# Daniel Craig is NOT handsome enough to be James Bond **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841 "2006-05-23T00:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/41 "2006-05-23T17:45:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > James Bond has no need to be handsome. He is cool, everyone knows it, and that is why it works. > > I mean, did you even see Roger Moore in View to a Kill? Sean Connery in Never Say Never? > > If Daniel Craig sucks as Bond, it will be if he plays it like Dalton or just isn’t suave. His looks are adequate…but is his “cool” adequate? > > I like this shot of him as Bond > > [http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/](http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/) > > He jus looks…cool. **Cat Jones** beat me to it, but he looks like Steve McQueen in that picture. And I can definitely see McQueen as a Bond. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/42 "2006-05-23T17:50:23Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > **Cat Jones** beat me to it, but he looks like Steve McQueen in that picture. And I can definitely see McQueen as a Bond. Now I just think he looks ridiculous in that picture. It looks like the poster from a cheesy horror flick. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/43 "2006-05-23T22:04:38Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > Many, many, many people on IMDB, a horrible forum but the only comprehensive one when it comes to movies, are rallying in support of Craig and shooting down anyone who claims what I am claiming, which is that Craig is not good-looking enough. I believe that the **number one** reason for this defense of Craig is that most of the male posters are too ashamed to admit that another man can be handsome. They’re too ashamed to admit that Pierce Brosnan is handsome. To do so would make them “gay.” Therefore they’re going with the ugly duckling so as not to be accused of admiring another man’s features. I’m straight, but I have no problem with saying another man is handsome. I think Daniel Craig is quite handsome. I know you probably don’t believe me, so I would be completely willing to kiss him to prove it to you, even though I am, as I said, emphatically not gay. Not at all. I probably wouldn’t want to talk to him later when my friends are around, though. Actually, that would probably be really awkward. So maybe I wouldn’t. Look, let’s just forget I said anything, okay? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/44 "2006-05-23T23:10:52Z")
OK, so the OP likes men with dark hair & big square jaws. Whatever. I like Craig’s droopy pale eyes, lean cleft chin, strong nose, & general blondness. Not quite what I think of as “Bond” (in my mind, James looks like a mix of Timothy Dalton, Sean Connery, & various random elements) but not unattractive for an action star. And hey, as a straight guy, I like my action stars heroically handsome. So let’s admit that the issue with Craig is that he’s just _different looking_ & go on. I can live with it; he looks a bit like he could be a Ian Fleming relative. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/45 "2006-05-23T23:34:52Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > Look at [this enhanced image.](http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8071/craigvscraig800x3445ry.jpg) This is an image that some trickster created, showing what Daniel Craig would have to look like to portray James Bond, and then comparing that enhanced face to his actual face. A cheap trick, yes. But he is right on the money. The face that he digitally created is symmetrical and even and looks unquestionably handsome. Craig looks like a troll next to him. I’m pretty sure that guy on the right has already starred in a few [movies.](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0783225520.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/46 "2006-05-23T23:35:53Z")
I don’t really care for Bond movies, but will definitely be going to see **Casino Royale** because of both Craig’s hotness/talent and because the trailer just looks so damn cool. I think the whole franchise was just getting too slick with Brosnan in the role. This Bond looks like he’ll stain his shirt a bit. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/47 "2006-05-24T00:30:44Z")
I confess I’ve never read the Fleming novels so I don’t know what the tone of the novels are. However, I do know that the Bond movies are marketed as action adventures: dramatic yet a bit campy. To me, it’s a European version of a “Raiders of the Lost Ark” type movie. (Or vice versa) The reason I prefer Sean Connery as Bond above the much better looking Brosnan (who is drop-dead gorgeous) and the somewhat better looking Moore, is that Connery had a tongue-in-cheek attitude, a twinkle in his eye, that was absent in the other two. The _attitude_ and sense of humor was what made Bond sexy. As far as Craig goes, the jury is still out for me. Yeah, he’s not particularly handsome, but neither was Harrison Ford. And I think we can all agree that Indiana Jones was a very cool character. ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/48 "2006-05-24T02:50:12Z")
I’m still sad that they didn’t give the part to Hugh Jackman. He would have been perfect. [http://www.showbizz.net/uploads/films/jackman.jpg](http://www.showbizz.net/uploads/films/jackman.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/49 "2006-05-24T02:55:05Z")
Damn right he would have been perfect. Christian Bale would also have been perfect. Clive Owen would also have been a better choice than Daniel Craig. My first choice would definitely have been Christian Bale, because of his looks and his tremendous acting ability. Many do not realize that he is Welsh and does not speak with an American accent in real life, so a Bond movie would give audiences a chance to see him speak in his natural voice. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/50 "2006-05-24T02:58:38Z")
