Daniel Craig cleared the air with Stephen Colbert on Monday’s episode of Late Show, revealing the host has been saying his name wrong for years.
The 56-year-old actor – who recently admitted to writing many lines in one of his James Bond films – was promoting his new A24 film Queer, which is currently playing in limited release and expands nationwide December 13.
The actor was making his sixth appearance on the late night talk show, though he revealed mid-way through the interview he had ‘a bone to pick’ with the host.
He then asked Colbert to say his name, which he did, as Craig admitted, ‘Now you’re doing it right.’
However, for each of his subsequent visits, Colbert was pronouncing his last name Cr-egg, instead of the correct Cr-ayg.
Colbert asked if he pronounced it Cr-egg and the actor said, ‘Yes, it’s a dipthong,’ a term referring to two separate vowel sounds within the same syllable.
Daniel Craig cleared the air with Stephen Colbert on Monday’s episode of Late Show, revealing the host has been saying his name wrong for years
He then asked Colbert to say his name, which he did, as Craig admitted, ‘Now you’re saying it right’
The Cr-egg pronunciation only features one vowel sound, though the correct Cr-ayg pronunciation, when done right, produces two vowel sounds.
Craig then joked, ‘I don’t say Colbet,’ he said as the audience laughed, as the actor tried to subtly reveal the differences in both pronunciations.
The actor sounded it out a bit more the second time, and Colbert finally seemed to realize his pronunciation error.
‘Oooh, I hear the difference. That is subtle. That is a subtle difference and I apologize,’ Colbert said, as the former James Bond actor thanked him.
‘I don’t want Daniel Cr-ayg mad at me. Daniel Cr-egg? F**k that guy, but Daniel Cr-ayg …’ Colbert joked as Craig burst into laughter.
They shook hands as Colbert asked, ‘Have I been doing that for six shows?’ Craig said, ‘Six shows. Craig, it’s fine, whatever.’
The actor also filmed his third Knives Out movie as beloved detective Benoit Blanc called Wake Up Dead Man, which is set for release next year.
This mystery features another star-studded cast, as Craig admitted he couldn’t believe the cast writer-director Rian Johnson put together this time around.
Craig then joked, ‘I don’t say Colbet,’ he said as the audience laughed, as the actor tried to subtly reveal the differences in both pronunciations
Colbert asked if he pronounced it Cr-egg and the actor said, ‘Yes, it’s a dipthong,’ a term referring to two separate vowel sounds within the same syllable
‘I’m just amazed when Rian says to me and Josh Brolin’s going to do it, and Glenn Close is going to do it, ….I’m like bring it on, it’s amazing,’ Craig said.
‘When they turn up, they just have at it. Everyone comes to have some fun,’ adding part of his job is to, ‘keep it light,’ adding, ‘I’m a court jester.’
When asked about the future of the franchise – which includes 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Craig insisted he would always return.
‘As long as Rian keeps writing them, I’ll keep doing them,’ Craig insisted of the beloved franchise.
