Daniel Craig 'loved Defiance story' (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Daniel Craig 'loved Defiance story'

12:37am Wednesday 7th January 2009

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Daniel Craig starred in his latest film for the love of the story it told, he said.

Speaking at the European premiere of holocaust-themed action movie Defiance at London's Leicester Square Odeon, he described the true story on which it is based as something he wanted the world to know.

"We didn't do it for the money, this movie, we did it because we loved doing it," he said.

He continued: "We had a laugh - we had to. It was just as soon as I read the material I saw it was something I wanted to get involved in and expose to the world."

The film tells the story of three Jewish brothers, the Bielskis, who escape Nazi-occupied Poland and take refuge in the woods they have known since childhood. From there they begin to fight back against the Nazis and are joined in battle by men and women of all ages.

Director Edward Zwick said there was a sense of urgency about telling stories like that of the Bielski brothers while Holocaust survivors were still alive. "This is the 11th hour," he said. "The last survivors at this moment will within five or 10 years all be gone. There's a certain anxiety attached to that and maybe some sort of urgency to try to tell the rest of the stories that aren't known."

He also added his voice to the praise showered on Bond star Craig by his co-stars Jamie Bell and Liev Schreiber, who play the other two brothers, and Alexa Davalos.

"He was always available, he was never in his trailer, he was accessible," he said.

Bell described the film as educational for him. "I didn't know about Jewish resistance," he said. "Doing this movie has been an incredibly educational process. I've learned so much and I hope this movie will maybe change the perspective on the Jewish people at this time in history."

A horde of excited fans braved the cold to catch a glimpse of stars on the red carpet, who included Ray Mears, Terry Gilliam and Lorraine Kelly.

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