Daniel Craig has revealed that his role in the recent Belvedere vodka advertisement was a goodbye to his former James Bond character.
The spot, that has now amassed 4.2 million views on YouTube, saw the actor ditch the 007 look and dance his way through an ad with an original soundtrack written and performed by Rita Ora and Giggs.
Craig has said that the Taika Waititi-directed commercial was a way of freeing himself from the iconic British-Spy role.
“When I read the script, I thought, ‘Hmm, really?’ ” he told The Sunday Times. “Then I thought, ‘Let’s go with it. I hope people get the gag.’”
Towards the end of the spot, Craig sighed “finally”, a phrase he hopes his fans will recognised as a wave goodbye to James Bond.
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The actor was also surprised to find that the dancing scenes were “hard work”. In the ad, choreographed by JaQuel Knight, Daniel Craig ‘playfully sachets’ through the luxurious Cheval Blanc Paris hotel until he lands upon a Belvedere bar.
“It was hard work because I don’t dance,” Craig added. “So, the fact is, we had an amazing choreographer to JaQuel Knight who came in and I worked with him for a couple of days. I just went for it. You don’t get chances like that very often. In for a penny, in for a pound.”
Interestingly enough, the actor also told The Sunday Times that he thought of his grandmother when he filmed the promotional video.
“When I did it, I thought of my nana,” he added. “She was the voice in my head, saying, ‘Mutton dressed as lamb’.”
