
Lay out your reefer jacket and matching trousers, we have a Commander in the Royal Navy a.k.a. Mr. Daniel Craig giving orders this week. We examine self-reflections such as “do I want to turn into a film horse?” what it’s like to be a Storm Trooper, a numb thumb and no bump, and Room Service: LIVE! Just slide the potatoes under the door… it’s an all-new SmartLess.
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Jason Bateman
Dietz and Watson has been handcrafting meats and cheeses for over 80 years. They never cut corners. Ever. They cook their meat. They don't process it. Dietz and Watson is transparent about what goes into their food and what doesn't. They do things the right way, even if it's the hard way. They're going on their fourth generation of upholding that philosophy because that's how they've always done it. Deets and Watson, it's a family thing since 1939. Visit Dietz and Watson.com the right way to learn more about the Dietz and Watson difference.
Will Arnett
Empowering young people across the nation through mentorship is crucial. That's why Macy's has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters whose aim is to help children in under resourced families thrive by providing transformational one to one relationships with caring adult men. Mentors join the effort by rounding up your purchase in store and donating online to this incredible cause. November 1st through December 24th shop@macy's.com.
Sean Hayes
Variety Raves Maria is absolute perfection. And Entertainment Weekly hails Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Brings tragedy and triumph to the last days of opera singer Maria Callas.
Daniel Craig
Finally, I am in control.
Sean Hayes
And critics agree it's a towering tour de for performance from Angelina Jolie and a career best.
Daniel Craig
My life is opera. There is no reason in Opera Maria.
Sean Hayes
Directed by Pablo Laray for your consideration now playing its lech theaters and on Netflix December 11th.
Jason Bateman
All right, so we're having a cold open contest right here. We're trying to create the world's worst cold open.
Will Arnett
Prior year?
Jason Bateman
Well, not yet. I'm just teeing it up. Will, would you like to start the world's worst cold open?
Sean Hayes
Hey, man, it's freezing in here. Who left the door open?
Will Arnett
It's good.
Jason Bateman
Pretty good. Welcome to Smart Less.
Sean Hayes
Smart.
Jason Bateman
Smart Less.
Daniel Craig
Smart Less.
Jason Bateman
It feels like we haven't done this for quite a while. It does. I miss you guys. Didn't we canceled a record last week, I think.
Will Arnett
Yes, we had.
Jason Bateman
So it's been a couple weeks, is that right?
Sean Hayes
It's been a few weeks.
Will Arnett
We saw each other Saturday.
Sean Hayes
We did.
Jason Bateman
We did. But we haven't done this.
Will Arnett
This. We haven't done this in quite a while.
Sean Hayes
We haven't.
Will Arnett
Jay, how's your stye, by the way? Jason's got a big stye in his right eye.
Jason Bateman
Disgusting.
Sean Hayes
So are we going wide on this?
Jason Bateman
I guess I can lean into the screen camera here a little.
Sean Hayes
You know what? It actually looks.
Will Arnett
Is it better?
Jason Bateman
I started an antibiotic Last night. So that's supposed to. Already in the. Yeah, I know.
Sean Hayes
What do you want? You wanted to wait two weeks just to make sure.
Jason Bateman
It's all about trying to find the right doctor. Yeah, so anyway, so I think I'm with the right one now. And this, what is now a ball bearing of pus that it will not release from my eyelid, I think is going to start to lessen and I would love that.
Sean Hayes
So you found a full release doctor?
Jason Bateman
I did, yeah. And insurance covered it all.
Will Arnett
Stupid.
Jason Bateman
It was a small co pay, but.
Sean Hayes
I feel like the term doctor might be pretty loosely applied.
Will Arnett
Jay, I'm not Jason. I'm not even kidding. Will you please. Will you please video. There is not going to be coming out.
Jason Bateman
I asked him to drain me yesterday and.
Sean Hayes
Hang on, hang on. Again, this is the doctor.
Will Arnett
Can I get the number?
Sean Hayes
Because I feel like we're getting our signals.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, he said no. Just take this pill and you should be okay soon. So I hope so.
Will Arnett
I hope so.
Jason Bateman
Until then, I'm gonna wear these glasses so people don't really see it, which is different.
Sean Hayes
Cause, Sean, you told me once that a guy gave you a pill and then he drained you.
Daniel Craig
Is that true?
Jason Bateman
All for pretty affordable coke.
Daniel Craig
You woke up.
Sean Hayes
You woke up and you had been drained.
Will Arnett
Yeah, but I willingly. But I willingly took the pill. I know you did, by the way. Speaking of stuff, I'm not making this up. Yesterday I was somehow gotten the subject. Oh, I was talking about this Saturday too. I youtubed childbirth. I've never seen a childbirth.
Sean Hayes
What?
Jason Bateman
Big or bigger?
Will Arnett
I don't know, I kind of wanted to just see it.
Jason Bateman
Hang on. How does your day. How does your day kind of like. Kind of lay out where you find yourself on a YouTube search and then specifically for childbirth.
Will Arnett
Yeah, because I was talking to my friend Kevin about it and Carrie and she and I don't know, we just.
Sean Hayes
Friends of the podcast.
Will Arnett
Yeah, that's correct. And all of us. And so. Yeah, but they. I don't know, we got on the subject of childbirth.
Sean Hayes
Oh.
Will Arnett
Because a friend of mine. Because a friend of mine. A friend of ours just had a baby and Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger had a baby boy.
Sean Hayes
Yes.
Will Arnett
Named Ford. Yes.
Sean Hayes
Congrats to them.
Jason Bateman
Wait, do we need. We need to sway. We need to send a gift.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, we gotta send them something.
Jason Bateman
Do you think they're registered some smartless swag?
Will Arnett
No, I'll put my name on it. I put your names on it. I sent something, but I'll put your names on it.
Jason Bateman
Thanks.
Sean Hayes
So you saw the childbirth. Ann, what was your.
Jason Bateman
No.
Will Arnett
So I was talking to people about and I was like, wow. I mean, I know it comes out of there. I had no idea that to watch it actually being.
Jason Bateman
To come out and the head comes out all elongated. Yes.
Will Arnett
And the whole body comes out.
Jason Bateman
First time I saw it, I thought something was wrong.
Sean Hayes
I was there for the birth of all three of my boys.
Jason Bateman
Oh, wow. What a dad.
Sean Hayes
And they were all three. All three were cesarean C sections, which was really.
Jason Bateman
That's tough to watch.
Sean Hayes
That was my point.
Jason Bateman
You empty out the whole market there, dude.
Sean Hayes
And I'm like. And I'm like, yeah, it's going to be fun. I remember the first time being like, it's going to be fun. And then looking and just going, oh, cool.
Jason Bateman
Stomach, intestine, spleen, liver, everything on the table.
Will Arnett
By the way, you know what a platinum gay is? A baby that comes out who turns out to be gay, who never even went through the canal, had a C section. So not only once touched, looked at it, or been through it. Is a platinum gay.
Jason Bateman
That's a real term.
Will Arnett
Latin gay means your mom had a. Mom had a C section.
Sean Hayes
Is that a whole section on Grindr? Is that like a different.
Jason Bateman
All right. And with that, we'll get to our guest.
Sean Hayes
Okay, guys. How is that possible?
Jason Bateman
Guys. We rarely have members of the military on the show. Even more rare are members of the British military. Today we have a commander of the Royal Navy. All right. But this is not just a soldier. His interests include rugby, Churchill, clearing. I'm gonna have to start over now. You know how I don't like to be interrupted during my. I spent a long time writing these guys. We rarely have members of the military on the show. Even more rare are members of the British military. Today we have a commander of the Royal Navy. But this is not just a soldier. His interests include rugby, clearing minefields, Shakespeare, Liverpool, soccer, Will. Solving mysteries and shaking martinis. Guys.
Will Arnett
What?
Jason Bateman
It's Daniel Craig.
Sean Hayes
No way.
Jason Bateman
Woo. Yep, yep, yep.
Will Arnett
Oh, my God. I wanted to meet you for so long.
Jason Bateman
Right there.
Will Arnett
That's so cool.
Daniel Craig
Well, here we are.
Jason Bateman
Will, take it easy.
Sean Hayes
Well, I know I didn't know that you were a Liverpool supporter. This is great news.
Jason Bateman
You would have covered that before when you guys met.
Sean Hayes
Yeah. Yeah, I would have.
Jason Bateman
Wait, Daniel, I think I know what hotel room you're in.
Daniel Craig
You've been in this hotel room.
Jason Bateman
You're at the Four Seasons. How did you guess?
Daniel Craig
Is that true?
Jason Bateman
Because you're on a junket, right?
Daniel Craig
Are you on the junket? Yeah, I mean, I've been coming to this hotel for, like, 35 years. Same room. Same room.
