Did you have much input into the Bond character this time, and will you be back for another movie?

[Producers] Michael [G Wilson] and Barbara [Broccoli] have very graciously extended an invitation for me to come back for a fifth, and it was very stylish of them because it's the obvious question, "Are you coming back?" And the answer is, yes, we're going to be working on that. There was a comfort zone in this one. It's such a daunting part to take on and it takes time to become Bond, to find your place in the history books of this character.

You have a great sword fight in "Die Another Day". When had you last wielded a sword in anger?

I think I was at drama school when I did it, and in a couple of very forgettable films that no one's ever seen - maybe in Peru they saw them. I was very proud of the sword fight. I thought it could be a bit hokey, I wasn't quite sure, really, about the two of us going at it with sabres and foils, but I think it's a really wonderful set-piece. I had a great partner with Toby Stephens. The added pressure on that one was that I blew my knee out at the beginning of the film and we had this massive piece that had to be shot near the end, so I was just pleased to get through the damn thing.

Did you have any embarrassing moments on the shoot?

Getting into the tights for the fencing scene, I did think, "Oh boy, oh boy, this could be dangerous here. Just shoot above the waist." Certain costumes have their downside to them. They may look good on paper but you get into them and you think, "Oh Lord, give me a break." But it's all part and parcel of being Bond.

How was it working with Madonna?

I had a great day working with her, I'm a great fan of the woman. I think there's only one Madonna, she's an icon, a force of nature. You hear stories about her, and everybody was waiting for her to throw a tantrum, but she was very, very professional. When you walk onto the Bond stage, and you're only there for one day, it tests a person's strength of character. There's 120 people, maybe more. People come down from the offices to see you. And then you have to stand, alone, in front of the camera and give a performance, so she was nothing short of magic.

How has your life changed because of Bond?

It's changed, but I still remain the same. I'm still the same man, I still have the same passions and dreams and desires for acting, trying to get better at this profession. But it has allowed me to form my own company, Irish Dreamtime, and make three movies which I don't think would have happened with such alacrity if I hadn't had Bond in my life. It's allowed me to participate in causes that are close to my heart, it's allowed me to provide for my family in a very fine way. It's been nothing but a joyous ride, really.

Is it right to say that the public doesn't make a distinction between you and being Bond?

Well, I kind of live with him on a day to day business, because this is a character that doesn't have some transformation, there's no wigs or moustaches, I'm not that dissimilar to what you see on screen. So, you play a fine line there in playing the character, because you're playing close to yourself and you're trying to find the essence of what he's about, and bringing as much of yourself to the part as possible.

It has its humorous moments, but I don't go round acting like James Bond. I'm not James Bond, I'm just an actor portraying this man, but there's an identification with the fellow and an appreciation of who he is. He loves the finer things in life, the cars and women and everything like this, but I certainly don't have any desire to kill people, assassinate people.

Have you ever struggled with the stunt work?

It's the nature of doing these movies that you put yourself into situations where you want to give your best performance, and sometimes it just knocks you down. I remember trying to swim after a nuclear submarine once - the way you do - and it was just after lunch. I'd had a couple of pints, it was the last day of filming, and they said, "Swim!" And you're swimming and you're after a nuclear sub, not a good thing to do, so I got defeated there.

Do you have any thoughts about who should follow you as the next Bond?

No, I haven't really given much thought to that. It's not my problem anymore, then. It's going to be his problem, how to do it and how to make it his own, but I'm sure there will be somebody there at some point. Do I have any recommendations? No, not really. I've heard myself say Colin Salmon, who plays Robinson [M's chief of staff] in this movie. He's fantastic. But there's many fine actors out there who can fill the shoes, I'm sure.