Queen’s Adam Lambert explains why he didn’t play Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody


Adam Lambert explains why he didn’t play Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic (Picture: Getty Images)
Adam Lambert and Queen opened up the Oscars ceremony with an incredible performance of We Will Rock You.

Fresh from the stage, the band then went on to win a whopping four awards for their Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody – including Rami Malek scooping Best Actor for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury.

And while the 37-year-old basked in his new found fame after playing the iconic frontman, Adam Lambert has since explained why he didn’t want to play Freddie himself.

Despite singing along to Freddie’s hits every night while on tour, it seems the rocker just wasn’t confident enough to take on such a big role.

Adam Lambert, left, and Brian May of Queen perform at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
He said he doesn’t sound like Freddie (Picture: Invision/AP)
Chatting to Entertainment Tonight, Adam said: ‘I don’t look like Freddie. I don’t sound like Freddie. I sound like me.’

However, even though in his mind he wouldn’t have made the cut, it turns out the star has nothing but praise for the man who ended up landing the role.

Speaking of Rami, the singer said: ‘Rami looks amazing. He’s a great actor.

‘From what I understand, they used pieces of the actual studio recording of Freddie and Marc Martel, who is an impersonator of Freddie Mercury, to do some of the other vocal stuff.’

He added: ‘So it’s really about recreating Freddie. So no, it wouldn’t have been me.’

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Rami Malek, winner of the Actor in a Leading Role award for 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The singer was full of praise for Rami (Picture: Getty Images)
And it seems Queen drummer Roger Taylor also can’t get enough of the actor, as he too congratulated the star on his success.

When appearing on GMB, the 69-year-old said: ‘Well, he was amazing. Rami has a great intensity and he has had a clean sweep of all the awards, and good for him. He’s such a great guy.

‘He has a lot of Freddie’s qualities and I’ve just come from him – he is floating on air – it is such a great night.’

When presenter Piers Morgan asked how much Rami was like Freddie, Roger added: ‘He got really close spiritually, he really had it in the eyes.

‘He has a different body – he was physically different to Freddie – but he was incredible in the role.’