Daniel Craig on Reactions to His ‘Queer’ Sex Scenes: ‘It’s Pretty Prudish to Me’

As a lifelong admirer of Daniel Craig‘s raw talent and versatility, I have to say that his latest role in “Queer” has only solidified my respect for him as an actor. His ability to portray such complex characters with such depth is truly remarkable. The on-screen chemistry between him and Drew Starkey is electric, making the love scenes not just titillating, but deeply moving.


Ever since Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” was first screened at the Venice Film Festival in September, both audiences and critics have shown a lot of enthusiasm and interest regarding the intimate love scenes shared by lead actor Daniel Craig and his co-star Drew Starkey on screen.

Speaking about the audience’s response to the explicit scenes during the L.A. premiere of “Queer” on Wednesday, Craig commented casually, “I find it rather conservative.

Inspired by William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novella, the story ‘Queer’ unfolds around Craig as a disenchanted American war veteran residing in Mexico during the 1950s, attempting to escape a drug-related charge back home. He spends his days consumed by alcohol and drugs. However, everything changes when he crosses paths with Eugene Allerton (Starkey), an American expat of younger years, who introduces him to the profound feelings of love he’s long yearned for.

Pop sensation Omar Apollo, who’s been nominated for a Grammy, steps into the world of Hollywood for the first time, playing a shady bar patron in “Queer”. He alleviates Lee’s solitude when Eugene pushes him away. The role landed in his hands following an interview with Marc Malkin from EbMaster in 2022, where the 27-year-old vocalist openly shared his desire to act on the big screen. You can watch the interview clip below.

In response to being asked about it, Apollo mentioned that someone from Luca’s side had watched a video of Marc asking him if he was interested in film. He replied affirmatively. Consequently, they contacted Apollo. Apollo expressed his admiration for Luca and promptly agreed when the opportunity presented itself. He admitted that he didn’t know what the script entailed at the time, but was eager to be a part of it regardless, saying “yes” without hesitation.

Justin Kuritzkes, the author behind both “Queer” and Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” took a distinctly unique approach when penning the script for his 1950s love story compared to his sizzling tennis drama. Kuritzkes pointed out that the term ‘queer’ held a vastly different connotation when the book was originally written, as opposed to its contemporary usage. He emphasized the importance of accurately portraying “the very distinct” history of the Beat Generation and the genuine realities of queer love that existed within it while developing the story.

Kuritzkes expressed that the film he was working on portrayed queerness in a unique way that was specific to its time and location. He made an effort, while writing, to avoid imposing his contemporary perspectives and instead match the story and characters according to their original context.

“Queer” is in theaters Nov. 27.

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2024-11-15 01:46