I’ll point out one more thing. I watched _Layer Cake_ and was underwhelmed by Craig’s supposed bad-ass-ness. He spent most of that movie getting his ass kicked and looking sad and haggard. This may be a testament to his acting chops, but I must say that if it was Pierce Brosnan in the role in _Layer Cake,_ he would have looked like a million bucks even while taking a beating. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/51 "2006-05-24T03:07:30Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > My first choice would definitely have been Christian Bale, because of his looks and his tremendous acting ability. Many do not realize that he is Welsh and does not speak with an American accent in real life. He is Welsh, but he does speak with an American accent. Don’t ask me how. Bale’s perhaps \*too \*tortured to play Bond. Besides, he’s already Batman. Why step down the scale of coolness? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/52 "2006-05-24T03:10:59Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > He is Welsh, but he does speak with an American accent. Don’t ask me how. Bale’s perhaps \*too \*tortured to play Bond. I don’t think this is true. Some people saw Bale in interviews regarding Batman which he did in his American accent to stay true to the character of Bruce Wayne, and assumed this was his normal accent. In the special interviews on the American Psycho DVD he does indeed speak in a British accent. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/53 "2006-05-24T03:24:43Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > But if M told Bond to shoot you in the face, shoot your wife in the face and THEN screw her, he would probably hesitate. That’s why Bond can’t hold a candle to Jack Bauer. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/54 "2006-05-25T19:12:00Z")
“I have to shoot your wife in the face and then screw her… OR MILLIONS WILL DIE!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/55 "2006-05-25T19:36:44Z")
I still think [this guy](http://melaniefletcher.com/journal/2004/mar04/gifs/cameron.jpg) would make a great Bond. Not that I have anything against Daniel Craig. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/56 "2006-05-25T19:39:04Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I still think [this guy](http://melaniefletcher.com/journal/2004/mar04/gifs/cameron.jpg) would make a great Bond. Not that I have anything against Daniel Craig. I was hoping for Paul Blackthorne, but that’s just cuz he’s hot. I’d actually go see a new Bond film if he was Bond. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/57 "2006-05-25T20:28:31Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > Damn right he would have been perfect. Christian Bale would also have been perfect. Clive Owen would also have been a better choice than Daniel Craig. > > My first choice would definitely have been Christian Bale, because of his looks and his tremendous acting ability. Many do not realize that he is Welsh and does not speak with an American accent in real life, so a Bond movie would give audiences a chance to see him speak in his natural voice. See, this is part of the problem. Craig really suffers in comparison to who else (theoretically, anyway) could have been Bond. I agree that he’s not good looking enough. He looks like a Russian hockey player. I was also disappointed in the selection of Eva Green as a Bond Girl. I know some guys will now come running in to say she’s hot as the fire of a thousand suns, but I don’t see it, especially in comparison to our last Bond Girl, Halle Berry. I mean - come on. Here’s [Pierce and Halle](http://quem.globo.com/edic/118/karen1.jpg). Here’s [David and Eva](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0381061/Ss/0381061/Royale_04.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Craig,%20Daniel%20(I)) (and the third girl whose name I don’t know). No comparison. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/58 "2006-05-25T20:58:00Z")
I just want to say that I wish I was as “ugly” as Danny Craig. Geez! mm ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/59 "2006-05-25T22:07:55Z")
Thank God that handsome Ronald Reagan\* played Rick Blaine in **Casablanca** instead of that ugly motherfucker Humphrey Bogart, who we know by his very weird looks could never ever pull off a suave role. Just think how awful Bogart would have looked trying to wear those elegant suits, how he would have been eclipsed by Conreid and Bergman… Who cares about Bogie’s acting ability–Reagan was just so pretty as Rick, wasn’t he? And that is what counts. :rolleyes: Sir Rhosis \*never seriously considered, I know ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841/60 "2006-05-25T22:11:03Z")
I think straight men honestly have no clue what women find attractive about men. Most women aren’t entirely about the physical, though it’s a factor. I know what’s really smoking hot about a lot of guys is the way they carry themselves, their self-confidence, sense of humor, and a lot of less tangible qualities. I’ve known dozens of women who were hot for Jeff Goldblum (myself included), but I’ve never met a guy who wasn’t completely creeped out by that. You guys just don’t get it, and that’s why James Bond gets all the girls and you don’t. 😉 That said, Daniel Craig is dead sexy and I’m really looking forward to _Casino Royale_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daniel-craig-is-not-handsome-enough-to-be-james-bond/357841.md?page=4)