Reallife spying is more cloak than dagger, says CIAtoJames Bond

English actor Daniel Craig, who plays the fictional British spy James Bond, had a face-to-face meeting with real-life spymasters during his visit to the Central Intelligence Agency CIA) headquarters in Langley, Virginia, US.

The visit was part of the CIA’s Reel vs Real event, which was recently launched to “demystify the CIA’s mission by comparing what’s seen on TV to what happens in reality”.

According to the CIA’s official blog, the 50-year-old 007 actor met with their leadership and workforce and was apprised that “real life espionage is a lot more ‘cloak’ and a lot less ‘dagger’ than presented in the entertainment world of spy vs spy”. The blog said: “During conversations with CIA subject matter experts, Mr Craig learned about the many facets of intelligence collection and how our five directorates work together to advance CIA’s mission.” It added: “Later, during an engagement with the Agency workforce, Mr Craig remarked about the teamwork that goes into the intelligence cycle and how impressed he was with the commitment and dedication of CIA officers.”

Craig is currently gearing up for his fifth and final outing as James Bond in a yet-untitled film, which will be directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle. The actor has appeared as Bond since 2006 in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre.

Last month, the CIA hosted the cast of the hit show The American at its headquarters for a panel discussion.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK Daniel Craig has played Agent 007 since 2006