Daniel Craig Could ‘Get Attached’ to ‘Complicated’ Gay Character in ‘Queer’

Daniel Craig has reflected on the “wonderful challenge” of playing a complex gay man in his new film, directed by Luca Guadagnino. strange.

strangeThe film, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by writer William S. Burroughs, sees the James Bond star as William Lee, an alcoholic and drug addict who fled to Mexico after being arrested for drugs.

While there, he spends his days looking for men to sleep with to quell his loneliness before meeting discharged US Navy enlisted man Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) and instantly fall in love.

Despite the age difference, sexual ambiguity, and Eugene’s lack of interest, William persists before Eugene eventually succumbs to his advances. The pair spend their days together – sex scenes abound – and end up heading into the jungles of South America in search of a psychedelic drug that induces telepathy.

It’s a strange film, although Craig gives a compelling performance as the enigmatic but tragic William.

Speaking to PinkNews and other media, Craig explained that playing a character like William was a “great challenge”, although he admitted that he will “never truly know” what he must have felt as a gay man in 1950s Mexico.

“It was just a great challenge to meet such a complex character like this,” he explained, looking back, about how he felt playing the role.

“And just to do it in that context with Luca, where we did it, how we did it, all these things, it was just… that cliché, ‘(these parts) don’t come around very often.’ , but they just don’t do it.”

Although William is a “complex” character, much of his experience – his approach to sexual encounters, his isolation, his depressive state – can be linked to the fact that he is a gay man living in a time when being gay is strictly forbidden. prohibited.

When asked how he came to understand what it would have been like for William to be gay at the time, Craig admitted: “The honest answer is I could never know for sure.”

He continued: “I think what fascinated me so much about the piece was its emotional journey, and a lot of it I could relate to.

“I mean, we fortunately no longer live in a country where this is an illegal act. Honest answer: I can’t (understand what it was like for William). All I can do is try to do it justice. That’s all I can do.”

Daniel Craig has previously said that he doesn’t feel strange “defined” by William’s sexuality.

“There’s a kind of trust in the director and trust in the process of what you know and the realization that there are huge, universal themes in the story that hopefully everyone will enjoy,” he said. Diversitythinking about whether Straight people should play gay roles what’s his name?

“The film is not defined by that. I honestly don’t think that’s the case. Other people see it differently, that’s their business.”

While speaking with PinkNews and other media outlets, Craig went on to reflect on how he and Starkey built their chemistry together, given their characters’ many intimate moments.

“You prepare and prepare and prepare, and you show up on set and then all of a sudden you’re in this place, and hopefully that foundation informs it, but then you add incredible performers who step up in front of you and give you something,” he gushed.

“It opens up a whole other level because you react to them.”

strange will be released in US cinemas on November 27th and UK cinemas on December 13th.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below and remember to keep the conversation respectful.