Daniel Craig has said that while adjusting to his newfound James Bond fame, he felt ‘physically and mentally under siege.’

The 53 year old is getting ready for the release of No Time To Die, the latest Bond movie and the last one in which he will portray the secret agent.

The actor discussed how taking on the enormous role affected his personal life in the Being James Bond documentary on Apple TV.

Craig, who made his Bond debut in the 2006 film Casino Royale, said: “My personal life was affected by being that famous all of a sudden.”

“I used to lock myself in and close the curtains, I was in cloud cuckoo land.”

“I was physically and mentally under siege.”

“I didn’t like the newfound level of fame. It was Hugh Jackman who helped me to come to terms with it and appreciate it.”

The movie actor said that he was first hesitant to take the part because he felt unprepared for it.

Daniel said, “As far as I was concerned I was already more ­successful than I would ever be as an actor — I did not have a cool persona.”

‘Pierce had done Remington Steele, Roger Moore had done The Saint — they had done these parts where ­people had gone, “That’s James Bond”.

‘I had done weird arty movies. It was a harder sell. And I didn’t really want to do it, because I thought I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I was going to get the script, read it, and say, “Thanks but no”.

‘But little did I know, it was Casino Royale. The story was solid, the script was solid,’ continued.

Barbara Broccoli, a producer for the James Bond films, claimed that she was adamant about hiring him: ‘I always thought whenever he was on the screen you could not watch anyone else. He is lit from within. It was clear he is a movie star and a great actor to boot.’

In Being James Bond, the actor discusses with with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson his three-day hangover after drinking too many martinis, which are 007’s preferred beverage – after landing the role that he had a three-day hangover.

MGM executives did not think Daniel was the guy with a license to thrill during the audition process.

“Michael and I really wanted him, but the biggest problem was that he didn’t want to do it. He came into the office, and I said to Michael ­afterwards, ‘He wants to do it’, Barbara continues.

“We were determined to have him. We kept freaking the studio out as they kept trying to get us to meet other people.”

She wouldn’t budge, and called Daniel personally to tell him he’d landed the gig. The actor recalls, “She just went, ‘Over to you kiddo’. And I grabbed a ­bottle of vodka, vermouth, a ­cocktail shaker and went back to my apartment and started mixing myself vodka martinis. ”

“It was my first bit of exercise. I had a hangover for three days.”

Daniel promised to work out with a personal trainer saying; “I had to look like I could do the role.”

“I met a PT while smoking a ­rollie and eating a bacon sandwich, but I said to him, ‘I want to change’. And we did — it was seven days a week from then on.”

And he spent the whole night reading the nasty responses after being officially unveiled as the sixth cinematic Bond in 2005.

The 53-year-old Daniel continues, “I read everything, because that is what happens if you do that. And it was tough — really tough and hate-filled. ”

“I woke up the following morning, and I went f*** it. I know the film is going to be good. I knew we were doing something really special.”

After Casino Royale, Daniel appeared as Bond in the films Quantum of Solace from 2008, Skyfall from 2012, and Spectre from 2015.

Despite his iconic admission that he would “rather slash his wrists” than play the role again, he now claims to have “loved every single second” of playing Agent 007.

“I am incredibly proud and incredibly fortunate to do this,” he remarked.

“I’ve loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one because I’ve got up every morning and I’ve had the chance to work with you guys, and that has been one of the greatest honours of my life.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got the best job in the world.”

Daniel was convinced to make one more appearance in No Time To Die, making him the series’ longest-serving 007 actor.

He continues: ‘I do not want to go on about how hard Spectre was, but I needed a break. I needed to switch off.”

‘I genuinely felt psychologically at the end of that film too old. ­Barbara drives a hard bargain. I don’t think I was ever going to get away with leaving after Spectre.’

Daniel’s tenure as Bond is coming to an end, and fans are keen to find out who will take his place. Names like Idris Elba, Luke Evans, and Richard Madden have all been mentioned as potential replacements.

Pierce Brosnan, the former Bond actor, has voiced his support for Regé-Jean Page, the star of the television series Bridgerton, being considered for the part.

Regé-Jean called the rumors “flattering,” while Pierce said the Netflix actor would be “amazing” as Bond.

He said to GQ: ‘Well, of all the things you’ll read about yourself on the internet, it’s one of the more pleasant and more flattering. But I take it and leave it at that, personally.’