Will Arnett
Daniel, do they make that jacket and men's or.
Jason Bateman
Hey, Sean. Wow.
Will Arnett
This one.
Jason Bateman
The first minute we're off.
Will Arnett
Good.
Daniel Craig
Excellent.
Will Arnett
I actually love it. I actually love it.
Jason Bateman
Wait, does Sean.
Will Arnett
No, no, no. I actually really like that.
Jason Bateman
Sean, do you know Daniel as well?
Sean Hayes
I don't.
Will Arnett
I've never met. You obviously.
Daniel Craig
Seem like it.
Will Arnett
No, very massive. Massive fan. Massive.
Jason Bateman
Okay. And Will you have met Mr. Craig?
Sean Hayes
We have met. We hung out. We had. We watched the super bowl together. Right, Daniel?
Daniel Craig
Yes, we did. That's right.
Sean Hayes
And then we went.
Daniel Craig
Did we then end up in the chateau, or did we.
Jason Bateman
Oh, yeah.
Daniel Craig
Is that. Where was that after? I can't remember. That's two separate incidents, but there's probably.
Sean Hayes
No, no, it was the same night.
Daniel Craig
A lot of alcohol in it.
Sean Hayes
Yeah. We ended up in the chateau with Krasinski and Sean Penn.
Daniel Craig
That's. I know.
Jason Bateman
Boy, I'm drunk already.
Daniel Craig
It's so fucking Hollywood. It's just.
Sean Hayes
It was very Hollywood. It sounds like a bit, but it's actually. That was a long time ago.
Jason Bateman
That was a great group to drink with. Where was I, damn it?
Will Arnett
In a facility.
Jason Bateman
I was probably at a facility somewhere, figuring stuff out.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, I think it was family weekend at Betty Ford.
Jason Bateman
Now, Sean, we're gonna get. Sean, we're gonna get to the time when Daniel was a stormtrooper in Star Wars. We're gonna get to that.
Daniel Craig
No way.
Will Arnett
I know exactly which one he was. How about that?
Jason Bateman
Come on. Truly?
Will Arnett
Of course I do.
Jason Bateman
So this is not something that I just discovered on Wikipedia.
Will Arnett
No, it's the one where he says. Where she does plays the mind trick. And you will walk away and drop your weapon. I will walk away and drop my weapon. You dropped your weapon. You walked out of the scene.
Jason Bateman
You spoke.
Daniel Craig
Well, I didn't want to, but I just said, you know, dub me. Christ's sake, I don't need. But then I had.
Jason Bateman
But that's a bump, you know, you speak as a stormtrooper, That's a bump into.
Daniel Craig
Do you think I got one?
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
They didn't even give me the uniform. The only thing I wanted was the uniform. It's like, give me the helmet at least.
Jason Bateman
How did that come about? What do you believe? Were you visiting on the set and they said, here's an extra.
Daniel Craig
We were about to start. I don't know which Bond it was.
Jason Bateman
You lose track.
Will Arnett
It was the last. It was the last one.
Daniel Craig
No, no, it wasn't. No, it was way before. It must have been Spectre, because I was. And we were prepping and I knew the guys who. I knew all the crew, the ads who worked on, and I'd sort of like.
Jason Bateman
You drifted over to the stage.
Daniel Craig
Drifted over, really? I kind of went, come on, put me in uniform.
Will Arnett
I love that. Come on, truly.
Jason Bateman
Is that. Is that the way that it went?
Daniel Craig
They went exactly. And they. I was half joking, thinking they were just going to tell me where to get off, but.
Will Arnett
How long of a day was that?
Daniel Craig
Too fucking long. You know, that kind of regret of like, sort of think, oh, no, I'll be an extra. Oh, yeah, it's great. Oh, how many hours we sit in the back of shot for? This is like. They were very good. They were great. I do remember wearing. Because, you know, those. The suits are. I mean, they're basically hard plastic and kind of, you know, they're not comfortable. I mean, God knows how they wore them out in the desert when they do those, but I remember that it sort of was a little bit big for me and it sort of rested on my thumb and my thumb was numb for three days afterwards.
Sean Hayes
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
Because, like. And I was like, the price I pay. And I didn't get a bump, Right.
Sean Hayes
So no bump, no helmet, no nothing.
Will Arnett
You got a bump at the chateau.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Sean Hayes
Sean. Sean wants to know, did you meet the mayor of Tatooine? Fucking grow up, Sean.
Will Arnett
I would kill. I would kill.
Jason Bateman
He's gonna double back to this. I know it. All right, now.
Will Arnett
Oh, my God, Daniel, where to start?
Daniel Craig
Do you have all the questions?
Jason Bateman
I've got so many. Yeah.
Daniel Craig
And these two just fuck with you and stop you answering the question.
Jason Bateman
That's the way it goes. That's the way it goes.
Daniel Craig
What happens when the reveal and the other two go, oh, fuck, that must happen. Surely it does.
Will Arnett
It's happened. Not out loud.
Jason Bateman
Yeah. Yeah. All right, now, let's just. Can we. I'm going to qualify this by saying, I'll bet I'm going to ask you some questions that you've answered a thousand times. And I want you to be patient with us because we're dumb people that aren't fully researched. We're not journalists.
Sean Hayes
We're terrible interviewers.
Jason Bateman
Come at you with just dumb questions. Okay.
Daniel Craig
Why do I feel like I'm being hustled here?
Will Arnett
Welcome to Smartland.
Jason Bateman
Now, what about. Can we start at the beginning?
Daniel Craig
Sure. All right.
Jason Bateman
All right. So you're in Liverpool. All right.
Daniel Craig
Yes.
Sean Hayes
And by the way, you gotta See.
Daniel Craig
Daniel, picture the scene. Okay, so it's gray, it's pissing with rain.
Jason Bateman
Now, was there an influence there? Mom or dad? Mom was a art teacher. Art teacher. Thank you.
Will Arnett
Oh, wow, that's cool.
Jason Bateman
And so she sort of exposed you to the arts a little bit. She took you to movies or to plays or what. How did the spark start?
Daniel Craig
Plays were the thing. There was a theater in Liverpool at the time, the subject still is called the Everyman Theatre, which was really, was kind of a hotbed of talent, as they say. And at the time in the 70s, but her friends had been at Liverpool Art College and a lot of them had gone into the theater, stage design and things. And those were her kind of friends. She was a single mom and we used to kind of end up going there most nights to the theater just to sort of hang out. There was a kind of, you know, they had a bistro there. That's so cool. And it was a subsidized theater and they did this thing where it's like a, you know, there was a pound a ticket that, you know, it's like it was. The whole thing was supposed to be so everybody could afford to go. And they. And they made. They did some off the charts plays. But it meant that I spent sort of, you know, evenings backstage at a theatre. And that'll do it to you, right?
Will Arnett
Well, that's where all the fun happened.
Jason Bateman
Yeah. And this is something that mom really likes. It seems pretty cool. And on and on and on. Right.
Daniel Craig
And you know, actors kind of like, you know, come, you know, meet actors afterwards of seeing them. And I thought they were. I thought they were gods. And then I just realized they were drunk.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, they were drunk, but they were drunk. But at the same time, at that age, at that age, if you're quite young and you're an adolescent, you're a teenager, whatever it is, when you're exposed to that kind of thing in that kind of world, it does give you that perspective that other kids your age don't have. And you. Right, because you're spending a lot of time with adults who are talented, who are creative. And when you get that fire kind of sparked at that age, I think it's pretty cool.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, I mean, definitely. And it really did. It went in. That's what I wanted to do. I mean, that's all I wanted to do. But it also gave me this, watching the way a theater works, the way that professionals work and all that. It also kind of went, oh, this is a job as well. You could see it's kind of a couple of things. You know, lots of things happen.
Jason Bateman
But when was the first time you thought, oh, that this is something that I might not embarrass myself doing? When was the first time you thought I might as well?
Daniel Craig
What are you talking about?
Sean Hayes
Second Bond film. Second Bond film.
Jason Bateman
The drinking component helps with that.
Daniel Craig
I still feel like I'm embarrassing myself, but.
Jason Bateman
I mean, but. But, like, was it. Was it a screen where you're like, oh, I don't suck at this, or I'm getting a couple of pats on the back?
Daniel Craig
I got roped into a school play. I mean, I kind of did one of those things where I think I kind of had a couple of days off or whatever. I got the mumps or something, I don't know. And I came back and I'd been cast in the school play, and it was like, what was.
Will Arnett
You remember what it was?
Daniel Craig
It was Oliver. Yeah. And I was like, oh, wow.
Sean Hayes
It was.
Daniel Craig
I wasn't Oliver, Sadly. I was Mr. Salisbury, which is the part that's not in the movie, that kind of was in the musical and got, you know, for good reason, got written out of the. Of the movie, you know, Was a.
