Building on the Reel vs. Real theme, CIA’s Office of Public Affairs hosted Daniel Craig, famously known for his portrayal as James Bond, at CIA Headquarters in 2018 to discuss what it’s really like to be an Intelligence Officer.
Why have an international movie star and filmmaker visit the CIA? Because the CIA does not exist in a vacuum. The Agency is held accountable by Congress and scrutinized by the American people. While secrets must be kept and the clandestine nature of the CIA’s work held sacred, the CIA works, where appropriate, with the film industry to combat misrepresentations and assist in balanced and accurate portrayals. Visits such as this and the Reel vs. Real event at UCLA with the cast of the “Americans” open the door to engaging with the public to humanize the workforce and demonstrate the many ways CIA’s work enhances national security.
Mr. Craig met with our leadership and workforce, who explained that real life espionage is a lot more “cloak” and a lot less “dagger” than presented in the entertainment world of spy vs. spy. During conversations with CIA subject matter experts, Mr. Craig learned about the many facets of intelligence collection and how our five directorates work together to advance CIA’s mission. Later, during an engagement with the Agency workforce, Mr. Craig remarked about the teamwork that goes into the intelligence cycle and how impressed he was with the commitment and dedication of CIA officers.
