Bohemian Rhapsody: Freddie Mercury star Rami Malek on ‘SURREAL’ set moments with Brian May

Nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG award, it’s not surprising to hear that Malek took on method acting to play Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Even when Queen guitarist May would visit the set, the actor would stay in character as the young Queen singer. Speaking with Mark Kermode at MK3D in London this month, Malek said: “I think there were such surreal moments when Brian May would be on set and I would be talking to him in character because I did stay in character when I was working on the film. It was surreal for people watching a young version of Freddie Mercury, talking to an older Brian May.”

He added: “And I thought, ‘Well you can’t beat this.’

“And then to have them come and watch the film and I think they were really moved by it emotionally.

“Just to have this relationship now where they like me is…it’s the most profound accomplishment to be able to tell his story and do it some bit of justice in honour, and share it with a new generation is the greatest gift I could ask for.”

In the same interview, Malek revealed the terrifying moment he watched his Freddie audition with May and Roger Taylor.

Malek said: “I think one major moment was showing my audition to Brian May and Roger Taylor, after I thought they had seen it but they hadn’t downloaded it, at Roger Taylor’s apartment.

“I watched it with them and that was a most terrifying moment.”

“There was even a moment where I remember being thrown a question at that impromptu press conference at Abbey Road and I couldn’t remember the answer but the question was, ‘Who’s the person that you trust the most?’

“And in that moment of just being a bit terrified standing between them, I couldn’t remember had I answered Brian or Roger.”

He added: “Fortunately as Freddie, I said, ‘Mary, Mary’s the person that I trust the most.’ And that’s the love of his life.

“I remember both of them just looking at me and going, ‘Okay, alright, that’s alright.’”

The Freddie Mercury film may even be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, after nominations in other awards ceremonies.

Bohemian Rhapsody is out now.