Omar Apollo Emulates Music Videos for Queer Sex Scenes with Daniel Craig

In an exclusive interview at the premiere of "Queer" in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, musician Omar Apollo discussed how his music videos influenced his approach to romantic scenes with co-star Daniel Craig. The 27-year-old artist expressed how he aimed to recreate the feelings captured in his music videos while filming with Craig, who is 56, PEOPLE reported.

Apollo shared that shooting authentic sex scenes was easier for him. He noted that his previous experience with music videos helped him approach these scenes confidently. "Well, I've shot music videos before for my music, so I just tried to emulate that feeling," he explained.

"There weren't many nerves; it was a very calm set," he added about the Luca Guadagnino-directed film. He praised the extremely talented cast and crew, which contributed to a comfortable shooting environment. "I trusted everyone around me so that really eased all of my anxieties," Apollo said.

Omar Apollo also mentioned his commitment to preparing for his role. He lost 20 pounds before filming his sex scene with Craig, stating, "I had to get it together." In "Queer," Apollo portrays an American expatriate falling in love with a younger man, played by "Outer Banks" star Drew Starkey.

The film is based on William S. Burroughs' 1985 novella, a spiritual sequel to his semi-autobiographical work, "Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict." "Queer" premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. The ensemble cast features noted actors Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, and Drew Droege.

Reflecting on his film debut, Apollo remarked, "It just presented itself to me and I was like, 'Of course.'" He was enthusiastic about the opportunity, saying, "I didn't want to do it. It was great, and it's cool that it's my first role ever."

"Queer" will be available in select theaters starting Nov. 27.

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