Desmond Llewelyn claimed in an interview of Dalton that his portrayal of James Bond was closer to Ian Fleming's original novel version of the character than any other Bond actor.
On playing a character: You can't relate to a superhero, to a superman, but you can identify with a real man who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within himself and triumphs but only after a struggle. Real courage is knowing what faces you and knowing how to face it.
