Nicholas Galitzine Felt 'Guilt' Over Playing Queer Roles

By Olivia Craighead, a news writer for the Cut who covers pop culture and celebrity.  Previously, she wrote about pop culture and entertainment at Gawker.

In a recent profile in British GQ, Nicholas Galitzine addressed the fact that he (a straight guy) has played so many queer roles. The actor is perhaps most famous for Red, White & Royal Blue, in which he plays a British prince who falls for the president’s son. He’s also currently starring in Mary & George, in which he plays a man having an affair with the King of England. Galitzine stans already know that the newly minted heartthrob has also played queer in The Craft: Legacy, Handsome Devil, and in one episode of a TV show called Legends. Turns out Galitzine has thought about the queer streak that runs through his filmography.

“I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories,” Galitzine told British GQ. “I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I’m taking up someone’s space, and perhaps guilt. At the same time, I see those characters as not solely their sexuality.”

Pretty decent answer, no? Certainly not the worst one I’ve ever heard. Galitzine has had to address this in the past, which is probably how he’s honed this sound bite. Earlier in the year, he told Huffington Post UK that he is drawn to queer roles because he is “very interested in identity.”

“I think with all of these characters the thing that I find really intriguing as an actor is that underbelly of vulnerability and having to hide oneself. I’m very interested in identity,” the actor said. He also noted that he has a lot of queer friends and that many of them felt like they didn’t see themselves onscreen growing up.

And now they can watch their really handsome friend be gay onscreen. Heartwarming! They can also watch him be straight onscreen, like in The Idea of You. Because if this guy is gonna do one thing, it’s play a character who has a sex scene. To be fair, he’s really good at it.