Jason Bateman
Spicy character, though, or was he.
Daniel Craig
He's an undertaker.
Sean Hayes
You got to pick a pocket or two, right? You got to pick a poker.
Daniel Craig
I didn't get to do that. No, sadly. Yeah, I know. You got a. Pick a pocket or two. That's right. I mean, it's a credo you live by, right? So.
Jason Bateman
So you do that. You get a cut, you get a couple of attaboys, a couple of pats on the back, and you're like, all right, well, I'm going to lean into this a little bit. And you started maybe a little bit more.
Daniel Craig
Well, I don't know about you guys. I mean, you must have all done a school play at some point. It's just that kind of mass hysteria thing that kind of happens. It's. Which is. I. You know, my kids do school plays. I love that kind of just like, the level of like, oh, my God. Which is like. It's kind of. It stays with you. It kind of.
Sean Hayes
You get it. I got asked to be in the school play, and I think it was. I'm quite sure. Never totally confirmed. Quite sure it was because I was such a loudmouth pain in the ass.
Daniel Craig
No. What? No.
Sean Hayes
If you can believe it. And they were like, fuck. How do we. Is there somewhere we can find, like.
Jason Bateman
Either a room that make him a.
Sean Hayes
Tree soundproof, or somewhere we can take that fucking energy that's driving everybody, by the way, HMS Pinafore. And I was like, okay, yeah, that's it.
Will Arnett
I mean, Will, the same thing. The same thing. People were like, God, you're fucking loud and annoying. And. Yeah, and. Yeah. And I did Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and I was. Sir Andrew Aguchik had no idea what I was saying. And until I got in front of the audience, then it kind of clicked. And every word, every line that was a comedy line got a laugh. And I was like, that's it. What is that? What is that?
Daniel Craig
What is that about?
Will Arnett
Yeah, that's crazy.
Sean Hayes
When you started feeling bad. The ultimate drug. You wanted to.
Will Arnett
Yes. I'm like, fuck you. This loudmouth's gonna keep going.
Jason Bateman
Oh, Daniel, you are very, very funny. Like, you know, the knives out. No, the knives out stuff is like.
Daniel Craig
When someone says you're very, very, very funny. I can like, am I?
Jason Bateman
No, but it's. Well, but maybe it's because people weren't expecting because you've done so much incredible dramatic work.
Daniel Craig
So moody for the 15 years.
Jason Bateman
Well, yeah, I mean, you know, we do. We do what we get, you know, but, like, now, are you pursue. Raise your hand. Get more scripts that are more comedic and is that something that is exciting to you? Please say yes.
Daniel Craig
I never. Yes. Okay.
Sean Hayes
Yes.
Daniel Craig
Yes. Why don't you give me the questions and I'll just.
Jason Bateman
I do build the answer.
Sean Hayes
The answer is always built in. And so then he likes to bring the guest into the inevitable. Really interesting. Yes or no.
Daniel Craig
At the end. Is that how we go out on this? I can't wait. 50 questions, yes or no. It's easy. What was the.
Sean Hayes
Do you want to do more comedy?
Daniel Craig
Yes. I don't. Listen, it would be like, I had a plan, right? I mean, I'm making this up as I go along, so I don't know about that. I mean, seriously, it's like, if they come along, sure. But I kind of going out and looking for something funny. It's also, you know, I know how kind of that's a dangerous thing to do. I mean, right? It's like, you know, it's like, yeah, the first night out, I. I read the script and I laughed out loud.
Will Arnett
And I went, yes, I love that movie.
Daniel Craig
So that was like an easy, easy pick. And then, you know, Ryan's, you know, one of the most talented writers there are. You know, he just kind of keeps going and that keeps getting at it and keeps getting into it, and this next one is going to be different. And, you know, we've kind of gone. I mean, it's not wildly different, but it's gonna be definitely kind of got a different tone to it.
Will Arnett
Oh, wait, there's a. There's one.
Sean Hayes
You're gonna.
Daniel Craig
There's a third one we shot in the summit. It's called Wake Up Dead.
Sean Hayes
Wow.
Will Arnett
Wow.
Daniel Craig
Plugging the movie.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, yeah.
Sean Hayes
No, no, please.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, come on. Yeah, right. But, I mean, you know, you say that there's no. Like, that you have some sort of a plan or something, but I would guess that somebody who is approached for something as iconic as Bond and the kind of intelligence that you have, you probably had some thoughts and some talks with some about, okay, if I did this, I've gotta do this, but if I did this, what I would need to kind of have a plan to how to occupy myself in between those movies and what to do afterwards. And so.
Daniel Craig
Which I just fucked up.
Jason Bateman
I don't think so.
Daniel Craig
I don't think so.
Jason Bateman
I think it's kind of perfect. And we're gonna get to queer soon, which is a perfect balance, by the way.
Will Arnett
You didn't need to plan for any of this.
Sean Hayes
Well, I guess we're gonna get to them right now. Go ahead.
Jason Bateman
There's our clip. Go ahead, Sean.
Will Arnett
No, I was gonna say you didn't need the plan because those movies were fucking exhausting. I'm sure. Like, didn't you need to recover?
Daniel Craig
And, like, I think there was a feeling when I first started that because I'd had exactly what you said, those conversations, and I talked about it to everybody I knew and my family and all of those things about, what does it mean? Of course I gotta do it. I've gotta do this, but what does it mean? I mean, you know, how it's gonna affect my life and all those things. And there was a sort of, I suppose, an instinct in me to sort of want to go, okay, I'm doing Bond now I've got to do other stuff as well to kind of counterbalance this. Just like, fucking ridiculous.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I need to take it. And I just.
Daniel Craig
I was fucking exhausted. I was like, so as much as the moves I did in between, I'm kind of, like, proud of. And all of those things, I stopped. I just went, let's do this. If I'm doing this, just do this.
Will Arnett
Just do this.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
And I don't have the headspace. I don't have the.
Sean Hayes
I mean, I'm going to say something that's going to be. It's not controversial, but I know, because the Bond failed and the Bond world is so. Those fans are so vocal and, you know, dedicated, et cetera. But I will say that for me, and I loved all the prior Bonds. Everybody was great. So this is by no means an admonishment of what they had done, but you were the first Bond who was like a real, like hot, real man's man. Yeah, hot piece of ass. And whereas. Tough. You were tough.
Daniel Craig
Where's it getting controversial?
Sean Hayes
But you came, you were tough because I think that people will go like, how dare you? Blah, blah. But you came out and you were like this tough. You were like a real modern Bond in a way that I thought was really, really refreshing. I loved your Bond films, dude. I really did.
Daniel Craig
Thank you.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah.
Jason Bateman
And we will be right back. You know, listen, there are sometimes there's some good surprises, sometimes there's some bad surprises. But no matter what, a surprise will make you perspire, you know, and when you perspire, you're going to need to rehydrate. So there's going to be a lot of surprises coming up in the next few weeks during the holidays. Do you see what I'm saying where I'm going with this? You got to stay hydrated, all right? And what better way to stay hydrated than with Liquid iv? You know, Liquid IV can help you keep feeling your best through the holidays. Tear pour live more. One stick plus 16 ounces of water hydrates better than water alone. Powered by Liv Hydroscience, an optimized ratio of electrolytes, essential vitamins and clinically tested nutrients that turn ordinary water into extraordinary hydration. Find all your favorite hydration multiplier flavors on their website, from acai berry and lemon lime to pina colada. Or choose from their line of sugar free flavors like raspberry melon, white peach and green grape. I really like the sugar free stuff. Sugar, Sugar doesn't really agree with me. So the fact that they've got these sugar free flavors is pretty fantastic. And I'm a big white peach guy. Stay hydrated through the holidays with Liquid IV. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid IV when you go to liquidiv.com and use code smartless at checkout. That's 20% off your first order when you shop. Better hydration today using promo code Smartless.
Will Arnett
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Jason Bateman
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Will Arnett
My question is, when you were doing the very first one, which I've seen a billion times. I've seen all of them a billion times. I literally could do, like, dialogue from it. I know.
Sean Hayes
Okay, go.
Will Arnett
Give it to me. Stop. Stop. What does he. What did you say?
Jason Bateman
Oh, take your.
Will Arnett
Take your hand away from your ear. Anyway, that was the first one anyway, so. Thank you. Thank you. Question. But wait, at what point?
Jason Bateman
That would have been the line. I remembered, too. Go ahead.
Will Arnett
I literally just said it yesterday.
Jason Bateman
Get to the choppers. Right. It's up there with that.
Will Arnett
Oh, wait, Daniel, at what point when you were making.
Sean Hayes
Sorry, I think my phone's ring.
