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“You get this opportunity once in a lifetime,” says Rami Malek of his role in 20th Century Fox’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The actor’s Golden Globe-winning, SAG Award-nominated performance as the late Freddie Mercury, frontman of legendary rock band Queen, has wowed audiences and awards voters alike. It’s a full-bodied transformation into a musician whose legacy still resonates today.
In a Q&A moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, Malek reveals the work that went into one of 2018’s biggest box office hits. He also reflects on the many twists and turns in the career path that ultimately led to such a sensational role. “I would submit myself to anything I saw in Backstage—that’s the actor’s magazine,” he says of his early career days. “And I remember so many times nobody would call back, that’s just the way it was.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles to Egyptian immigrant parents, Malek discovered his love of playing characters in his high school’s debate club. Only after years of studying at the University of Evansville and scraping by in New York City did his big break come: a “Gilmore Girls” casting director called about an audition (and Malek briefly impersonated his imaginary agent) which led to his first on-screen role and SAG card.
Through a combination of perseverance and what he calls “persistence without being too aggressive,” Malek began booking bigger and bigger gigs. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg cast him in the miniseries “The Pacific” after seeing “Night at the Museum,” and he worked with Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix on “The Master” and Destin Daniel Cretton on “Short Term 12” by making similar impressions on decision-makers. As Malek puts it, “One gig is all it takes to get some eyes on you.”
After a historic Emmy Award win for leading actor in a drama for his riveting work on USA’s Sam Esmail drama “Mr. Robot,” Malek was approached by “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King about playing Mercury. Although an audition was not required, putting himself on tape and asking King to help secure dialect and movement coaches launched what would become an arduous process of transformation. “It’s now the most I’ve ever worked on any role,” Malek admits, praising the hair, makeup, and sound mixing teams that helped bring Mercury to life on the big screen.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is nominated for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture and outstanding leading actor at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards. For more on honoring Mercury’s legacy—and attending the recent Golden Globes alongside Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor!—watch Malek in the exclusive video below. For more information, visit Fox’s official site.