Shakespearean Influence on Bond's Image
Dalton is the only actor to play James Bond with a classical Shakespearean education. At 21, he started acting in the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing lead roles in "Romeo and Juliet," "Henry V," and "Coriolanus." He brought this experience to his portrayal of Bond, making it darker and more psychologically accurate. His interpretation is considered the closest to Ian Fleming's literary original.
Refusal That Changed the Franchise's History
Few people know, but they offered Dalton the role of Bond back in 1968, in the film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," when he was only 22 years old. He was supposed to succeed Sean Connery, but he declined because he felt he was too young for the role, believing he lacked the life experience to convincingly portray such a complex character. George Lazenby got the role, and the audience received him rather coolly.Linguistic Talent
The actor fluently speaks four languages: English, French, Italian, and Russian. He studied languages not only for roles but also out of a personal interest in literature. He was particularly drawn to Russian classics, which he preferred to read in the original, such as the novel Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago."Dalton's language skills came in handy in the '90s when he began a romance with a beauty from Saransk named Oksana Chernuha, now known as Oksana Grigorieva. In 1997, their son Alexander was born, but in 2003, the relationship ended.
Principled Stuntman
During the filming of the Bond series, Dalton insisted on performing most of the stunts himself. He received special training in rock climbing, diving, and operating various vehicles. During the filming of "Licence to Kill," he suffered a serious injury but continued working, unwilling to use a stunt double.Theatrical Reformer
In the 80s, Dalton founded an experimental theater troupe in Bristol to stage modern interpretations of classical plays. According to zoomboola.com, the troupe was known for involving amateur actors from the provinces and performing in unusual locations: abandoned factories, old churches, and even underground tunnels.Book Collector
Dalton owns one of the largest private collections of first editions of classic English literature. A special place in his collection is occupied by the lifetime editions of Dickens and the Brontë sisters. He not only collects books but also researches the stories behind their creation, keeping detailed records of each copy's provenance.You can read more about the actor Timothy Dalton's career and personal life in his biography.