Will Arnett
No, that kicked off the whole chase. Get your hair in here. Anyway, so when you were doing that movie at what point in the middle of the movie where you're like, oh, God, I bit off more than I could chew. This is really hard. Like, I don't know if I'm gonna make it. Or were you like, oh, this is awesome. I can do this. All the stunts, all the bullshit that you had that you put your body.
Daniel Craig
Through, I mean, I was sort of younger and I'm way too gung ho.
Will Arnett
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
I was just, you know, I mean, I kind of threw myself there was like, you know, the stuff guys were kind of saying, you know, do you want to do? Yeah, I'll do. Yeah. I was like. And then realized, yeah, I know. And. But I had all this stuff going on. I mean, we were. We started shooting in Prague in studios there, and then we moved to the Bahamas. And then my agent, which, you know, was very nice, but then my agent sort of phoned me up and said, you might want to look at the Internet. And the Internet, there's just sort of blown up and done this like, fuck him kind of thing.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
Which was like.
Will Arnett
I remember that.
Daniel Craig
Which was kind of like. And I kind of looked at it all and as like, you know, when the naive days when I used to do stuff like that, like, oh, I'm going to look at all and go down that rabbit hole and just chased it all night long and was like, oh, my God, that's really intense. And I kind of. I then sort of just had this sort of like, sort of. I don't know, I just sort of went, well, there's fuck all I can do about that. There's nothing I can do. And we're here and I know the script's good and let's have a good time and if it's a swing and a miss, great. If it's my last one, I'll walk away knowing that I did the best I could. I mean, it kind of literally. I mean, it sounds easy to say now.
Will Arnett
No, but it just.
Daniel Craig
It was like. It just. I was like, let's get on with this. Let's do it. I just, you know, and do you.
Sean Hayes
Think that sort of. That trial by fire of being. Because Bond, again, is so iconic and by being put in the brightest of spotlights and being scrutinized so much, sort of on social media or whatever it is online, do you think that that was a. Were you able to carry those lessons on sort of post Bond and in your normal. So as you. Because we talk about it sometimes, what's the reaction to what People say in social media and everybody's got a voice and stuff and everybody kind of puts it in a different place or deals with it differently. How does it affect your life, do you think about it?
Daniel Craig
I mean, I think the fame thing, I mean, I just had a complete nervous breakdown after it came out and sort of didn't leave the house for six months. But really, really. I mean, I mean, I exaggerate, but I kind of was a bit like that. I just got like, oh my. I mean it was like, well, it's.
Jason Bateman
A level of fame and recognizability that is not something that one deals with quickly and easily.
Daniel Craig
Well, and who do you talk to about it? I mean, I suppose you go, I'm gonna phone up someone really, really famous. I mean, it's like, I mean, I don't know what you say.
Sean Hayes
Yeah. Or if you talked with a butcher or your friend or somebody who's not working and they're like, oh, boo, who? You're James Bond.
Daniel Craig
Right, Exactly.
Jason Bateman
Right, right. So where does that healthy level of indifference come from about whether it works or not and I'm gonna still just be me and if it doesn't. Or this fame stuff, like was, was your. Did, did, did mom give you a good head on your shoulders or was it sort of, were you kind of self taught?
Daniel Craig
I think there's a, there's a. I've just got a very, you know, down to earth family. Do not shy away from telling me what, you know, a low life I am. Yeah. You know, I mean, it's like. And that, that really helps and just. Yeah. Coming. I don't know. I'm from the north of England, so more kind of like sort of practical, sort of pragmatic way of looking at life maybe. I also got into that thing of, you know, very early on. I mean, there's so much I did. I mean, I went to drama school. And there's that terrible thing of drama school is that like 90% of the year don't get to work. It's like, it's like that's the attrition rate and you go into the. There wasn't social media, so there wasn't another outlet to try and become famous. It was just like, you know, you got a job or you didn't get a job and mostly, mostly people didn't get a job. And I know that somebody gave me a great bit of advice very early on while at drama school. A great director who just said, don't ever, ever, ever get bitter. Don't get you know, because bitterness is just the thing that. It'll just eat you up because there's always somebody going to get the job over you. There's always somebody going to, you know, and if you kind of look at. Look, only look at like, you know, other people in the business with jealousy, then you'll kind of. That'll define you. And it doesn't matter if you then get success. You're still gonna. I get jealous all the time. Jealous of every fucking actor out there who gets a job that I'd like. But I kind of. I'm. I admit to it, I'm jealous.
Sean Hayes
But that's good. We had the same. We used to talk about it all the time. I remember sort of years ago when people would start to work and as you say, most of the time, most of us were not working and somebody would get a good job and whatever. And I always stayed friends with my. We sort of cultivated people who were working.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, good boy. No, they'll always get dinner.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, well, it was. But it was also like, we genuinely rooted for each other and anybody. And sometimes there would be somebody would come in the group who was. You could tell was keeping score.
Daniel Craig
No.
Sean Hayes
And then you would just weed them out and you'd weed them out and you be like, I'm not here. I can't be friends with people who are keeping score. I just can't agree. There's enough for everybody. And if you're not in the mindset of rooting people on, then, like, you say you're bitter and then fuck it, then you're fucked.
Daniel Craig
You're fucked. You're fucked.
Will Arnett
That's why I thought. I just read something recently where you said. Made me laugh out loud when somebody asked you, who do you think you should pass the torch on to for James Bond? And you said, I don't care.
Daniel Craig
Business, jb.
Sean Hayes
That is sexy indifference.
Daniel Craig
Somebody else's problem.
Jason Bateman
Oh, that's so great.
Will Arnett
It made me laugh out loud.
Jason Bateman
So. So then. So then coming up and starting to do some jobs and, and kind of starting to make a living a little bit from it, perhaps. Were there. Were there some other. I'm sure that there were some other jobs that you were doing to kind of.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I. I left home at 16.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
I went and. And joined a thing called the National Youth Theatre in London. So I left Liverpool. Liverpool was like early 80s as depressed as. I mean, so much it's come up now and it's doing. The city's doing great, which is just wonderful. But at the time it was seriously depressed. We had a sort of Trotskyite local council that was hated by Thatcher, who she starved money. I mean, it was like the whole thing was just like employment was like, I can't even like 35% or 36%.
Jason Bateman
It was three.
Daniel Craig
The roof, whatever it was. And there was not a lot of job prospects. And I was. I was playing with the idea of joining the navy. I was playing with the idea, you know, I was doing all those things going, well, what do I do?
Will Arnett
What the plan?
Daniel Craig
And there was a thing called the National Youth Theater, and it did a summer course and my mother was a teacher and it was on the board at her school. And she went this. And I went and auditioned for it in Manchester. I got in and she sort of kicked me out the door. And she went, you got to go. You got to go, go, go, go. And it was partly her ambition because actually she'd got into rada.
Jason Bateman
Oh, wow.
Daniel Craig
Which is, you know, the top sort of drama school certainly of those years when she was 17, 18. And there was no money to go. That there was, you know, there's like. Cause it was, you know, she didn't. The family just didn't have the money, so she didn't tell me that till about 10 years ago, actually.
Jason Bateman
Oh, wow.
Daniel Craig
Wow. So she. But that her ambition for me was just to get going.
Will Arnett
Wow.
Jason Bateman
She must have been absolutely thrilled with. With your success and the arc of your success, too.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think so.
Jason Bateman
Yes. That's awesome.
Sean Hayes
Awesome. And also. And when you say the arc too, because you earned it as well. Like, you know, you really.
Will Arnett
Oh, there she is, your mom.
Daniel Craig
Look at that.
Sean Hayes
We already tipped her. By the way, don't quote.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, we got this. We got that listener. He just had some food delivery.
Daniel Craig
I got to have a bite of this. Go ahead.
Jason Bateman
We. So this is perfect time for me with a long winded question here. So you can chew. Now, let's see. Were there. There weren't any. Well, you tell me. Were there huge influences or a particular one coming out of England? You were like, if I were to get some traction on this career, that is kind of the path I'd like to be on. Was it somebody in England or was it somebody in America? Was it always acting? Was it directing?
Daniel Craig
The theater thing was the kicker. That was definitely the kind of thing that got me. Just that's what I want to do. And some weird thing that I can do that. Which is.
Jason Bateman
Right.
Daniel Craig
But you know, it's just because I was a show off Right. Dressing up. So was it like I still do.
Will Arnett
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
You know, I mean. I mean, so.
Jason Bateman
But John Gielgood, Something like that. No.
Daniel Craig
Yes.
Jason Bateman
I mean, Albert finished.
Daniel Craig
I mean, definitely that generation, Albert Finney's generation and those guys. I mean, it just. That whole. You know, the. I suppose the angry young men, didn't.
