No stone was left unturned in terms of developing speed, strength, stamina and a sharp, focused mind. “Dan had briefed me on his goals and was determined to get stuck in. What Waterson has been doing is, in many ways, the OG version: he has long developed a process that literally takes the lessons of the sports world and applies it to how actors can survive and sustain themselves during shoots. Actors are now expected to be athletes as much as thespians: Joivan Wade said that when he auditioned for Doom Patrol his body was as much under scrutiny as his ability to emote. My physique is capable of doing the job that I’m portraying.’” The idea of physiology as a part of character building is not new to cinema, but the way athleticism can inform character is something trainers are increasingly incorporating into an actor’s process: Jason Walsh, who trained Brie Larson for Captain Marvel, told us that fitness is now “part of the character arc”. “With Casino Royale, it was quite big, imposing, shocking: ‘I can do this.
Then Craig came in and he had a different approach: “Daniel always has a clear vision of what he wanted and how to evolve the character physically and mentally,” Waterson explained.
Pierce Brosnan, whom Waterson trained for his last two 007 outings, was a very different Bond: “more debonaire and stylish,” he explained.
