Lucy Boynton reveals she ‘didn’t know much’ about Freddie Mercury before Bohemian Rhapsody but didn’t want to be ‘intrusive’

Lucy Boynton has said that she didn’t know much about Freddie Mercury before taking on the role as the Queen frontman’s former girlfriend Mary Austin in new biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.

The British rising star, 24, had to research the legendary performer who died in 1991 and his on/off girlfriend ahead of filming, but was conscious of being too “intrusive.”

Starring opposite Rami Malek as Mercury, Boynton said that bringing the story of the iconic rock band to life was a “daunting” but “exciting” prospect.

“I actually didn’t know that much about Freddie Mercury before reading the script,” Boyton told the Standard. “I knew, of course, of Queen and their impact on musical history but not the people themselves and especially not Freddie.”

She added: “This was a really beautifully intimate insight and first proper introduction to him so that was really exciting but a daunting thing, especially with Mary who is a very private person.

“Their relationship was so private that you obviously want to tell the story because it’s such an exciting and important story to tell but you don’t want to cross those boundaries into invasiveness. So, it’s terrifying.”

Austin, now 67, got engaged to Mercury in 1973, but she called off their engagement when she discovered that he was gay.

The pair remained good friends throughout Mercury’s life and he once described her as his “common-law wife”.

Boynton has starred in a number of films including Miss Potter, Sing Street and Murder on the Orient Express, but said that playing a real person was harder as there is a “weight of responsibility.”

“I didn’t get to speak to Mary, she’s incredibly private so she wasn’t as involved in the film so I was always conscious. I hope the audience take away and understand as well that my portrayal of her is very much an interpretation of her experience.”

She added: “I think it’s harder because you do have that added weight of responsibility to them and their family to represent them in a way that is as respectful as it is honest and I think that my worry about biopics is that they can cross the line into intrusiveness.”

Despite not having the opportunity to talk to Austin ahead of the new film – directed by Bryan Singer and later Dexter Fletcher – Boynton said she hopes that she’s “comfortable” with it.

“It’s daunting because I just hope she’s comfortable with it and is just okay with it and of course the moments we address, the only two people in the room were her and Freddie so there’s no way for anyone else to wade in in what it could have been like. I just hope she’s okay with it,” she said.

Bohemian Rhapsody is out nationwide now.