At the star-studded premiere of The Idea of You, Nicholas Galitzine, the heartthrob of the hour, shared his complex feelings about portraying LGBTQ+ characters as a straight man.
Galitzine, who has risen to fame for his roles in romantic and dramatic sagas, expressed a twinge of guilt over his recent portrayals of queer characters.
Before he became Hayes Campbell alongside Anne Hathaway, he was George Villiers and Prince Henry.
A Prince and a King: From Royalty to Revelry
Galitzine’s journey through iconic queer characters began with his role as a British prince in the hit rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue, where he captured hearts across the globe. Not long after, he transformed into the historical figure George Villiers in the seductive drama Mary & George.
Despite his public identity as straight, Galitzine has not shied away from embracing LGBTQ+ characters in various films and TV shows, including Legends, Handsome Devil, and The Craft: Legacy.
Life Imitating Art?
In a candid chat with British GQ, Galitzine discussed another side of fame while promoting The Idea of You. He touched on the invasiveness of fan attention, an experience his character, a pop sensation, faces in the film.
Fans frequently struggle to distinguish the actor from the character, leading many to focus intently on Galitzine’s numerous queer roles.
Fans frequently struggle to distinguish the actor from the character, leading many to focus intently on Galitzine’s numerous queer roles.
The Actor’s Perspective
“I am Nick, and I’m not my role,” Galitzine asserted, addressing the complexities of his acting choices. He then voiced concerns about occupying space meant for others and admitted to feeling a mix of uncertainty and guilt.
“I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories. I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I’m taking up someone’s space, and perhaps guilt.”
Yet, he also emphasized viewing his characters as complete individuals, not defined solely by their sexuality.
Celebrating Queer Narratives
Galitzine also reflected on the impact of his roles within the LGBTQ+ community. “I feel so overwhelmingly proud of the resonance I’ve been able to have,” he shared on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show. He praised the nuanced, engaging characters he’s portrayed and expressed gratitude for the positive feedback from the community.
“First and foremost, I love interesting, textured characters and I’m so glad you mentioned those [roles], because I feel like I have a lot of care for my characters and I hope that is evident in the work that I do and I feel very powerful with their backing behind me, so yeah. Just very grateful.”
A Broader Conversation
While some celebrities believe queer roles should be reserved for queer actors, others, like Eric McCormack, Stanley Tucci, and Cate Blanchett, argue that an actor’s personal sexuality shouldn’t limit their professional roles.
This debate continues to evolve as more actors, including Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, gain acclaim for their performances in queer roles. Meanwhile, the industry often overlooks queer actors like Andrew Scott for the spotlight.
Related | Luke Evans Says He Wouldn’t Have a Career if “Gay Actors Only Played Gay Roles”
As the industry navigates these conversations, Galitzine remains committed to his craft, cherishing the support and interactions with fans and critics alike.
The Idea of You is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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