Nicholas Galitzine clarifies sexuality, says he had a crush on Jennie of BLACKPINK
Nicholas Galitzine cleared the air about his sexuality and discussed why he is unafraid to take on queer roles.
“I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories,” the up-and-coming 'It' boy told British GQ Magazine. “I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I’m taking up someone’s space, and perhaps guilt.”
Nicholas, who stars in the 2024 film The Idea of You alongside Anne Hathaway, has built a filmography that includes several acclaimed portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters. His breakout role in the 2016 film Handsome Devil saw him play a rugby player navigating feelings for his boarding school roommate. He continued to explore these themes in The Craft: Legacy (2020) with a bisexual character, and again in the mini-drama series Mary & George. Arguably his most prominent LGBTQ+ role came in the 2023 hit Red, White & Royal Blue, where he portrayed a gay prince entangled in a romance with the president's son.
“At the same time, I see those characters as not solely their sexuality,” Nicholas emphasized.
Some of his roles opened the discussion to the topic of Hollywood casting straight actors in queer leading roles. However, he recounted how his gay friends appreciated his role in Red White & Royal Blue, who said that "to have something cheesy and broad and wholesome is like really, really important."
The British actor has spoken openly about his interest in men struggling with restrictive ideas of masculinity, having himself challenged those expectations. “I think a lot of men are really scared. I think they’re scared of their own mortality. I think they’re scared of being found out. There’s this notion in masculinity that you have to be in control and certain of everything,” he said.
His most recent character opens up another facet of masculinity that Galitzine was ready to explore: how female pleasure is highlighted between the age-gap romance of a younger man and an older woman. Here, he plays a younger male popstar who starts an affair with a much older single mother.
When asked how he was able to make his popstar persona much more believable, he answered that he watched popular K-pop groups as a point of reference for performing, “I love BTS. I love Blackpink. I very much had a crush on Jennie for a long time.”
Nicholas stars in the latest Prime Video film, Idea of You, which is based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee.
