A retired financial services worker who now works as James Bond for a living is struggling for gigs – after uncertainty over the next 007 affected his brand.
Bert Saveriano, who is American, has spent the last 20 years being mistaken for Daniel Craig.
Since the actor’s first film as the MI6 agent with the licence to kill – 2006’s Casino Royale – the 63-year-old says he has constantly been stopped by members of the public wanting a photo.
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The former financial services worker decided to leap into the lookalike world after retirement to keep himself busy.
From being mobbed in the airport to Bond fans swooning over him during a photo shoot, Bert is a dead ringer for the most recent 007.
Recently, he has made videos of himself doing his best impersonation of Bond, complete with a clipped English accent.
However, the dashing doppelganger has now revealed that his work is currently on hold – with movie execs yet to announce the next James Bond.
The lookalike gig opportunities have dried up following the uncertainty over who will replace Daniel Craig.
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Despite the lack of work, Bert still spends his day explaining to people in the street that he is not actually the actor himself.
“Since 2006, when Casino Royale came out, everyone has been telling me I look just like Daniel Craig,” Bert, from Scottsdale, Arizona, told What’s The Jam.
“After I retired, I decided to have a look into it – just as something to do.
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“Fortunately, an agency was on the hunt for a Daniel Craig Bond double – I fit the bill.
“Luckily from my career I already had all the suits and tuxes a 007 could ever need.
“During my first photo shoot, two buzzing women who clearly thought I was Daniel Craig interrupted.
“Not to spoil the illusion, I went along with it, posing for a photo with both of them, thinking they had just met the real deal.
“My biggest gig was a 50th birthday party for a woman who was mad for Bond.
“I wrote out a full script with prompts from the people who booked me whilst leaning into Bond’s dry sense of humour.
“It was a great night and really gave me the buzz for the work.
“Since then it’s been tough.
“With the state of the economy, there’s been a lot of cutbacks on entertainment.
“The lack of information we have on the next Bond also hasn’t helped.”
While the Bond gigs have dried up, Bert has decided to start increasing his presence online and booking acting roles.
The 63-year-old took up acting classes and ventured into background acting work, appearing in TV shows and adverts.
The retiree has also weighed in on who he thinks will pick up the reins from Daniel Craig as speculation continues to swirl.
“I think that Henry Cavill will be the next 007,” Bert said.
“He looks the part and he’s a good enough actor to pull off the role.
“He’s got the swagger that’s needed to play Bond.
“I may be biased but Daniel Craig is my favourite Bond.”
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