I’ve now seen Nicholas Galitzine in Red, White & Royal Blue and The Idea of You. I really like him! He’s incredibly talented. I was more into The Idea of You because it worked surprisingly well as a straight romance, and both Galitzine and Anne Hathaway were truly doing great work in it. People deride the idea of “actors having chemistry” or “portraying a genuine romance on-screen,” but it’s f–king hard and Anne and Nicholas did a great job. They were equal in that if one of them had struck a false note or given a wink to the camera, the whole thing would have fallen apart. So much hinged on Galitzine’s portrayal of a fictionalized Harry Styles and he really delivered a vulnerable and nuanced romantic co-lead. Anyway, Galitzine covered a recent issue of British GQ. It’s a traditional “meet this hot actor on the rise” profile, but considering I knew very little about him, I enjoyed it and learned some stuff about him.

He’s taken work he didn’t love just to further his career: “I’ve had to cut my teeth on a lot of projects, which… I find the result of them, admittedly, maybe not great. But for me, it was always, OK, this job won’t take me from point A to Z, but it is at least pushing me in the right direction?” He’s also quick to point out what people don’t realise about those easily derided teen films: “To create chemistry and charm on screen, oftentimes not necessarily having the most lively script to work with, is a skill in itself.”

Modern masculinity: He’s fascinated by men who are “trapped” by masculinity, because he felt the same for a long time. “I was a very scared young man. And 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.”

His insecurities: Galitzine lists his insecurities matter-of-factly: the way he used to be “disgusted in some ways” by his own face; his cheekbones, brows, sunken eyes, “rugby-player thighs” and “big arse”; how people comment online about the dark bags under his eyes, saying he needs to get some sleep.

On people conflating him with his characters: “I am Nick, and I’m not my role,” he says. But surely he’s had to deal with people conflating him with his characters? “I think I have. I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories. 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.”

The sex scenes in ‘The Idea of You’: “You don’t see any bare body parts, you don’t get thrusting. Hayes is kind of worshipping her. That aftercare scene was so sexy. Someone asked me once when I feel most loving, and not to be too crass, but it can sometimes be after sex, because that’s when you shed all your vulnerabilities.”

On the Puriteens wanting to see less on-screen sex: “I wonder if it’s the pornification of our generation. Or maybe the fact that due to the digital age, something so human as having sex feels like an affront.”

‘The Idea of You’ ends on a hopeful note: “It’s a very real-life ending. The implication is they get another shot at it, which just felt like the right ending, I think. Timing is everything for people. Sometimes waiting and re-approaching something later on works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. But for this unconventional love story, we wanted a hopeful message.”

[From British GQ]

“That due to the digital age, something so human as having sex feels like an affront.” There’s so much truth to that, although I think the Puriteen phenomenon is a lot more complicated than that and it has deeper roots than just “it’s a by-product of a digital age.” But I like the way he thinks and, I’ll be honest, I had no idea that this man identifies as straight. He’s been grabbing gay roles for a while and I’m surprised that this hasn’t been a bigger conversation, whether or not those roles should have gone to gay actors. I love what he says about masculinity too. He seems like a great guy, honestly.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, cover courtesy of British GQ.