Saturday, November 8, 2008

Daniel Craig/ James Bond Profile

Finally! A post after a loooooong hiatus. I just completed the following article very recently and isn't part of the files from my previous work. This is one of the many exercises required by the company I recently applied. I was to create a well-researched, professionally done article that is entertaining for casual readers. I wasn't really sure how to make a profile of a Hollywood star since I haven't really made one before, hence the barrage of movie titles. Additionally, they wanted me to make an emphasis on Craig being the newest James Bond. In the end though, I still applied the same general writing rules I adhere to. I think I did a decent job on this one so I decided to put it here. Besides, it's been ages since my last post.

Description: Not required.

The newest face of the James Bond franchise is none other than English hotshot, Daniel Craig. Despite being in the industry since the early 90s, he wasn’t exactly a household name even after signing on for his first Ian Fleming adaptation. But thanks to his training in London’s National Youth Theatre and the famous Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Craig proved his detractors wrong and helped the spy series get back on track with thrilling scenes and gritty action.


Believe it or not, one of them is actually Simon Pegg.


After proving his worth in the theatrical ranks, Craig finally made his film debut in the direct-to-video release of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert. His big screen debut was in the gripping 1992 drama, The Power Of One. He then continued his acting career on television movies, such as Anglo Saxon Attitudes, Genghis Cohn and Sharpe’s Eagle. His TV stints continued extensively, landing one-time gigs in Covington Cross, Boon, Heartbeat, Between The Lines, Drop The Dead Donkey and even HBO’s Tales From The Crypt. However, his most notable roles in the small screen were as Lieutenant Hidalgo in Zorro and as Geordie Peacock in Our Friends In The North.

Craig made the jump back to the silver screen in the 1997 German flick, Obsession. He then followed this with notable leading performances in Love And Rage and Love Is The Devil. Slowly but surely, this English actor was carving out a name for himself by top-billing in films like Hotel Splendide and Some Voices, as well as more TV movies such as Shockers: The Visitor and Sword Of Honour.


Before and after? You be the judge.


The whole world finally noticed the international appeal of Daniel Craig when he joined Hollywood stars Kim Basinger in I Dreamed of Africa, Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Tom Hanks in Road To Perdition and Gwyneth Paltrow in Sylvia. However, it was his performance as a retiring cocaine dealer in the 2004 crime thriller Layer Cake that finally cemented Craig’s star status in the movie industry. He then went on and showed the world his wide array of acting skills in The Jacket, Munich, Infamous and yet another TV movie, Archangel.

Despite having an already enviable career, none of them would compare to what was about to follow. His performance in Layer Cake was so brilliant that producer Barbara Broccoli decided then and there that Craig was going to be the sixth actor to portray Agent 007. It seemed that the producers were right as Craig steered Casino Royale as the highest-grossing James Bond movie ever. The movie also received nine BAFTA award nominations, easily surpassing the previous high of two.

Seriously though, this guy could beat me, and probably you, in his sleep.


Although already a household name after his stellar performance in his first crack at the 007 franchise, Craig did not stop here. Instead of resting on his laurels, he continued doing quality films, such as The Invasion, The Golden Compass and Flashbacks Of A Fool. His latest endeavor is Quantum Of Solace, the much-hyped sequel to his first Bond roundabout. With his potent track record combined with three more 007 films on the horizon, this dashing Brit certainly deserves to introduce himself as “Craig, Daniel Craig.”


WORD COUNT = 523 (500 word minimum)

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