2024 Toronto International Film Festival - "Queer" Premiere
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Drew Starkey's Breakout Role
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Drew Starkey, known for his role in Netflix's "Outer Banks," is garnering attention for his performance alongside Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino's controversial film "Queer," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Based on reports from Variety, Starkey describes the film as his "biggest challenge" yet, addressing the complexities of portraying intimate scenes and the differing attitudes towards on-screen sexuality between American and European audiences.

Drew Starkey's Role in 'Queer'

Drew Starkey takes on a pivotal role in Luca Guadagnino's "Queer," portraying Allerton, a young man who becomes the object of obsessive desire for Daniel Craig's character, Lee. Set in 1940s Mexico City, the film explores themes of expatriate life and same-sex attraction
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Starkey's performance has been noted as a significant departure from his previous work, with the actor describing the experience as "insane" and admitting to feeling starstruck upon meeting Craig
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The role presented unique challenges for Starkey, particularly in filming intimate scenes with Craig, which he approached with a mix of nervousness and professionalism
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Starkey's involvement in "Queer" marks a potential turning point in his career, as he transitions from teen dramas to more complex, arthouse cinema
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Eugene Allerton's Character Analysis

Eugene Allerton, portrayed by Drew Starkey in Luca Guadagnino's "Queer," is a complex character central to the film's narrative. Described as a tall, thin young man with high cheekbones and a small, bright-red mouth, Allerton is a discharged American Navy serviceman whom William Lee (played by Daniel Craig) encounters in Mexico City
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Allerton's character is marked by a sense of ambiguity and restlessness, often appearing sullen and irritable
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His relationship with Lee forms the emotional core of the story, as Lee pursues him through dinners, clubs, and movies, creating a tension-filled dynamic that explores themes of desire, loneliness, and connection
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Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes expanded on Allerton's character, adding an intimate ayahuasca scene to delve deeper into the emotional landscape of his relationship with Lee
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Starkey's portrayal of Allerton required significant physical preparation and character work, with the actor focusing on nailing down Allerton's mannerisms, behaviors, and gait to authentically represent a young former soldier in the 1950s
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Drew Starkey's Breakout Moment

American actor
Full Name
Joseph Andrew Starkey
Birth Date and Place
November 4, 1993, Hickory, North Carolina, U.S.
Notable Roles
Garrett Laughlin in Love, Simon; Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks; Brian MacIntosh in The Hate U Give; Zach MacLaren in The Other Zoey; Hawkins in Scream: Resurrection
Set in 1940s Mexico City, Starkey plays Allerton, a young man who becomes the object of desire for an American expatriate named Lee, portrayed by Daniel Craig
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The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, marks a significant departure from Starkey's previous work on Netflix's "Outer Banks" and showcases his versatility as an actor. Starkey's performance in "Queer" has been praised, with the actor describing the experience of working with Craig and Guadagnino as both challenging and rewarding
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The role required Starkey to navigate complex emotional terrain and intimate scenes, which he approached with professionalism and a sense of humor, noting that he and Craig were "game for anything" during filming
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