Bohemian Rhapsody: Freddie Mercury ex Mary Austin SPEAKS OUT in shock unearthed interview

The character is played by Lucy Boynton in the movie – and it’s a sweet parallel that, in real life, Boynton has begun a relationship with Mercury actor Rami Malek. The real Austin is now in her late 60s and did not join the cast and crew, or the surviving members of Queen, in promoting the film. So where is she now? A rare interview she gave back in 2013 may indicate why she opted for a more private life.

Austin lives away from the gaze of the public eye, and rarely gives interviews or attends glitzy events.

But the success of the film is alleged to have made her a big sum in royalties – estimated by The Sun to be in the region of £40 million.

When Mercury died in 1991, he left half of his future earnings to her, with 25% going to his sister and the final 25% to his parents.

When his parents died, Austin’s share rose to 75%; it is widely believed.

And it’s that fortune that she discussed the weight and unexpected challenges of in her rare and revealing interview six years ago.

Back in 2013, she spoke to the Daily Mail – saying Mercury warned her that what she would inherit could become a huge burden.

“And he was right,” she admitted. “I found myself thinking, ‘Oh Freddie, you’ve left me too much and too much to deal with as well.’

“I felt I couldn’t live up to it. He’d warned me that the house was going to be more of a challenge than I realised.

“I’m grateful he did because I hit jealousy head on – like a Japanese bullet train. Very painful.”

She added: “I don’t think the remaining members of Queen have ever reconciled themselves to it. I don’t understand it. Because to me it’s bricks and mortar.

“I try never to be jealous or envy people.

“Freddie was very generous to them in the last years of his life and I don’t think they embraced that generosity. I don’t think they appreciated or recognised what Freddie had left them.

“He left the band a quarter share of the last four albums – which he didn’t need to do. And I never hear from them.

“After Freddie died, they just wandered off.”

The surviving members of Queen have seldom spoken about Austin during promotion for their Oscar-winning film.

But Boynton has credited Brian May with helping her perfect her performance.

“Brian May was my main source of information about all things Mary,” she told CinemaBlend.

“He was actually the person who introduced Freddie and Mary. But talking to his wife, Anita Dobson, as well… she spent a lot of time with Mary when they would travel with the band.

“And so, just to get that insight into Mary – not when she was even with Freddie, but just her, on her own, in a kind of intimate environment, as Anita was with her – to get that kind of insight into her was very unique and special.”

Bohemian Rhapsody is out on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download now.