There are some things in life that take us completely by surprise - ash clouds, Sandra Bullock adopting a baby and 30 degree sunshine during a washout British summer...

It's fair to say that Bond star Daniel Craig fits into that catagory, when his publicist confirmed over the weekend that he had married fellow actor and Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz.

According to reports, the pair tied the knot in a secret ceremony in New York last Wednesday after a whirlwind six-month romance that was kept under wraps from the public eye and largely evaded media attention.

Just four guests were said to be in attendance at the ceremony - Daniel's teenage daughter Ella, Rachel's four-year-old son Henry and two family friends.

A source quoted by Sunday tabloid The News Of The World said the couple were "madly in love" but insisted on holding "a small, quiet wedding ... with minimum fuss."

Rachel and Daniel have been friends for years and first met back in 1994, when they appeared together at a workshop play at the National Theatre Studio in London.

Daniel went onto claim international fame as James Bond in the much-lauded makeover of the 007 series. Rachel meanwhile, won an Oscar for her role in 2005 thriller The Constant Gardener.

They were reunited on the set of upcoming drama mystery Dream House, and rumours of their relationship began surfacing last Christmas.

Daniel was previously engaged to film producer girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell for five years (the couple split last November), and Rachel's son Henry is from her nine-year relationship with Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky.

A publicist for the couple confirmed they had married but did not release any further details.