How the Stars of Bohemian Rhapsody Compare to The Real-Life Members of Queen

Welsh actor Gwilym Lee took on the role of Queen guitarist Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody. Clearly, May—who was heavily involved in the film, serving as a creative consultant—approved of the casting choice.

"[One day on set,] he walked in the door and gave us a big old hug," Lee told Digital Spy. "From that moment onwards, we just knew we had his blessing really."

In addition to chronicling Queen's musical success, the film also looks at Freddie Mercury's complex relationship with Mary Austin, played by actress Lucy Boynton.

Tom Hollander, who's known for his roles in recent hits like Bird Box and A Private War, but also classic period dramas such as Pride & Prejudice and Gosford Park, plays Queen's long-time manager Jim Beach in the film. Beach also served as a producer on the film.

Joe Mazzello portrays bassist John Deacon—a man the American actor affectionately refers to as an "accidental rockstar"—in the film. While Deacon wasn't directly involved in the making of Bohemian Rhapsody, May has said he approves of the movie.

Queen's drummer Roger Taylor is played in the film by actor Ben Hardy, who found the project to be a bit intimidating, perhaps because of Taylor's role behind-the-scenes as a consultant.

"I found it quite daunting, and I think it took me a while to get to grips with the fact that my job is not to be [Roger Taylor]," he said. "My job is to give an essence of Roger, and the strongest essence I can."

Rami Malek called his hair and makeup artist Jan Sewell "a magician" for her work on Bohemian Rhapsody. "She is a wonder and a gift and she got the look as close as she could," Malek said. He also worked to emulate Mercury's spontaneous performance style. "The man's not choreographed," Malek told the Hollywood Reporter. "Every time he steps out onto a stage, no one knows what he's going to do, and that's what I knew I needed to tether myself to. "