Craig Scoops Evening Standard British Film Award

Daniel Craig has scooped his first major acting award after winning Best Actor for the part of James Bond in Casino Royale at the Evening Standard British Film Awards. The news comes just one week out from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, in which Craig is the first 007 be nominated for the prestigious award.

Along with the BAFTAS and the British Independent Film Awards, the Evening Standard British Film Awards are one of the most important events in the British film calendar. The winners of the awards are selected by a jury of five film critics from a list of all British-made films released in the preceding year.

At the ceremony, Craig said he was delighted at winning the award. “This is tremendous. It makes you think that the success of the film might not be a fluke. We wanted to make an exciting and sexy Bond and tell a good yarn at the same time.”

Craig added, “I don’t know if I”m ever entirely happy with my performances but I’m happy with the way this turned out.”

The actor is looking forward to topping Casino Royale”s success with the release of next year”s sequel. “We made the first one good and we”ve got to make the second one even better.”

Fellow Bond star Dame Judi Dench scooped the award for Best Actress for her role in Notes on a Scandal, whilst director Stephen Frears, who was previously attached to the ill-fated Jinx spin-off, won the Alexander Walker special award for his contribution to British film.

Eyes now turn to Sunday’s BAFTA Award ceremony, in which Craig is up against the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Forest Whitaker in the Best Actor stakes.