Daniel Craig Got Emotional After Shooting His Final Scene as James Bond: 'This Is Special'

Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond is coming to an emotional end.During an appearance onThe Tonight Showon Tuesday, the 53-year-old actor told hostJimmy Fallonthat nearly 200 people gathered around 2 a.m. on a rainy morning to watch the actor film his final scene as 007 forNo Time to Die.Usually, Craig said, movies finish anticlimactically — but this one was different.“Every single person in the office had stayed late, all the cast had stayed late, all the crew had stayed late, and all the heads of department,“he told Fallon, 47.Nicola DoveCraig has played 007 since 2006, when he took over forPierce Brosnan.Though he became emotional upon filming his last scene, Craig wasn’t thinking about his departure from the franchise while working on the final film.“It wasn’t [emotional] while we were filming it,” he explained on the show. “I don’t have time to think about this, you always think about tomorrow or next week or whatever you’ve got to do and there’s always fires to put out and things to do.“Daniel Craig.Nicola Dove/MGMThat said, the significance of his time as Bond is not lost on Craig. “I mean every movie is a creative process, and I love my job, so every day is great for me,” he told Fallon. “But when you’re on a Bond movie, you kind of realize this is special.“No Time to Diebrought in $56 million at the U.S. box office and $313 million globally during its opening weekend, according toVariety. The film also starsRami Malek,Ana de Armas,Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw,Ralph Fiennesand Christoph Waltz.Back in September, Craig toldThe New York Timesthat he originally didn’t think he would land the role when he was first invited to audition. The actor “assumed he’d been invited to audition as cannon fodder, to make it easier to choose someone else for the part.“Daniel Craig.Samir Hussein/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I was just amongst the mix — someone to dismiss,” he told theTimes.And if Craig is remembered as “the grumpy Bond,” then that’s okay with him. “That’s just my Bond and I have to face up to it, that has been my Bond,” he told the outlet. “But I’m quite satisfied with that.“No Time to Dieis now playing in theaters.

Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond is coming to an emotional end.

During an appearance onThe Tonight Showon Tuesday, the 53-year-old actor told hostJimmy Fallonthat nearly 200 people gathered around 2 a.m. on a rainy morning to watch the actor film his final scene as 007 forNo Time to Die.

Usually, Craig said, movies finish anticlimactically — but this one was different.

“Every single person in the office had stayed late, all the cast had stayed late, all the crew had stayed late, and all the heads of department,“he told Fallon, 47.

Nicola Dove

Craig has played 007 since 2006, when he took over forPierce Brosnan.

Though he became emotional upon filming his last scene, Craig wasn’t thinking about his departure from the franchise while working on the final film.

“It wasn’t [emotional] while we were filming it,” he explained on the show. “I don’t have time to think about this, you always think about tomorrow or next week or whatever you’ve got to do and there’s always fires to put out and things to do.”

Daniel Craig.Nicola Dove/MGM

That said, the significance of his time as Bond is not lost on Craig. “I mean every movie is a creative process, and I love my job, so every day is great for me,” he told Fallon. “But when you’re on a Bond movie, you kind of realize this is special.”

No Time to Diebrought in $56 million at the U.S. box office and $313 million globally during its opening weekend, according toVariety. The film also starsRami Malek,Ana de Armas,Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw,Ralph Fiennesand Christoph Waltz.

Back in September, Craig toldThe New York Timesthat he originally didn’t think he would land the role when he was first invited to audition. The actor “assumed he’d been invited to audition as cannon fodder, to make it easier to choose someone else for the part.”

Daniel Craig.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I was just amongst the mix — someone to dismiss,” he told theTimes.

And if Craig is remembered as “the grumpy Bond,” then that’s okay with him. “That’s just my Bond and I have to face up to it, that has been my Bond,” he told the outlet. “But I’m quite satisfied with that.”

No Time to Dieis now playing in theaters.

source: people.com