Judi Dench spoke to GQ's Stuart McGurk about the original casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond in 2012.

I didn't know Daniel before he was cast. I just knew of him; I knew about him. He came with the reputation of being a wonderful actor who's done lots of diverse things.

There was a possibility we were going to do a television show together at one point, the name of which I won't say because it wouldn't be good for the person who did it. But it didn't work out and I never actually met him. I'd seen him in Our Friends In The North, and that was wonderful.

When I heard the news I thought, "How terrific." I also thought it's a very, very onerous mantle to take on because he's James Bond, you know? He's universal. It's a big thing. I mean, what do you do?

However, if he was uncertain he didn't give me the impression of being so. Daniel can be rather enigmatic. Like James Bond, really. Although I'm certain underneath it all he was a bit... nervous about it - as was Pierce Brosnan.

Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Craig teamed up for the third time in Skyfall, 2012. © Rex / Shutterstock

Daniel is a James Bond for today. He's just a really good actor, which means that he's managed it with incredible aplomb. He's got a great sense of humour and that, to me, is absolutely essential in that part. Well, in any part I think it's essential to have a sense of humour, and I wouldn't want to work with anyone who doesn't.

I also think he feels like a Bond who could kill a man. That was a conscious decision, really, in the same way that you don't talk about Bond girls any more, you talk about Bond Women. It's moving with the times.

There's a flintiness to Daniel. You'd be afraid of him, wouldn't you? Though, of course, I stare back. Two can play at that game! That's the fun thing about playing M, you can say whatever you like to him.

It's a rare thing, an actor as good as Daniel who's also so good at the action. He's a great leading man

A scene is only as good as the two of you make it, whether it's Daniel Craig or Daniel Day-Lewis or Pierce or Javier Bardem. When I read a scene with Daniel, it's always so nice to see. Those will be good days, you think. Daniel and I have done three films together now, and I did four with Pierce.

And, in Skyfall, we had more dealings together, so I got to know him better. I keep coming back to it, but he really does have a great sense of humour. Perhaps somebody who doesn't know him might think he was very serious, and he was tense when I first met him, but, gradually, you find he has this sense of humour, which is irresistible. Even if you do meet Daniel, you wouldn't know that, certainly not at a first glance, or maybe even a first meeting.

He's very focused on set, very focused indeed. And he's quite intense. But, as I say, quite funny too, so the tension is never so much that it affects another person - not that I've found, anyway.

He's the type of actor who would say if a line isn't working. Not often - but I've known him to do that. He would instinctively know if something should be part of a scene or not.

I think he's loved working with Skyfall's director Sam Mendes. I actually worked with Sam when he was a little boy in the theatre, so I know him very well. You feel very sure in Sam's hands and I think that's something that matters to Daniel. Well, every actor likes it if you feel somebody's on the bridge.

© Rex / Shutterstock

Of course, Daniel is fantastic at doing action. When I see so many of the stunts he does, I say, “You can't have done that!" And he'll say, "Yes, I did." He's very impressive. I don't know what makes him want to do his own stunts, he just likes doing them! He loves to have ago. But he's so brave. There is a particular stunt that comes to mind that's in the new film... but of course, I can't tell you about that. Otherwise someone will take me out the back and have me shot. But it's a rare thing - an actor as good as Daniel who's also so good at the action. A great leading man.

I think that's the truly wonderful thing about Daniel - he's an actor but he's also a leading man. I don't think there's much he can't do. Well, I don't know how he'd do in a pseudo farce - maybe he should do that. And, of course, he wears some good suits. I admired a jacket he had in Quantum Of Solace, and there was a spare, so on the last day I was given it as a present. Roll on the winter.

I think he's aware of the responsibility he's now got because he's recognised absolutely everywhere he goes as Bond. Very much like Pierce was, too. And then he just wanted to go off and do other things. Not to shake off the Bond image, but to say, "Look, I don't just have to be this person with the gun and the girls, but I can do this." You can't go out in the world and not be recognised as James Bond. He knew it would change his life. I think when you're asked to play something like that it takes a while to actually realise what you’re taking on. People will always know him as Bond.

Do you go on being James Bond for the rest of your life? Or do you kind of kick over the traces, which Pierce did and went on and did lots of other things? Obviously I know what Daniel is going to do. He won't have a problem. That's how good he is.

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