Jason Bateman
They, then you worked with Gambon, right?
Daniel Craig
I did, yeah. Yeah. I'm really. I mean, just a dream of a human being and one of the greatest actors ever. It was film, really. And that was. We had a little cinema in the town I grew up in, which was, you know, a fleet, proper kind of just like one screen. And all the movies at the time would do the kind of rounds of the country where they go to the big screens and things like that. And then by the time we got them, the movie had been out for like a month and a half. And the prints would. I remember the prints were just terrible and kind of like. But they just. They put films on in rotation. I mean, from Stripes to Quest for Fire to, you know. I mean, Blade Runner. I remember seeing in the cinema on my own. Yeah. With kind of an orange juice. And this film came out. I had no. I had no idea. It was like blind. I was in there seeing a double bill. It was one. It was a Sean Connery, a space movie called Outland or something.
Sean Hayes
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
Does that make sense? That was on. Which was pretty great because it's a cowboy movie in space. Yeah. And then I kind of went and got a, you know, a drink and came back and sat down on my own, and Blade Runner stock. And it was like. I was like. And that was Harrison Ford.
Jason Bateman
A bit of a North Star for you.
Daniel Craig
Well, it was the movie itself. It was the whole thing.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
I mean. I mean, sure, he is, of course, but the movie itself and the kind of. The fact that movies could look like that, feel like that and do that to you was just like the thing. I'd never kind of experienced it, and it felt like a movie that I discovered that I was. And it was nothing to do with the Gone with the Wind or the kind of like, It's a Wonderful Life stuff that we. All the Bond movies, even. That was part of.
Jason Bateman
But ultimately kind of intangible, though, Right. I would imagine. There you are, sitting in this theater in this small town. You're like, well, I'm. I'm never going to make it to Hollywood. I'm never going to be.
Sean Hayes
That's a million miles away.
Daniel Craig
I was an Eric, a little.
Jason Bateman
You Actually thought, yeah, there is a shot. There's a shot if I play my cards right.
Daniel Craig
I don't know. I mean, it's hindsight, isn't it? That sort of says it. But there was something about.
Jason Bateman
You thought it was possible, which is the key. Right. Why can't.
Will Arnett
Well, but you also got accolades when you were doing theater. Enough to know that you had something to offer.
Daniel Craig
It was. It was a thing that happened. I kind of left drama school. I went and did. I went and did a John G. Avilston movie called the Power of One with Stephen Dorff, scored by Hans Zimmer. I mean, amazing.
Jason Bateman
Wow.
Daniel Craig
And he's amazing. Really kind of weird. I mean, not weird movie, just a kind of movie of its era.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
Playing the bad guy and kind of. It was just this sort of event that happened, but it was a movie. And I then came out, I didn't work for a lot, did some theater and then started getting TV roles.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
Little guest roles and things like that. And suddenly then I got kind of a lead in a TV role and suddenly the money started. It wasn't great, but it was like, well, this is like. This is like kind of life changing money in the sense I might be able to afford a house soon.
Jason Bateman
This is all kind of still living in England.
Daniel Craig
Still, still living in England. I'd gone to LA after the power of one and it was like 1991 and arriving here.
Sean Hayes
Wow.
Daniel Craig
It was like. It was like a. I mean, well, it kind of. And kind of not. Because I was so like green and naive. I landed in this town. I didn't have a driver's license and have a credit card. They checked me into the Universal Sheraton, which is. Sure, I really realize now is an I, you need a car to get off it. I mean, it's like. I mean, it was. And I kind of went to the front desk and they said, credit card. They went. They were like looking at me like. So I had to embarrassly call up Warner Brothers and get them to put some money down on the desk and do all these things and.
Sean Hayes
Wow.
Daniel Craig
And then John D. Alton very nicely was sort of pushing me slightly because he's like, you kid. This kid's got it. This kid's got it. He was pushing me slightly. So I went up for auditions and in the movie I was playing, you know, a Nazi kind of South African, you know, bad guy. And I was going up for Nazi South African bad guys. I mean, that's. That was it. I went up like five Auditions. And it was all for, you know, it was just all for the Nazis. I was just like, yeah, I mean, I kind of. I've got a bit more reins than this, I think, right. And they. And I was. There was a kind of. Suddenly there was an offer on the table from a manager and why don't you stay and we get you accommodation, blah, blah, blah. And I kind of went on, I did these five auditions and I went, whoa, no, this is going to go really wrong. And I don't know what it was. It was just like, this is. Where this. Where these thoughts came from, I have no idea. But they were just like, this is. This is going to. This is not the career I want.
Will Arnett
Right.
Jason Bateman
So I went home, back to England, back to theater.
Daniel Craig
Back to England. Well, sort of back to thinking, well, I've got, you know, I've got a bit of money in my pocket. You know, I've got a bit of money now, so it's okay. But then suddenly I started getting bigger roles in television and I realized that was a mistake because I looked at these television stars at home and God bless them, they're doing it, they're earning money and they've got the house in Portugal and they've got. And they're thinking, yeah, they're set, set. It's great. I want to make movies. I want to make movies.
Will Arnett
Good for you.
Daniel Craig
And the British movie industry didn't exist.
Sean Hayes
Right.
Daniel Craig
It just did. I mean, there were amazing movies coming out. You think about, you know, like, Room with a View. I mean, Room with a View. But I mean, I'm talking kind of like. I mean, no one was ever going to cast me in because I didn't. I wasn't a floppy, fringed, kind of posh boy.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, well, that's what I mean, like the sort of the.
Daniel Craig
So there was. There was lots of brilliant directors like, you know, My Beautiful Laundrette and things like. Things like that were going on. But that was a kind of, you know, you had to know the director and things. And, yeah, I sort of plugged away at it until someone gave me a break.
Sean Hayes
But what was the sh. What was the shift in that? In the British, for me.
Daniel Craig
Film, you mean? Yeah, I did a film called Lovers.
Jason Bateman
Of Del and that was. That got some traction for you.
Daniel Craig
It's as these things do. I'm like, I say this to kind of young actors who talk about kind of, you know. You know, I want the. You know, when the break comes. And, yeah, you know, I'm going to do this Thing, you know, it's like. It's like believing producers say, this is going to be good for you. It's going to be good for you. This. It's like. It doesn't happen like that in the industry. It's tectonic. It's like it rolls around. You get the break. Like someone comes and sees you in something or sees you in something. A year later they might go, let's get that guy.
Jason Bateman
Right?
Daniel Craig
And that's. And you can't. You can't rush these things. So I did things and I just kept on going and eventually sort of something momentum started happening and then I don't know what kind of what went down. I did a TV series and then. And then wrote to petition like, you know, Sam caused me and wrote a petition. And then Munich.
Jason Bateman
Now, did you know Sam Mendes before.
Daniel Craig
That to say hello to.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, but so then it was. So then when you auditioned, I'd imagine that was an audition, not an offer. It was a friendly face in the audition room.
Daniel Craig
Which nerve you did.
Jason Bateman
Not a good audition.
Sean Hayes
Come on.
Daniel Craig
Terrible audition.
Jason Bateman
Did you apologize after your audition as you're leaving. I'm so sorry you had to see that. Good luck with the project.
Will Arnett
Oh, my God.
Jason Bateman
That's my go to.
Daniel Craig
It works sometimes. It works. Yeah. No, I just. I was. I supposed to have sort of learned this Chicago accent, and for some reason and I didn't. And for the audition, I kind of. I really. Because he'd sort of. Kind of. He hadn't offered it to me, but he'd sort of said to me, we really want you to play the part. And I thought, well, that's an offer. And they said, now you've got to fly out to Chicago and audition. I was like, oh, really?
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
So I didn't really do enough work on the part and I kind of went. Did this terrible reading. And he sort of went, stop, stop. You've got the job.
Jason Bateman
I don't know where anybody.
Daniel Craig
I sort of. I kind of battered him down with terrible acting. It's a ploy.
Jason Bateman
All right, so then you're on set and you're working with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman and being directed by Mr. Mendes. Did you get winded or was it just sort of like, yeah, this is kind of. It's about time.
Sean Hayes
And this is what I've been trying to do. I've been trying to avoid the other stuff, and now I've landed in the sort of the lane I want to be in a little bit.
Jason Bateman
I mean, combo.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I would. I Kind of, yeah. I mean, I just felt. I felt like terrified and all of those things. But like, you're here now, right? You better, you better deliver. You better deliver.
Jason Bateman
Cuz did you find that you had a gear that you didn't know that, that that could kind of boost you up and so you don't. Didn't have a panic attack and you, you. You held your own? Yes.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I suppose what it was, what really calmed me when it boils down to it, you're on set with one of the greatest living actors of all time, and Paul Newman. And Paul Newman and both of them, but very, very, very different actors. But Paul Newman, who I've, you know, idolized, and watching him work, you realize, oh, God, he's an actor.
