At the age of 14 Craig played roles in 'Oliver', 'Romeo and Juliet', and 'Cinderella' at his high school. He left high school at sixteen to audition at the National Youth Theatre troupe in 1984. He was accepted and moved to London. He debuted as Agamemnon in Shakespeare's 'Troilus And Cressida'. Craig struggled, toiling in restaurant kitchens and as a waiter as he performed on tours to Valencia, Spain and Moscow, Russia. He had several failed auditions at the Guildhall, but eventually entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican in 1988 and graduated in 1991.

In 1992 he married Scottish actress Fiona Loudon and had a daughter, Ella. The marriage ended in 1994.

Craig debuted on film in The Power of One in 1992. His career continued on television including on the BBC2 serial 'Our Friends in the North'. He gained international fame after playing supporting roles in 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' and Road to Perdition, and was nominated for his performance as the leading role in Layer Cake in 2004.

In October 2005, Craig was named as the sixth actor to portray James Bond, just weeks after he finished his work in Munich.