A confident Craig says it would be "terribly easy" to become like his character Joe Scot, an embittered, fading star who finds no amount of Hollywood hedonism can fill the void within.

"He has failed as a human being, and I wanted to explore that," Craig told reporters Sunday at the film's world premiere in London.

"I think you have to work hard at not becoming disillusioned about what you do for a living," Craig said. "If you have any success in what you do for a living, you have to maintain an energy and love of it. If you can, that's a great thing."

Craig attended Sunday's London premiere midway through filming on his second Bond thriller, Quantum of Solace, which is due for release later this year.

The actor says he hasn't always been comfortable with the level of attention he has received since being cast as 007 in 2005.

Flashbacks is a return to small-scale, personal projects for Craig.

"If I can be responsible, even slightly, for getting movies like this off the ground, then I am going to get a huge amount of enjoyment out of it," Craig said.

Craig now hopes the viewers derive equal pleasure watching him in Flashbacks

Photograph: Getty Images