KILLER QUEEN

Rami Malek Snags Best Actor Oscar for Portrayal of Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Malek transformed himself into the late Queen frontman in a film that stirred controversy.

Rami Malek has won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Malek, 37, known for his starring role in cable TV’s Mr. Robot, was at the top of some prediction lists after he won the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild award—but he faced stiff competition from Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Viggo Mortensen, and Bradley Cooper.

“I may not have been the obvious choice but I guess it worked out,” Malek quipped in his acceptance speech. “We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life unapologetically... We’re longing for stories like this.”

Bohemian Rhapsody has not been without controversy: Bryan Singer, the fired director, is accused of sexual misconduct, and there has been much criticism of how Mercury’s sexuality was handled.