Bohemian Rhapsody star on how Queen and Freddie Mercury ‘CONFOUNDED people’

Gillen plays manager John Reid in the biopic, which has broken records since its release despite lacklustre reviews from critics. And as the movie continues to leave audience members stomping their feet and rushing to re-live the band’s iconic discography, he has spoken on how Mercury “confounded” people with his artistry.

“They’re still popular because the songs are fantastic,” he told Flickering Myth of the group.

“Their recording, at the time, was quite cutting edge, you know?”

It was Mercury’s individualism and his unique personality and stage presence that made them such a phenomenon.

“They were doing stuff other people just weren’t doing at the time,” Gillen said.

“Like multiple, multiple overdubs on vocals, and just really fine attention to detail, and complex, unexpected chord progressions.

“Freddie was an amazingly individualistic frontman who just confounded people.”

On why the film is resonating, he added: “The reason it’s important, I guess, is the idea of some kid who’s a misfit finding their way to being a global superstar.

“I do think the songs deserve to be celebrated too.”

Bohemian Rhapsody will go into 2019 as a key contender at various awards ceremonies.

It’s up for Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes, while Malek has a nod in Best Actor – Drama at the same show.

Its make-up and hairstyling have made it a shortlist contender for the Oscar, though the final list of nominations won’t be out until late January.

Bohemian Rhapsody is out now.