Will Arnett
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
And it just. That sort of like, that in itself was like, he's. I can't talk to him about. He wants, he wanted to talk to me about racing cars. I was like going, four wheels. I mean, you know, because, like, he was like talking about, like. I mean, I just. Why. Why the indie series was so much better than the Grand Prix series? I was like, yeah, I couldn't. But when it came down to it and watching and working him with him, I had a language that I could speak to him in because I'm an actor. He's an actor, and he really is, you know, and he'd struggle and he'd really be kind of trying to find it and things that I'd just be like, oh, wow, great. That's what I do.
Jason Bateman
Oh, good.
Daniel Craig
And that kind of just. I thought so I can get, you.
Jason Bateman
Know, I mean, he forgets a line too sometimes, right?
Daniel Craig
Yeah.
Jason Bateman
Oh, that's great. That's really cool.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, that's really interesting. That idea of being with Paul Newman and watching him kind of find it in the scene.
Jason Bateman
That is the opposite of making you nervous. It actually, it calms you because you must have seen him as human.
Sean Hayes
Yeah. You must have had a complete, like, your nerves must have been absolutely settled in that moment.
Daniel Craig
I was like, we can, we can do this. We can make this happen. We're playing, you know, suddenly we're like, you know, we're here to play. Great. I know how to play.
Sean Hayes
Fascinating.
Will Arnett
One time I was. I was doing the Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I was in a scene with Jack Nicholson. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And. And he turns to me and he goes. During rehearsal, he goes, do you know what you mean when you say that line? I go, yeah. Do you like, what a nice dick. I had a stick. I had to say that to relax myself because I couldn't believe I was in a movie with Jack Nicholson.
Jason Bateman
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Will Arnett
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Jason Bateman
Now Daniel, when you were very quickly after that sort of vaulted into much more of a leadership position on the jobs that followed, did you take that experience with you as a leader and see the younger actors or the actors with lesser parts get a little sort of nervous? And did you lend some of that comfort to them by not intentionally forgetting a line? But did you take some of those.
Daniel Craig
Leadership lessons by being completely shit? It really just settles everybody's nerves.
Sean Hayes
Oh my God.
Daniel Craig
Fuck me.
Jason Bateman
Fake a panic attack.
Daniel Craig
That's how he's going to do it. I don't know. I mean I feel like my part is my job is to, you know, you're on set. You know, I love being around actors. I love being, you know. You know, it's fun. It's a lot of fun. And if you have somebody who is, you know, there for a bit, short day, I have a thing. It's like, you know, it's like my favorite movies. It's those small parts that zip out that make the movie. Sometimes it's like you encourage Them to be the best they can because it's like. It's like, you know, it's like smallest cogs, all of that shit, you know?
Jason Bateman
Sure, yeah. No small parts, just small.
Daniel Craig
Exactly.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Will Arnett
What about. What about siblings? Do you have siblings?
Daniel Craig
I have a half brother and a sister, an older sister and.
Will Arnett
Different. Completely different career path than you.
Daniel Craig
Completely different. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm kind of the only actor in the family.
Will Arnett
And I want to talk about eggs that you just ate. Do you always watch what you eat when you're on doing these junkets? Like, you didn't want to touch the potatoes. I was just watching you garble those eggs.
Sean Hayes
Sean knows. Can he send a guy over to pick up the potat? There's somebody at your door right now, Daniel, if you don't mind. Just real quick.
Will Arnett
Just slide the potatoes under the door. No.
Sean Hayes
Do you.
Will Arnett
Are you always like that, or do you go off the rail sometimes and just. I mean, I do.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I don't. I mean, I don't. I used to have a. I used to swing.
Sean Hayes
Okay.
Daniel Craig
On bond. Yeah. Right, here we go. That's not a good. A good word on bond. I would, you know, because of the intensity. I would sort of then spend the next sort of three, four months sort of being drunk and eating.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
And that. That. That's not good for you. So, you know, so I don't. I stopped doing that and sort of, like, said, okay, let's maintain my fitness. How about that?
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
Because you always look great. Thank you.
Jason Bateman
It gets so hard after 50. Yeah. I mean, we're all north 50.
Daniel Craig
It's just so depressing.
Sean Hayes
It's so depressing.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I remember before I phoned my mum up a few years ago and going, oh, my fingers are aching. And just. I don't. Welcome to my world. You know, it's just that. It's just. That's what it is.
Jason Bateman
I've got all these little hotspots on my hands now that, like, it hurts between this finger and this finger and right at the base of the thumb there. It's like. Like, what's going on?
Daniel Craig
I had this. I had this treatment, treatment the other day where they gave me this infrared thing where they kind of map your body infrared. And my hands were on fire and they were like, going, oh, what's wrong? And I'm like, I don't know what is wrong. It's like, it hurts.
Sean Hayes
I'm not 20 a second. Wait, Sean, you did a similar. No, JB. You did a master.
Jason Bateman
I did the full body scan.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, full body scan.
Jason Bateman
And it was. It was. Thank God. It was all. It was all good. But it's kind of cool that they can do that now.
Sean Hayes
What did they find in the place where the human heart normally is?
Jason Bateman
Not much. There was like as a little movie, a little movie camera rolling down there.
Sean Hayes
Just a bunch of loose nuts and bolts.
Will Arnett
Wait, Daniel, also just meeting you for the first time, I sense that your brain works really, really fast. Like you're hyper intelligent and you kind of have to. When you're doing all the things that you do, what do you do to. Slowly.
Jason Bateman
I'm not getting that, Sean.
Will Arnett
Really, I do. I get that you're like. Your brain works really, really fast. Like you're eating the eggs and you're finishing the story and then you're going like a dummy. Okay, I know. That's what I'm saying.
Jason Bateman
Sean. So shocked. How is he chewing and walking at.
Sean Hayes
The same time, by the way? This is coming from a guy who spends like a Monday afternoon, mid afternoon watching videos of childbirth. So it's not like he doesn't have a lot going on.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, it's gonna feel like a compliment's coming, but the curve is.
Sean Hayes
The bar couldn't be fucking lower.
Will Arnett
It is a big compliment because you have to think. You constantly have to think fast of what you do. You're like, the camera's there, my line's here, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And you have kids and you have the thing so your mind's always going, what do you do to calm down?
Daniel Craig
I don't know. I mean, it's just being at home and I like to. I really, really, really don't play tennis. I'm so terrible. But if I can convince like a tennis pro or someone to hit a ball with me, I'll do that for two, three hours at a time. I just kind of like. And you know.
Jason Bateman
No golf for you.
Daniel Craig
Yeah. What's the scramble? Ruin's a good walk. What are you talking about?
Jason Bateman
Yeah, that's true. But it is a nice walk.
Daniel Craig
It is a great, great walk.
Jason Bateman
Now, what about now? You've been to all these incredible. In all the films you've done, all these incredible locations around the world. Is there a spot that calms than any A favorite spot?
Daniel Craig
I think if I'm going to really relax, the sea is like the place I want to be because it's like I'm with you. I just want the. I want the salt water and I want the sun and I just. And my body kind of again with the aches and the pains.
Jason Bateman
Yeah. You're not a boat guy though, are you? Are you a guy that.
Daniel Craig
Not really. They're kind of a lot of hard work.
Will Arnett
I know I have like two fan stuff that. Can we. Can we just get it out of the.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, of course, man.
Will Arnett
Because Scotty, my husband and I watch. Watched all your films like a billion times. The Javier Bardem. And you probably have the greatest hero villain chemistry of all time. Like, just incredible. What do you. Did you tell Tracy?
Sean Hayes
Tell Tracy what? That's for Tracy.
Will Arnett
That's from. Oh, my God. That's from Skyfall. Skyfall. Thanks. That is guy. And do you Adele. You have to sing Adele when you ever say the net.
Jason Bateman
No, you don't go ahead with a question.
Will Arnett
No, no, I just. It's just a comment, not a question. It's just comment. Like, that was incredible. And do you guys still. Do you still keep in touch with Javier? I do.
Daniel Craig
See, I talk to occasionally and yes, I love him to death. He's just. He's just like. He's a glorious human being.
Sean Hayes
So good.
Will Arnett
And then the other thing was. And you can think about it while we talk about other stuff, unless you have to go. Is a great theater story. I was asking people with theater stories.
Sean Hayes
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Will Arnett
Like scenes falling, like people throwing up on stage, like anything like that.
Daniel Craig
I've done all that. I've done all that.
Will Arnett
Really?
Daniel Craig
Yeah, I've done really. You name it.
Jason Bateman
The amount of theater you've done is just stunning.
Daniel Craig
Name it, I've done it. It's happened on stage.
