By Kristina Moskalenko
At the end of October, Queen and Freddie Mercury fans won’t be heading to a concert, but to the cinema. Bohemian Rhapsody hits the big screen! The official story of Queen and Freddie is full of insider detail, and a little controversy.
The project took ten years. Sacha Baron Cohen was first cast as Freddie, but his focus on scandal clashed with Queen’s wish for balance and proposed family audiences. Director Bryan Singer was replaced by Dexter Fletcher, and Freddie was finally brought to life by Rami Malek, the American actor of Egyptian origin.
Yet the grace of Freddie’s story belongs to Mary Austin, his fiancée, the woman who knew him before fame, through his transformations, and even beyond heartbreak. Their love was private and delicate. Their wedding never happened. However their devotion, few could ever fully understand, is immortalised in Freddie’s song “Love of My Life.” Yes, Freddie had a girlfriend: tall, slender, blonde — and naturally, we at Ruletka would never let a story like that slip by.
We met Lucy Boynton, who plays Mary Austin, at The Soho Hotel, a rhapsody of bright colours, embroidery, modern art, and red leather, which makes the perfect setting for a story full of secrets, music, and deep feelings.
Lucy starts, as any proper Brit would, with the weather: “What a sunny day!”
Kristina Moskalenko: And honestly, the room felt even brighter the moment you walked in. So, did you know much about Queen before filming?
Lucy Boynton: Can you believe it? I was born in 1994 and knew almost nothing about Freddie Mercury! For me, the iconic face and the silhouette of Queen was always Brian May. I know, it’s a shocking confession, but reading the script felt like stepping into a history lesson. I had no clue about the band members’, theirs personal lives or the people behind the band that we love today.
Kristina Moskalenko: I guess you’re not alone. It’s like a curse of every generation: it’s hard to truly adore the films and music your parents love, even if it’s classic, so you just ignore it ever existed. So how about you, did you hear Queen’s music before filming?
Lucy Boynton: Ok, ok, I am not that bad. It’s hard to find anyone on earth who hasn’t heard at least one of their songs. I’m no exception. I just didn’t know their faces and biographies.
Kristina Moskalenko: Funnily enough, our parents don’t know that much about Queen either! Walk the streets of London, Moscow, or New York and tell people Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar and grew up in Mumbai, and they’ll think you’re crazy: “He was born in England!” Mention that he was engaged to Mary Austin, and they’ll immediately comment on his sexuality. Few even know Mary Austin existed, let alone that Freddie was engaged to her. I watched parts of the film and saw that incredibly intense scene where Freddie comes out to his fiancée, Mary Austin, played by you. How did you handle it?
Lucy Boynton: There are so many difficult, heart-wrenching scenes in the film, that are truly close to life. But there are happy ones too… On our first day, we filmed the Live Aid concert in front of a fifty-thousand-strong crowd at Wembley. One of the happiest moments for my character. The next day, we shot the scene where Freddie breaks her heart. Playing all those emotions is like a rollercoaster! I was terrified. But when you’re surrounded by professionals, filming scenes of this intensity is incredibly rewarding.
Kristina Moskalenko: Did you know about Freddie and Mary’s relationship before working on the film?
Lucy Boynton: No, and there’s a reason for that. Both of them are quite private people, especially Mary. Many who remembered Freddie were closely involved in the production, including Brian May and Roger Taylor. But as soon as I signed on, I was told not to expect the same level of guidance from Mary. I had to find a way to breathe life into a character very little is known about. At the same time, I had to understand her emotionally while showing respect, because for her this isn’t just a story, it’s deeply personal and intimate. So I never met her in person and it allowed me to create her emotions from scratch. Interpreting Mary’s feelings was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, drawing on every ounce of my acting and human experience.
Kristina Moskalenko: Well, most women after seven years together and an engagement, discovering their future husband has been cheating with men all along… would just slam the door. But Mary, from what I understand, accepted Freddie’s choices, remained close, and even inherited his house and $10 million after his death. How does someone do that?
Lucy Boynton: From the few interviews where they talk about each other, you realise it was an incredibly refined, rare kind of love. Seeing how they supported each other, cared for one another constantly, I understood just how extraordinary their bond was. The fact that they found each other is just beautiful, because even without a wedding through everything, she stayed by him, in sickness and in health.
Kristina Moskalenko: He dedicated the song “Love of My Life” to her and soon after, he came out about his relationships with men. She moved out and then moved on, building a relationship with someone else… So, what’s your favourite Freddie song?
Lucy Boynton: Today, it’s “Save Me”. A sad, lyrical song that really showcases his voice.
Kristina Moskalenko: What did you learn from filming Bohemian Rhapsody as an actress?
Lucy Boynton: E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! You just soak it all up like a sponge, watching how everyone works. You also carry a responsibility toward the people the film is about. Navigating and conveying those subtle tones and nuances is a real masterclass!
Kristina Moskalenko: How did you land this role?
Lucy Boynton: About a year and a half ago, I was working with Fox on Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express…
Kristina Moskalenko: Wait, so the charming, whimsical Countess Andrenyi, whose husband was played by Sergei Polunin, that’s you?
Lucy Boynton: Yes! That role actually led to me being cast as Mary. They noticed me and sent the script. The moment I read it, I started dreaming about playing Mary. In the end, I didn’t even have an audition, they just offered me the part, and the next week I flew to London to start filming. But don’t think it’s easier without auditions… You have to buckle up, because you don’t want to let down the people who’ve given you a chance. You have to prove you deserve it.
Kristina Moskalenko: So, what’s it like, ultimately, being a rock star’s girlfriend? You’re also playing a band member’s love interest in Sing Street, right?
Lucy Boynton: Exactly! The perfect 1980s rock-girlfriend tag. Oops, I did it again. Honestly, I can’t complain, it’s fun. After all the horror films I’ve done, these are such positive, uplifting stories. And there’s something magical about feeling how music connects people on a deep, meaningful level.
Kristina Moskalenko: Why, actually, did you act in… how many? Four horror films? Do you enjoy them?
Lucy Boynton: Not really. I’m just curious about everything! What fascinates me as an actress is living hundreds of lives I could never live in reality and experiencing things that would never happen to me. My real life is fairly simple, nothing dark. But in film, I can explore all of that. I always wanted to act, though my parents had a hard time accepting it, it swung from horror to pride, back and forth. It also resonated with my Bohemian Rhapsody experience, as I understood how Freddie Mercury constantly transcended labels and boundaries. He showed me that you don’t have to be black or white depending on what’s expected, but you can be as colourful as you want.
Kristina Moskalenko: What was your most memorable moment to work on in this iconic film?
Lucy Boynton: On the last day of shooting, we filmed the scene where Freddie sings “Love of My Life” and bows to the audience. The director asked Rami to take another bow. He did, the lights hit, the applause erupted. And I thought, “Don’t cry!” But I cried. Then I turned around, and the entire crew was crying too. It was an incredibly powerful moment for me.
Originally Published: https://russianroulette.eu/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-interview/
Articles on film, luxury lifestyle, culture and tech 
Leave a comment