Bond is back with license to thrill in 'Spectre'

The new James Bond film 'Spectre' premiered in London Oct 26 at a glitzy event. 'I hate watching myself on screen but I love playing James Bond,' Craig said on the red carpetJames Bond has a license to thrill once more in new film "Spectre," which premiered on Oct. 26 at a glitzy event attended by Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry.

Broadly praised by critics, the film is directed by Sam Mendes and sees Daniel Craig play the suave, Martini-quaffing MI6 spy 007 in what is Bond's 24th outing since the first, "Dr. No," in 1962.

"I hate watching myself on screen but I love playing James Bond," Craig said on the red carpet at London's Royal Albert Hall, where he was joined by co-stars Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux.

"There are different sides of his character that we explore in this," said Craig, who was in black tie.

He added that the film was intended to honor Bond classics while trying to "freshen everything up." 

Mendes, who won an Oscar for "American Beauty" in 1999, said: "We sweated blood over it and I'm really, really thrilled and a little bit relieved."

Asked about what it felt like to be a "Bond girl," a term that is sometimes seen as patronizing towards the actresses who play the roles, Seydoux smiled: "I don't know if I'm a Bond girl, I'm just a blonde girl." 

French Seydoux, who wore a gold Lame dress, plays Madeleine Swann, the daughter of a former Bond villain.

Italian Bellucci, at 51, reportedly the oldest ever "Bond girl," plays Lucia Sciarra, a criminal's widow who warns Bond off his dangerous quest.

Ralph Fiennes, who plays Bond handler and loyalist MI6 chief "M," said it was "a very well-crafted film." "It has great energy and forward momentum...