Sam Mendes a big fan of Craig as James Bond

The two Brits teamed up to make Skyfall and the moviemaker admits it was a pleasure working with the actor.

He tells WENN, “None of this is possible without a great Bond in the middle of it. Daniel puts himself through an incredible amount and allows himself not only to appear ageing, but bruised and wounded.

“It’s tough to be his age, at 44, and to play the movie and the role with such honesty in a genre which is constantly trying to pull you towards what’s expected.

“He’s managed to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar. Bond is the bedrock of the film surrounded by the other characters and it’s a remarkable performance and he’s done it with incredible skill.”