Rami Malek hailed for Freddie Mercury performance
RAMI Malek is “absolutely sensational” in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, according to cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel. The 37-year- old actor stars as Freddie Mercury in the biographical drama and Sigel has hailed his performance in the new movie. He said: “I think the movie is fabulous. It is a real celebration of Queen and their music and Freddie Mercury’s genius. “And I think it’s both truthful and celebratory at the same time, which is a rare and wonderful combination, especially in a period of history that’s not necessarily the most peaceful and tranquil. “I think Rami Malek is absolutely s ensat ional . At this point, I can’t actually imagine the movie or Freddie being played by anybody else. He so thoroughly inhabits the character, and it’s really breathtaking.”
Despite this, Newton still found Malek to be “terrifically easy” to work with.
Speaking about the actor — who also stars in the popular TV drama series ‘Mr. Robot’ — Sigel told Collider: “Rami goes very deep into the character, but he’s very accessible, still, as an actor, when you are working with him on set. So he’s actually quite easy to work with as a performer. And he’s very savvy technically.
“I think that enables him to move in and out of character in a way that actually makes my job very easy. He’s terrifically easy actor to work with.”
Meanwhile, Malek has admitted to frequently wondering whether he was the right man for the coveted role.
He explained: “When I met (the fi lm’s producers) Graham King and Denis O’Sullivan about playing the role, I told them, ‘Listen, I’m not a singer, I’m not a piano player. There are things about Freddie I will be able to give you but know that those things are going to be tricky.’”
Malek worked diligently to meet the demands of the role, but he never felt like it was quite enough.
He told The i newspaper: “Every time I thought I got something, another challenge came.”
At times, Malek wondered whether the makers of the film — which also stars the likes of Ben Hardy and Mike Myers — had make a mistake in casting him.
He confessed: “There were moments when I thought, ‘ This is not my bag. I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this part of it.’”
Malek previously insisted that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ doesn’t “shy away’ from Mercury’s sexuality or battle with Aids.
Responding to criticism of a teaser trailer — which seemingly glossed over the subjects — Malek said: “It’s a shame that people are making remarks after a minute teaser where you just wanna see the music.
“It’s difficult. First, let me say that I don’t think the fi lm shies away from his sexuality or his all- consuming disease, which is obviously Aids.
“I don’t know how you could avoid any of that, or if anyone would ever want to. It’s a bit absurd that anyone’s judging this from a minute trailer.” — BANG Showbiz