Who knew Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor could go from Bond-level brooding to bromantic banter so effortlessly? In a hilariously revealing chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors, these two kings of charisma took us on a journey through sweaty gyms, steamy (but not too steamy) sex scenes, and the art of kissing Zendaya… with a twist.
“Challengers” Sex Scene: The Cock Tease Heard ‘Round the World
First, let’s talk about that much-hyped Challengers hotel scene. Or, as Daniel Craig so eloquently put it:
Daniel Craig: “The scene in the hotel room, where they don’t have sex, is the biggest cock tease in movie history.”
Oh, Danny. Tell us how you really feel.
Josh, the certified “King of Awkward Charm,” backed him up with some hard truths:
Josh O’Connor: “Intimacy scenes are like being wrapped in sweaty clingfilm. Zero sex appeal. I feel more exposed crying on camera.”
But Daniel wasn’t about to let the sex talk stop there. Ever the philosopher of film smooching, he dropped this gem:
Daniel: “Sex scenes without substance? Yawn. The action isn’t between the sheets—it’s in the brains! If it’s just naked bodies, we’ve failed. End of.”
Josh tried to keep it serious but veered straight into giggles as he recalled the moment he and co-star Mike Faist locked lips mid-scene…while Zendaya stood back, bemused and slightly smug.
Josh: “We’re kissing Zendaya, then suddenly we’re kissing each other. Our eyes open—bam! Just us. Boys’ night!”
“Queer” Chaos: Craig vs. Sicilian Directing
Apparently, working with Luca Guadagnino is like attending an emotional boot camp in the Mediterranean.
Daniel Craig: “Luca’s sets are organized chaos, sprinkled with Sicilian flair. As a stiff-upper-lip Brit, it’s mind-blowing. My character in Queer was all ‘macho with a gun,’ but inside? A total mess. Burroughs vibes everywhere. I threw the kitchen sink at it. Literally. Sorry, production team.”
Josh, naturally, swooped in with a compliment so layered it’s practically a lasagna:
Josh O’Connor: “Your guy radiates confidence while low-key crumbling like a soggy biscuit. It’s art.”
Daniel agreed, waxing poetic about “the artifice of masculinity.” Which, coming from James Bond, feels like a confession.
Trailers, Treadmills & Gym Tantrums
Filming Wake Up Dead Man was basically summer camp for emotionally unstable thespians. According to Josh, he and Daniel became inseparable.
Josh: “We lived in each other’s pockets for three months. Your trailer, by the way? Better than my entire London flat. I spent more time knocking on your door than I did acting.”
As for Daniel, he’s still recovering from his Bond-era fitness PTSD.
Daniel Craig: “When I got Casino Royale, I realized my 30-something body was a post-partying disaster zone. Cue intense gyming. But after each Bond, I’d let myself go like a bear prepping for hibernation. The ‘getting fit, getting unfit’ cycle? Never again. Now, I just… stay fit. It’s boring as hell, but it beats feeling like a sack of pudding.”
The Emotional Game, Literally: Tennis, Love, & Invisible Magnets
To wrap it all up, both actors couldn’t stop gushing about the emotional core of Challengers.
Daniel: “The ending? Oh, it’s a killer. It’s all about love conquering everything—like Luca’s signature move. The bromance between the two guys? It’s just chef’s kiss. I’m a sucker for it. What’s better than love?”
Josh: “Sure, there’s tennis. But let’s be real: this film’s about three emotionally constipated people, tangled up in lust and longing, who can’t quit each other. Like magnets. Horny, heartbroken magnets.”
A conversation so entertaining, it deserves its own sequel. Craig and O’Connor—part-time actors, full-time chaos merchants—just proved that whether it’s steamy almost-sex scenes or bro bonding over protein shakes, they’ve got the charm and wit to make it gold.
