You can read Rami Malek’s full interview in “Attitude” Magazine – OUT 13 SEPTEMBER (print and digital)
Bohemian Rhapsody opens on October 24 in the UK and November 2 in the US.
EXTRACTS:
RAMI MALEK (37), defended criticisms that the film’s trailer ignores aspects of Freddie Mercury’s life – namely battle with AIDS and focusses on ex-girlfriend/soulmate, Mary Austin, rather than male lovers.
“It’s a shame that people are making remarks after a minute teaser where you just wanna see the music. It’s difficult. I don’t think the film 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.”
Of Mary Austin:
“They just had this infinite understanding for each other. It’s something you have to address, the way you have to address his sexuality in the film.”
Of HIV/AIDS struggle in latter part of his life:
“The film needed to approach it in a delicate manner. You can’t shy away from it. It was an important moment to have in the film, one that ultimately is very sad but also empowering in a way. It shows you just how resilient human beings can be and how much we rely on the strength of our friends and family to get us through tough times. This pandemic is still very much a horrific threat to so many people in the world. It exists as a reality for so many that I think it would be a shame not to address it.”
