As a fan, I can’t help but be awestruck by Drew Starkey‘s journey from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the big screen. From his humble beginnings as the oldest child of a college basketball coach and school counselor to rolling around on the floor with Daniel Craig in Guadagnino’s “Queer”, it’s a tale that would make even the most seasoned Hollywood scriptwriter blush.
Drew Starkey began rehearsals for Luca Guadagnino’s film “Queer” only to find himself engaged in a heated, sweaty embrace on the floor with Daniel Craig.
Starkey remembers us diving headfirst into it, simply seizing and piling our bodies on top of one another, tussling about, becoming entangled. I believe it triggered something deep within us, offered a sense of comfort and intimacy, so that whatever followed felt effortless.
Following these scenes, some of the most graphically intimate and intense portrayals ever presented by Starkey on screen unfolded. Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel, originally written in the 1950s but not published until 1985, depicts Craig as an American expat and heroin addict (loosely based on Burroughs), wandering Mexico City who becomes infatuated with Eugene, a young, sexually ambiguous student. This character’s enigma only deepens the fascination and attraction. The narrative that unfolds is a complex tale of unrequited love and occasionally reciprocated desire, with numerous explicit moments included.
The movie made its debut at Venice and will also be shown in Toronto. Critics have noted the significant departure from Craig’s iconic role as James Bond that his current performance represents. However, such a leap is equally substantial for the 30-year-old actor Starkey, who had previously gained recognition for roles in youth-oriented films like Love, Simon and The Hate You Give, or for portraying Rafe Cameron in the Netflix series Outer Banks. His role in Queer, however, stands out as something uniquely different. Prior to its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, A24 already acquired the film, with plans for a release later this year. It’s expected to attract a new following to Starkey’s fanbase.
In my gaming world, “Starkey stealthily sparkles in the high-waisted pants and knitted shirts of the era, as described by THR in their enthusiastic review of Queer. Eugene effortlessly rocks his preppy outfits with a charm that he seems completely unaware of.
Starkey hails from the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place he cherishes deeply as his favorite spot on earth. Born and raised there, he was the eldest of four children, with a father who coached college basketball and a mother who served as a school counselor. With no background in filmmaking or theater, he serendipitously discovered acting during his studies at Western Carolina University, joining their drama program. Despite learning a great deal and experiencing numerous failures, he remained clueless about breaking into the world of movie or television acting. Post-graduation, Starkey acquired an agent, relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, and began auditioning tirelessly. Over time, roles started trickling in, initially consisting of fleeting appearances with unmemorable character names such as a ‘gambling soldier’ on the PBS series Mercy Street or a ‘frat boy’ in Bart Layton’s American Animals.
Starkey shares that the significant milestones for him were the movies “Love, Simon” and “The Hate You Give“, released in 2018 (though his character in the latter is simply referred to as “cop” without a name). He found these films incredibly affirming. Each role was a significant leap forward for him. One of his earliest professional experiences was filming a scene on “Ozark” while still in college, playing the character ‘boy’. At that time, he didn’t know much about the show, but realizing it was produced by Netflix, he thought to himself, “Wow, I can do a Netflix show.
He got the job in Queer almost by accident when another director, who had seen Starkey audition for another role, handed his tape to Guadagnino.
He mentions that Luca Guadagnino had phoned him, proposing a breakfast meeting. True to his words, they met, exchanging tales of their personal lives, discussing the current weather, and reminiscing about Los Angeles. It was during this conversation that Luca casually introduced a project he’s been developing, asking if I could record a few scenes for it.
More months, more meals, and more conversations later, he got the call. He was in.
Starkey knew the source material. Sort of.
During high school, I gave Junkie a cursory glance or feigned understanding of its contents,” he admits. “However, I found a strong affinity with Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation figures. Although I was aware of William S. Burroughs, his impact on various fields like punk rock and art resonated deeply with me, earning him the title of a sort of cultural forefather for our generation.
Initially, playing Eugene made me feel quite intimidated, as the role seemed unlike any other character I’ve portrayed before, explains Starkey. There’s an intricate level of subtlety and delicacy in it that posed a significant challenge for me. What made it even more difficult was the fact that no one, including Craig’s character Lee, could fathom Eugene. Consequently, my task was to attempt, as effectively as possible, to comprehend what this complex character might be feeling on the inside.
According to Starkey, Eugene’s confusion and (what some might perceive as) sexual ambiguity mirrors a period when men who identified as gay lacked a vocabulary to express or define their identities.
The film’s erotic scenes might seem shocking to some, but Starkey took them in stride.
He comments that as American viewers, we can sometimes be overly cautious when it comes to explicit content in movies, such as sex scenes, which seems odd. It’s almost puritanical to label certain film content as taboo, yet if it appears on our smartphones, it’s acceptable. He’s pleased that sexuality is returning to the big screen because he believes it’s crucial for us to incorporate sexuality into our narratives. This helps us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. By observing how characters interact intimately with each other, you can learn a great deal about their character.
And if that person is Daniel Craig, it’s best to just get sweaty and start wrestling.
Day two since we first crossed paths, I found myself playfully rolling around on the floor with this new acquaintance. It’s an engaging and unconventional way to deepen our connection.
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2024-09-08 17:25