He was given the part as the undertaker, Mr Sowerberry, and was hailed as the star of the show. Following that success he was given the lead in the next play - the troubled hero John Proctor in Arthur Miller's dark masterpiece The Crucible. He went on to play the lead in Romeo And Juliet and an ugly sister in Cinderella.
"Daniel was a natural on the stage, and he showed it in his first role in Oliver," said Hilary, from Barnston.
"From then on I made sure we gave him every opportunity to develop. We worked together closely for three years, and he tried quite a few different things. He was always remarkably mature for his years, and he had a real edge."
He was also spotted by local amateur dramatic society, the Heswall Woolgatherers, to star in Alan Bleasdale's No More Sitting On The Old School Bench, alongside his childhood sweetheart Helen Gowland. The pair were together for two years before losing touch when he left for London and she started work as a secretary.
"He was a lovely lad and I'm sure he hasn't changed much," Helen has said. "He still looks much like he did when he was 15. We were close and I have really good memories of Daniel."
Meanwhile, the actor's friends are eagerly awaiting his debut as Bond.
"I think he'll be very good - different from what has gone before, much grittier," says Adam. "We've watched all his previous stuff and we were delighted when we found out he'd be the next Bond. My two older boys are mad James Bond fans, so we'll all be going to see it together.
"And if they want anyone to write the theme tune for James Bond film I'm sure Inner Voices will oblige."
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