Rami Malek says he ‘had to address the fear’ of playing gay in The Man I Love

Rami Malek has admitted he was hesitant to sign on for new film The Man I Love because he feared its gay theming was “too similar” to his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Malek, who previously dated non-binary star Emma Corrin, said there “was a certain sense of fear” when it came to taking on the role.

Speaking at Cannes Film Festival after The Man I Love‘s premiere, as per Variety, he said: “I started to really think about what I was afraid of. Was it the similarities? Was it the singing? Was it what was going on in the period?

“I knew I had to address the fear. If there’s anything Freddie taught me, it was address the fear.”

Set in the 1980s, the movie follows a New York theatre performer’s life after he’s diagnosed with AIDS.

Eventually, Malek decided to go with it, after realising that director Ira Sachs “makes unique cinema unlike any other”.

Speaking of his two, similar roles, Malek added: “When I raced into it, I started to discover that these men were similar, but they were also worlds apart.”

While he does sing as Jimmy in The Man I Love, the performances are vastly different to those he did as Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Malek said: “Was it ever going to be perfect? Didn’t have to be. It was just about this element of creating and living and joy.”

The actor now sees Jimmy and Freddie as “two radically different figures altogether”.

The Man I Love also stars Tom Sturridge as Jimmy’s boyfriend Dennis, Luther Ford, Rebecca Hall and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

It debuted at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May, and further release dates are set to come.

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