Craig shaken and stirred by reporter's remark

All that visceral, muscular acting has, it seems, left Daniel Craig rather wanting in the humour department.

It might have been hoped that Craig would react with James Bond-style nonchalance - or at least magnanimity - at being passed over for a Bafta at Sunday night's awards in London.

Yet it appears that he became so wound-up after being beaten by Forest Whitaker in the best actor category that he shunned the whirl of afterparties and almost got involved in brawl with a journalist.

The evening did not start too comfortably for Craig, who appeared visibly uncomfortable at being praised for his honed looks by show host Jonathan Ross - then bristled with annoyance when Whitaker was announced best actor.

Craig left the awards at the Royal Opera House on the arm of his girlfriend, producer Satsuki Mitchell.

By the time the couple arrived at the Grosvenor House afterparty, a hotel security member described Craig as being "incandescent with rage".

It was at that point that the 39-year-old came face to face with journalist Johann Hari. Mr Hari, who is gay, said last night: "When we first spoke, he was in a vile mood. I just made a joke about how great he looked in his shorts in the film. There were so many ways he could have reacted.

"But instead, he called me a 'f***ing fool'. I hadn't said it nastily. He could have just smiled and said he wasn't in the mood for a joke, but he was actively rude and seemed to snarl at me. I watched as he lost out to his award. Every clap for Forest Whitaker was like a little fracture in his heart."

A source from the hotel security added: "Satsuki saw the situation was about to get out of hand. She knows that Daniel can react and did not want it to kick off in front of so many people.

"She rushed to his side and literally put her arm between them before this guy got thumped. It was clear that Daniel was not at all happy."

A source close to the actor added: "Over the course of the evening, he had been getting increasingly wound-up with people coming up to him telling him how great he looked in those shorts as he came out of the sea in Casino Royale.

"Daniel sees himself as a serious classically-trained actor who spent three years with the RSC, and brought real depth to the role of Bond.

"First of all, he loses out on the Bafta, then everyone from Jonathan Ross downwards spends the night talking about how buff he looks in swimming trunks.

"He left the awards and went straight to the Grosvenor House and every five minutes was telling Satsuki he wanted to go. But his studio execs were adamant that he should stay on to show willing.

"Even when Dame Judi (Dench) came up to commiserate with him, she was given short shrift.

"Judi tried to have a laugh with him calling them a pair of losers - since she lost out to Helen Mirren too - but he didn't see the funny side.

"By the time this journalist popped up trying to have a joke about his shorts, Daniel was ready to rip someone's head off."

Shortly after Craig's short discussion with Mr Hari, he left with Miss Mitchell and the couple retired to their suite at the nearby Dorchester Hotel.

Craig's publicist did not wish to comment last night.