Miniseries details Bond author's own spy story

PASADENA, Calif. – James Bond's creator had first-hand knowledge of spy work.

Fleming, the creator of the iconic secret agent, immersed himself in espionage as a British Naval Intelligence officer during World War II, a story told in BBC America's Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (Jan. 29,10 p.m. ET/PT).

Dominic Cooper, who plays Fleming, was aware of the famous author, but didn't realize how fascinating his life was – including parallels to Bond – until he read some biographies.

"Growing up in the UK, you can't help but (be) a Bond fan," he told TV critics Saturday. As for the films, "I loved the (Sean) Connery ones, (including) From Russia with Love. The later ones I enjoyed. I'm always amazed how it's spread across generations."

The four-part production, which focuses on the war period before the playboy Fleming wrote the novels, is "not a straight retelling of his life," director Mat Whitecross said. "It's much more his life through the prism of the Bond films and novels."