Sean Hayes
What do you think was the worst thing that happened where you were like, fucked up the show or like an audience member?
Daniel Craig
I don't.
Jason Bateman
I haven't.
Daniel Craig
Hasn't. I mean, I've been at the theater when it was actually Liev Schreiber was doing what they doing View from the Bridge, but where literally someone had a thing, an attack. And Leah actually got to say, is there a doctor in the house? Wow. It's like the guy was fine and it was all good. It was kind of like, yeah, they stopped the show and did. Yeah.
Jason Bateman
So the amount of work that goes into doing theater at the level that you've done and that Sean just did, is it. I'm sure you can't compare that to the kind of rigor it takes to get through a huge, huge film, but is it somewhat comparable? And if so, which do you prefer as far as what takes most out of you?
Daniel Craig
I think a movie Takes the most out of you. Because I think it's a seven day a week job. It's not that you can't get. There's no day off really because there's always something to do on whatever. Either you're doing a five day week or you're doing a six day week. You've got it kind of. You're either rehearsing something or you're studying. Studying something. So the intensity of that is like there's nothing. And a play, once it's up and running, gets its own kind of momentum. I mean, if it's an emotionally difficult play, then obviously it's kind of like it gets, you know, but you sort of tend to be able to kind of like spend the day not thinking about it.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
And then go and do it.
Jason Bateman
Do you see yourself staying on screen until you're old and gray and in the ground or would you like to sort of throttle back and just have the last section of your life whenever that starts, Just on theater. Cause that's something that I kind of fantasize about. It's just like moving to New York, York and becoming a theater actor and just like riding my bike to the theater.
Daniel Craig
It's very attractive.
Jason Bateman
Yeah, right. Yeah.
Daniel Craig
I mean, I don't know, it depends how big the bills are, isn't it? Right, yeah.
Jason Bateman
Oh, that's true.
Will Arnett
Well, back to the TV stars.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, exactly. I mean. Right. So I don't know. I work with. I did work with Gielgud. I worked with Gilgit on two jobs. He was actually in the Power of One. I, you know, played the headmaster at this school and I did have a scene with him, but I met him, I met him around the back of the set because I'd gone around to have a cigarette back in the day when I smoked and there he was smoking and he kind of went, oh, don't tell anybody. I'm not supposed to be smoking. We had a cigarette together and had a chat, which was like, you know. And then I did Elizabeth about 10 years later, later. And he must have been well into his 90s by then.
Jason Bateman
Wow.
Daniel Craig
And it was kind of. Why is he working? Because his boyfriend liked diamonds. I mean, it was kind of like he was that, that was the response, you know, and he, he was wheeled in and I kind of thought, thought I had the scene with him just to sort of like he was playing the Pope and I was playing this Jesuit mass murderer, easy role. And he. I just sort of, I kind of went and sort of to take care of Him. My instinct was to sort of, hello, sir. How are you? You probably don't remember. We had a cigarette together, you know, because he didn't remember and. But he was like. He was like, I could see the age. And it was like, oh, my God. Wow. He's really kind of. Is he going to be able to remember his lines? The board went on, bang.
Will Arnett
Just showed up.
Daniel Craig
Like, the back went up when he was just like. And he did the scene, like, it was like, oh, my. Blew everybody away. And then kind of went back and it was like, wow, that's. That's. And I kind of was like, that's amazing. But I was also kind of like, I beat. I don't know if you've ever ridden a horse in a movie. They have. They have to retire movie horses. Cause they. They learn. The board, you know, they learn.
Jason Bateman
When the slate comes in and they hit it, whack. It's time to go.
Sean Hayes
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
So I've been. I've sat on horses that are kind of like, wait. That, you know.
Sean Hayes
You know.
Daniel Craig
Cause I don't ride very well. So stick him on that nag. You know, it's. Cause it's like. And they're kind of like there trying to pull its head up, trying to look cool. Just like, look, it's like it's going to die. And they put the board on and it's like, oh, my God. Jesus Christ. And they have. They have to retire these horses. And I thought, oh, my God, you're a film horse. That's kind of. What do I want to turn into a film horse?
Will Arnett
Wow.
Daniel Craig
When that board goes on. Oh, yeah. Here we are.
Sean Hayes
But at the same time, I mean, maybe there's a little bit of sort of wisdom in staying active in that way is part of the reason that he was able to stay, you know, be alive in the 90s.
Daniel Craig
I mean, maybe do a crosswalk. I don't know.
Sean Hayes
But yeah, because otherwise he is in. He's in Portugal, right?
Daniel Craig
No, totally, totally. I get it. You know, I mean, how. How. I mean, going back to that hysteria at the. At the. At the. In the school play, that thing, that drug, that thing that gets you. Yeah, see, I brought it back. That's really good.
Sean Hayes
You know, I like it. I like it. I kind of wanted to get back. I'm glad you mentioned that, because I kind of wanted to go back to that moment you're in the theater and go all the way back to the moment you're in the theater, you're watching Blade Runner. Because it really Made me think about. I was going to bring this up before, about. And I was going to ask you guys, what. What is that thing? What was that sort of that. That seminal moment in your life? What was the film, the book that you read? And do you go back and still. Because I. I have found now that I'm in my 50s, I'm now relooking for moments like that where I get inspired. I'm reading a book right now that I've.
Daniel Craig
Midlife crisis.
Sean Hayes
It is a midlife crisis, believe me. I should. I should be wearing a hat the last 10 years that said, ask me about my midlife crisis. But, but, but. And yes, I had a Porsche, obviously, and I've had. But all of that. Do. Do. Do you know, do you guys. Have. You guys had those moments? Do you remember being young in a book or a film or something?
Will Arnett
You went like, Mine is 11 years old. I was 11 years old. My brother took me for my 11th birthday. My brother Kevin took me to go see ET and I was 11 years old. And I. And everybody in the theater was crying as they were at. At the end. And I said to my brother, I got. I said I'd give anything to be him. And my brother thought, like, the fantasy, like, oh, Elliot, to have a friend like E.T. and I go, no, I'd give anything to be Henry Thomas, who played Elliot. And my brother's like, the actor. And I was like, yeah, to make people feel that. That would be amazing.
Sean Hayes
Jb Anything. Do you remember a moment you were inspired by something?
Jason Bateman
Matthew Broderick, do Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway. I think I was like 15 or something. And I could have gone. There was like, I was a fork in the road. I could have stopped doing what I was doing. But I saw him do that, and I just had such a good time. And I was like, oh, yeah, I want to do that. Keep on doing that.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. For me, it was. It wasn't even singing. For me, it was. I was 17. I remember this so clearly. And I read on the Road by Jack Kerouac. And it sounds so cliche, but it. Fuck. I was like, you can get out into the world. And that was. Actually spurred me to go, I can move to New York. And I moved when I was 20. And it was like, yeah, fucking Kerouac. That's what.
Daniel Craig
Where did you grow up?
Sean Hayes
In Toronto, in Canada. And you're like, that's what you do. If you wanna be out in the world, you gotta get out into the world. And that really spurred Me on for the rest of my life. I think.
Will Arnett
I love that. Daniel, what's gonna happen with you for the rest of the day?
Jason Bateman
And by the way, we're just gonna talk about queer. I wanna hear a little bit about queer. So queer's out December 13th. You read the script, you think immediately. Do you think about the character? Are you thinking about that incredible director, Luca Guadagnin, or what? What's going through your mind?
Daniel Craig
Yeah, yeah, all of that. That's like. I mean, I just, I wanted to work with Luca. I think he's, you know, he's just a really, just exciting kind of out there director who's just pushing it.
Jason Bateman
But so it was a pretty quick. Yes, yes, totally.
Daniel Craig
Yeah.
Jason Bateman
Yeah.
Daniel Craig
And the script, you know, was. I mean. Yeah, I mean, getting offered a really complicated, interesting, funny, sad human being to play.
Will Arnett
I can't wait to see it.
Sean Hayes
I know, me too. Me too.
Jason Bateman
Me too. Congratulations on that.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Daniel Craig
Thank you.
Jason Bateman
Yeah. All right, you're done. You've done great. Yeah. Now you can get your cold eggs there.
Daniel Craig
I'm very sorry, I'm just, I'm just not going to eat the potatoes in front of you.
Jason Bateman
Sean will be here soon.
Daniel Craig
But that's my personal. I've got a problem with that.
Will Arnett
But I'll take him off your hand.
Daniel Craig
I have to go into a dark cupboard and eat potatoes.
Will Arnett
Wait, Daniel, how, How like, do you, do you live in the uk?
Daniel Craig
I do. I lived in New York. I lived in New York for nearly 20 years. No, 15 years, but. And moved back to London this summer.
