Malek is picking up more and more awards as the Oscars approach. With the BAFTA for Best Actor under his belt, his triumph seems certain. Whatever the critics may have said about the film (and the box office has silenced most of them) the actor’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury has been universally praised. Yet, Freddie’s own sister had a shocking first reaction to the performance and now his on-screen girlfriend (and Malek’s real-life partner) has admitted just her own extreme response.
Freddie’s sister Kashmira admitted she “laughed” the first time she saw Malek in full costume. However, it was more from shock and disorientation than anything else.
British actress Lucy Boynton plays Mary Austin, Freddie’s self-confessed “love of my life” on screen.
The new bonus features from the upcoming home entertainment packages for Bohemian Rhapsody include an incredible look at how Malek became the Queen frontman.
Boynton speaks about the extraordinary way he disappeared into the role.
She said: “It’s the most exciting thing you can see as an actor to see that person disappear and become someone else. It’s just completely magical and bizarre and unnerving.
“I feel like I haven’t actually spent that much time with Rami and know Freddie much better.”
Hopefully, that has all changed now that the talented pair are an item in real life.
Malek himself also revealed just how complicated and daunting it was taking the role.
He said: “There are so many different faces of Freddie Mercury and I don’t think one is more true than the other.
“Freddie Mercury is an icon an a hero to so many I don’t think I completely understood just how massive he is to so many people across the world. It’s an immense responsibility but one that I was very eager to take on.”
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY IS AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ON FEBRUARY 16, AND ON DVD AND BLU-RAY ON MARCH 4