Daniel Craig Shares Insights on Filming Gay Love Scenes in 'Queer'

Key Takeaways

Daniel Craig feels that intimate scenes are vital for storytelling.
'Queer' is based on William S Burroughs' novel.
The film explores themes of obsession and identity.
Craig found it challenging to take on 'Queer' during his Bond years.
The film aims to challenge societal norms around masculinity.

Los Angeles, April 1 (NationPress) Hollywood actor Daniel Craig, renowned for his portrayal of James Bond in five films, emphasized that the intimate homosexual scenes were crucial to the narrative of 'Queer'.

During his appearance on the Italian television program ‘Che Tempo Che Fa’, he stated: “There are numerous things that make me feel embarrassed, but sex is not one of them... we all engage in it! Those scenes were significant to depict these characters physically together. Without them, the film would have felt incomplete.”

‘Queer’, adapted from the novel by William S Burroughs, tells the story of American expatriate Lee, played by Craig, who becomes enamored with an emotionally detached former US Navy serviceman, played by Drew Starkey.

The film delves into Lee's obsession and his endeavors to uncover whether his companion is “queer” through nights of indulgence and a trek into the South American jungle, as reported by femalefirst.co.uk.

Craig, dressed in a beige double-breasted suit paired with a white shirt and a patterned brown tie during the Italian show, also discussed his choice to accept the role.

He acknowledged that playing in ‘Queer’ while still embodying James Bond would have posed challenges.

The actor remarked: “I couldn’t have taken this role during my Bond tenure. Not because I wouldn’t have wanted to, but because I would have felt overly self-conscious about others thinking I was trying too hard to showcase my acting skills.”

This film represents a shift from Craig’s previous characters, following his stint as 007 from 2006 to 2021.

He noted that he was not familiar with the source material prior to engaging in this project, stating: “I had read William S Burroughs' 'Junkie' and may have pretended to read 'Naked Lunch', but I was unaware of this specific story.”

Craig described William Burroughs’ works as profoundly influenced by drug culture and mentioned that the film strives to encapsulate that essence.

He added: “The film possesses an off-kilter vibe, accompanied by a modern soundtrack and reminiscent of a movie from the 1940s. It challenges the boundaries surrounding homosexuality, which was illegal at that time. One had to present a male facade and conceal their identity, lacking freedom of expression. I've always had a fascination with the artifice of masculinity.”