Will Arnett
And do you love. Do you love visiting LA or you're like, I'm in, I'm out.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, I mean, I. It's kind of, it's, it's, you know, it's love, hate, it's all that thing. It's like I really, I do love this and I love California and I love. I just, I went to the desert for a couple of days before I started this to get some kind of R and R. Great. And you know, it's like there's no place like this on earth. And then I want to go and then I want to leave really quickly.
Will Arnett
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sean Hayes
Now, dude, last question. Do you still follow Liverpool at all?
Daniel Craig
Yes. Yeah. You do? Yeah, I do, yeah. Religiously?
Sean Hayes
Yeah, yeah, same.
Daniel Craig
I don't get to many games, but sadly. But now I'm back in England. I'm hoping to get.
Sean Hayes
Let's come in the New year. I'm going to come over there. Let's go to a Game. Let's make this.
Daniel Craig
I would really like that.
Sean Hayes
Okay, great.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, I really like that.
Jason Bateman
Daniel, thank you so much for doing this.
Daniel Craig
Thank you.
Jason Bateman
You enjoy your day.
Daniel Craig
Yeah, thank you.
Jason Bateman
All right, buddy. Bye.
Sean Hayes
Thank you.
Daniel Craig
I don't know how to stop this.
Jason Bateman
Slam it. There you go. Now, there's. There's. There's. There's. There's a guy's guy. He's a. He's a woman's guy, too. And he slammed the computer, you know.
Will Arnett
That's great.
Jason Bateman
A great sign.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, that's you.
Will Arnett
You love that, jb.
Jason Bateman
I really do.
Will Arnett
He is. He's great. Like, you know, it's. How do you talk to him without bringing up James Bond? I. You can't tell if he's sick of it or.
Jason Bateman
I think we did a good job of not peppering him with all the shit he's been asked. Maybe. I don't know. I've never seen an interview with him.
Will Arnett
I mean, I always say this on this little podcast of ours is, like, when I meet people I've never met before. Like that. And I'm huge fans, of course. I wanna ask him all the fan questions, but I'm nervous.
Jason Bateman
I know.
Will Arnett
You know, like, how many films have you seen?
Sean Hayes
A billion times. I wanna get down to your numbers now.
Will Arnett
Yeah, I mean, I. Honestly, I've seen that so many times. Casino Royale. I've seen all of them so many times. But Skyfall, Scotty's favorite, and we've seen that many times.
Jason Bateman
That's incredible.
Sean Hayes
It's really.
Jason Bateman
That's the one, right?
Sean Hayes
Oh, it's so good.
Will Arnett
Wait, are you kidding? Jay, it's so good.
Jason Bateman
Invite me over, for Christ's sake.
Will Arnett
Oh, wait, Jason. Skyfall. Amazing.
Sean Hayes
Yeah, it's amazing.
Will Arnett
And you love Javier Bardem. He takes his teeth out and it's crazy.
Jason Bateman
Spoiler alert. Wait, what's your favorite line that he ever said?
Will Arnett
Oh, yeah, no, I was.
Jason Bateman
Oh, this. My ear. I hear it through my ear.
Will Arnett
Take your hand away from your ear.
Sean Hayes
Take your hand away from your ear.
Jason Bateman
Oh, what a line. Yeah, no, because it kicked.
Sean Hayes
Is James Bond around? That was another one.
Will Arnett
No, but go ahead.
Jason Bateman
Go ahead, Sean.
Sean Hayes
I know you were going to say, fuck me. Dude. Watching your face. Try to.
Jason Bateman
Because he looks down at the computer. Because he kind of works on them, I think.
Sean Hayes
Of course he does.
Will Arnett
No, no, I had one. I have one.
Jason Bateman
Have we ever gotten a bunch of suggestions from our listeners of what we.
Will Arnett
Can ask for our buys?
Jason Bateman
I know. Do we have a portal for them to fill?
Sean Hayes
A portal?
Jason Bateman
Can you fill our Portal.
Sean Hayes
What do you mean?
Jason Bateman
Or some sort of a site. They can put all these recommendations so we can stop listening to Sean's shitty buys.
Sean Hayes
But also, it's not the shitty buys. No, it's Sean. It's the way he goes, blah, blah, blah. And he goes, yeah, so also I was thinking that. And you're like, fuck, dude, here it comes. What are you.
Will Arnett
No, I was gonna say, what does sty. What does Jason sty rhyme with.
Jason Bateman
No, that's no good.
Daniel Craig
Will.
Jason Bateman
You got one?
Will Arnett
I don't have one.
Sean Hayes
That's mine. No, I'm glad that it's.
Jason Bateman
You should be guest related. You know, it should be tied into the guest somehow.
Sean Hayes
Well, I mean, Skyfall, its original title was Bye Bye. Sounds like you got yourselves in a little bite, Robby.
Jason Bateman
Smart Less.
Daniel Craig
Smart less.
Sean Hayes
Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbico, Michael Grant, Terry and Rob Armjarf.
Daniel Craig
Smart la this.
Will Arnett
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Jason Bateman
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Podcast Summary: SmartLess Episode Featuring Daniel Craig
Introduction and Cold Open (00:01 – 06:34)
The episode begins with the hosts, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, engaging in their trademark humorous banter. They initiate a "world's worst cold open" contest, setting a lighthearted tone for the episode. This segment showcases their camaraderie and improvisational skills, providing listeners with the organic hilarity that defines "SmartLess."
Introduction of Daniel Craig (06:35 – 07:33)
Jason Bateman introduces the episode's mystery guest, Commander Daniel Craig of the Royal Navy—a playful nod to the renowned actor, Daniel Craig, known for his role as James Bond. The hosts express their excitement and admiration for Daniel, highlighting his diverse interests, including rugby, Shakespeare, soccer, and martini-shaking. The reveal marks the beginning of an engaging and authentic conversation with the star.
Career Beginnings and Early Influences (12:42 – 16:07)
Daniel Craig delves into his early life in Liverpool, detailing how his mother's role as an art teacher and her connections to the theater influenced his passion for acting. He recounts spending evenings at the Everyman Theatre, where exposure to offbeat plays and interactions with actors ignited his desire to pursue a career in the arts.
Sean Hayes adds that exposure to creative adults at a young age provided Daniel with a unique perspective, fueling his ambition and setting him apart from his peers.
Role as James Bond (16:07 – 22:16)
Daniel discusses his journey into the James Bond franchise, sharing anecdotes from auditions and his experiences on set. He humorously recalls his unintended cameo as a stormtrooper in "Star Wars" and how those early roles shaped his acting approach.
Sean Hayes praises Daniel for redefining the Bond character as a "real modern Bond," emphasizing his physicality and depth, which brought a refreshing take to the iconic role.
Handling Fame and Public Image (29:02 – 32:26)
The conversation shifts to the challenges of fame, with Daniel candidly sharing his struggles with recognition and mental health following his Bond tenure. He reflects on his support system, including his down-to-earth upbringing and the advice to avoid bitterness in his career.
Sean Hayes and Will Arnett commend Daniel's resilience and his ability to maintain humility despite immense fame.
Leadership and Mentoring on Set (50:32 – 57:17)
Daniel shares his approach to leadership on set, emphasizing the importance of supporting fellow actors and creating a comfortable environment. He illustrates this with anecdotes of working with legendary actors like Paul Newman, highlighting how mutual respect and camaraderie can ease on-set tensions.
The hosts admire Daniel's commitment to fostering a positive and collaborative atmosphere, recognizing his efforts to mentor younger actors.
Personal Life and Interests (52:00 – 58:41)
Daniel opens up about his personal interests and how he balances his demanding career with relaxation. He mentions activities like playing tennis, horseback riding, and enjoying the sea as ways to unwind. The conversation also touches on his family life, including his move back to London after nearly two decades in New York.
Sean Hayes and Will Arnett express interest in Daniel’s hobbies and his dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle despite the rigors of his profession.
Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors (64:35 – 65:07)
Daniel briefly discusses his upcoming project, "Queer," expressing enthusiasm about working with director Luca Guadagnini. He describes the script as offering a complex, interesting, and emotionally rich character, highlighting his excitement for the role.
The hosts congratulate Daniel on his new role, showing genuine support and anticipation for his continued success in the industry.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts (66:31 – End)
As the episode wraps up, the hosts engage in playful banter with Daniel, further cementing the relaxed and humorous atmosphere of "SmartLess." They discuss memorable moments from his Bond films, share favorite lines, and joke about shopping for each other. Daniel appreciates the engaging conversation and the opportunity to connect with the hosts outside the usual press setups.
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes:
This episode offers a comprehensive look into Daniel Craig’s life and career, enriched by the hosts’ engaging and humorous interactions. It serves as both an insightful interview for fans and an entertaining listen for new audiences.