"Freddie has become an idol for me"

"Freddie has become an idol for me"

The movie "Bohemian Rhapsody" shows the life of the singer of "Queen" Freddie Mercury.

Today, one of the film events of the year takes place in our cinemas. "Bohemian Rhapsody" shows Freddie Mercury's 15-year life with cult band Queen, including the legendary live appearance of Aid at London Wembley Stadium in 1985. Rami Malek, now 37, takes on the role of Freddie – a performance that seems suspicious Oscar.

OÖNachrichten: "Bohemian Rhapsody" had already been announced in 2010. Sacha Baron Cohen was chosen for the first time in conversation with Freddie Mercury, then the name Ben Whishaw, appearing in the James Bond films of Q, appeared. Why were you selected at the end?

Rami Malek: The reason was not that I had already played the former role of Dustin Hoffman in the remake of "Butterfly", but my involvement in the HBO series "Mr. Robot". That's why I won an Emmy trophy and even beat Kevin Spacey. During the auditions, the creators noticed that I could express vulnerability and heat, as well as freezing cold, for the complex character I had to play.

What did you know about Freddie Mercury before the shoot?

It turned out, my dear little one. Of course, I knew Queen's tubes. But I had never heard Freddie speak, for example. But hey: when the invitation arrived in London, I was floating in seventh heaven. And they even threw me in the cold water, so to speak. At Abbey Road Studios! There, they immediately wanted to make recordings. I had to sing in the presence of Queen's guitarist Brian May. I met him on this occasion for the first time and he was extremely helpful and friendly.

To say: the voice recordings in "Bohemian Rhapsody" would be a mix of the original voice of Freddie Mercury, your voice and that of Canadian Marc Martel?

Since sound engineers have done brilliant things. I do not know anything outside even today.

What happened after the London rehearsals of "Bohemian Rhapsody"?

Once again, I flew to London at my own expense, obtaining relevant literature on Queen and numerous interviews with Mercury to get her vote. In addition, I had long discussions with members of the queen. And I watched the live aid concert 100,000 times. With a coach, I not only have Freddie Mercury's speaking habits, he's addressed people, for example, as with "darling", appropriate, but also body language. Of course, I had a mustache for shooting – never before I had worn it – and my face was turned into Freddie with prosthetics. Of course, his "overbite" has also failed me.

It must be a treat to put it on the last day of shooting,

I suddenly felt pretty naked …

Freddie was only 45 when he died on November 24, 1991. How would you describe Freddie altogether today?

There were great contrasts. For example, his personal shyness and incredible self-confidence on stage. I also admired his generosity and dedication. For me, Freddie became an idol and I learned to love him as a human. Yet, to help me understand, I'm sitting here, not in interview, because I'm Freddie Mercury, but because I've played it.

Which scenes were the most impressive for you?

The Live Aid concert recordings we did right from the start. But the old stage of Wembley Stadium, on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, in north-east London, in a former air base, has been exactly rebuilt. Not only did we have a big impact, we had fun too. Gwilym Lee, Brian May's actor, planted me for my costume and shouted at him, "Oh, you have such a big bad!" We all became a family and saying goodbye was very sad. It was a great pleasure and a great privilege to work with these people.

Have there been particularly difficult scenes?

Freddie was a great lover of cats. We see in the film how he caresses and caresses it. But: that of the movie, it was me. And I have a cat allergy.

Read also the portrait of Rami Malik

And test our knowledge of the Rockband Queen in our quiz!

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