy

He said: ‘I think I felt that I had to prove myself. And after a while I just realised that I didn’t have the energy to do that.

‘It’s not knocking movies like ‘Defiance’, because I’m very proud of them. But Bond is your life when you’re doing it – each movie is about two years out of your life; you’re away from home for over six months; and the idea of fitting someone else in because of the need to prove to the world that I’ve got range, it’s kind of ridiculous, so I stopped doing that.

‘There’s some movies I did do that I was incredibly proud of. But I was exhausted while doing those films. It was better just to concentrate on the Bonds.’

It comes after Daniel teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday.

The actor, 56, who played 007 for five films from 2006 until 2021, weighed in on the ongoing debate while presenting an award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles .

As he honoured producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award he said ‘the next James Bond could be in the room.’

Previous reports suggested Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James could be next in line to take on the iconic role.

Daniel recently teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday

‘Let’s just get something out of the way,’ Daniel began.

‘If you came here this evening to find out who the next James Bond is, don’t look at me, but he might be in the room. I’m just joking. Maybe I’m not,’ PEOPLE report.

Daniel hung up his bowtie and tux three years ago and has been leaning into more experimental roles since, ranging from a fun camp gentleman sleuth with a Southern drawl to a man who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico City, in the 1940s.

He will next star in Queer which is an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs.

The actor plays an American, William Lee, living in Mexico City who becomes Sєxually obsessed with a former sailor, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey).

 The top 20 actors Brits want to be                  the next James Bond 

1. Idris Elba

2. Tom Hardy

3. Henry Cavill

4. James Norton

5. Cillian Murphy

6. Tom Hiddleston

7. Tom Holland

8. Jamie Dornan

9. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

10. Richard Madden

11. Rege Jean Page

12. Luke Evans

13. Leo Woodall

14. Emilia Clarke

15. Emily Blunt

16. Helen Mirren

17. Barry Keoghan

18. Theo James

19. Lupita Nyong’o

20. Sam Heughan