Daniel Craig’s outstanding performance as 007 has become associated with the James Bond franchise. The actor was cast in the coveted position in 2006, succeeding Pierce Brosnan, who had played the secret agent for seven years between 1995 and 2002. However, in a new interview, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell said that he had reservations about casting Craig as James Bond because he believed he wasn’t attractive enough.

“He was a really superb actor; there’s no doubt about that,” Campbell told the Daily Express. “It was because people like Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan were all traditional-looking Bonds.” All of them are gorgeous, sexy, and incredibly appealing to women. Daniel was certainly rougher and more rugged, but he wasn’t your typical attractive guy.” Campbell went on to say that, despite his reservations, he thought Craig was born to play Bond.

In recalling the franchise’s casting process, the director also revealed that Craig beat out eight other actors, including Man of Steel’s Henry Cavill, before securing the part. “You sit at a table… It was just me and the producers, the casting director, and so forth. And you go through the eight persons, putting your hand up as you go through each person, and everyone needs to be united in their vote,” Campbell explained.

Following his debut as Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, Craig went on to feature in Quantum of Solace in 2008, Skyfall in 2012, Spectre in 2015, and No Time to Die in 2021 before leaving the franchise.

Ahead of the forthcoming edition, a number of speculated contenders, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, and Happy Valley’s James Norton, are supposedly being considered to replace the famed British spy.