Sean Connery has beaten George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan in ‘the best James Bond of all time’ poll, run by SFX magazine.
SFX editor Dave Bradley said: “Everyone has their own memories about their favourite James Bond.
“Connery was the quintessential Bond – he was so strong in the role that even though successive generations in the meantime have grown up with their own James Bonds, Connery is the still the ultimate 007.”
Casino Royale director Martin Campbell has given the highest possible praise to new Bond Daniel Craig by saying that he’s a better actor than previous 007 stars Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Campbell said: “I am convinced that Craig is the best actor who has ever played James Bond.
“We show that Bond will suffer from emotional and physical pain. Honestly, we couldn’t do that with Pierce.”
Another legendary actor, this time Sir Roger Moore, has hit out at critics of Daniel Craig’s casting.
Moore said: “He’s a hell of a good actor.”
As no-one has seen Craig yet in action, Moore added: “So why attack him?”
He also rejected talk that there’s no room for Bond in this day and age. The 78-year-old said: “It’s fantasy. Bond is fantasy, there’s no real substance to it. It’s a figment of imagination… sort of crazy, you know, a spy who is recognised wherever he goes – spies ain’t like that.”