Pierce Brosnan thinks Daniel Craig is a ''magnificent'' James Bond.

The 59-year-old actor - who portrayed the suave spy in four movies until 2002's 'Die Another Day' - believes his successor is the perfect choice for the character at present because he is so ''hard'' and the franchise has moved on to a different era, thanks largely to competition from the 'Bourne' movie series.

Dame Shirley Bassey and Halle Berry celebrated the 50th anniversary of James Bond at the Oscars.

The actress - who played Bond girl Jinx opposite Pierce Brosnan's incarnation of 007 in 'Die Another Day' - led the tribute to the suave British secret agent at the Academy Awards last night (24.02.13), while the 76-year-old singer gave a rousing rendition of iconic Bond theme 'Goldfinger'.

Sir Sean Connery may join other James Bond actors in a tribute to the secret agent at the Oscars.

Academy bosses are hoping to coax the film legend out of retirement to join fellow 007 stars - including current Bond actor Daniel Craig, Sir Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan - on stage at next month's ceremony in a four-minute celebration to mark 50 years of the film franchise.

Daniel Craig is the highest-paid James Bond star ever.

The 44-year-old actor - who reprised his role as the iconic British spy for the third time in 'Skyfall' - will earn £31 million to portray the suave secret agent in two more movies, dwarfing the pay cheques received by his predecessors.