Lucy Boynton: A Star Shines in the Spotlight
When Lucy Boynton landed the pivotal role of Freddie Mercury’s girlfriend in Bohemian Rhapsody, she faced a monumental task: to ensure her character did not fade into the background next to one of history’s most captivating performers. If anyone had the talent to achieve this, it was Boynton. By the time she was just 23, she had already made a significant impact with her roles as an aspiring model in the coming-of-age film Sing Street (2016) and as Countess Adrenyi in Murder on the Orient Express (2017). The anticipation surrounding the long-awaited biopic was palpable, and her performance was nothing short of enchanting. She masterfully portrayed the unwavering devotion of Mary, who first encounters Freddie while he is awkwardly browsing the women’s clothing section in a store. “I don’t think it should really matter, do you?” she responds, her gaze filled with an intense warmth.
The film proved to be a tremendous success, costing $52 million (£41 million) and grossing nearly $1 billion (£792 million) globally, eventually clinching four Academy Awards.
Today, as we converse in the elegant library of a high-end hotel in central London, Boynton attributes the film’s widespread appeal to its central figure—her former boyfriend, Rami Malek, who portrayed Freddie Mercury. “Freddie was such a magnetic, joyfully infectious individual in what he presented to audiences,” she reflects, now aged 31. “And then you uncover that what someone experiences behind closed doors can often diverge greatly from their public persona.”
She continues, “What Freddie offered people was a profound sense of joy, electricity, and the message that ‘forget preconceived notions—this is my true self, and as soon as you catch up to that, I will evolve into something new.’ He exemplified the thrill of being a shape-shifter, and I believe that resonates with audiences, instilling a sense of possibility and freedom.”
These uplifting sentiments have persisted long after the film’s release. Many young queer individuals have approached Boynton to share their own narratives. “It was a profoundly moving experience,” she recounts. “Bohemian Rhapsody struck a chord regarding identity and sparked conversations with families. That was something I hadn’t anticipated, but it proved incredibly rewarding.”
Clad in a stylish houndstooth two-piece, Boynton is a delightful conversationalist. Hailing from a family of journalists, she exhibits a way with words and a subtle, engaging sense of humor.
Currently, she is taking on another real-life character, Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, in ITV’s A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. Ellis, who ascended to the glamorous position of nightclub manager after enduring severe abuse from her father and a series of brutal partners, was convicted 70 years ago for the murder of her lover, a reckless racing driver named David Blakely (played by Laurie Davidson).
This story has been compellingly told before in Dance with a Stranger, which featured the mesmerizing Miranda Richardson as Ellis. However, that film was made 40 years ago, and the new adaptation offers a more intimate view of Ellis’s experiences. Written by Kelly Jones (Des), this gripping four-part drama contextualizes the crime, illustrating the horrendous abuse she suffered at the hands of Blakely over several years. He was a cowardly man who frequently resorted to violence, once striking her in the stomach with such ferocity that it caused a miscarriage.
In today’s society, it’s likely that Ellis would not have been convicted of murder given Blakely’s clear acts of coercive control. However, during the 1950s, the legal system was steeped in misogyny and class bias. “Ruth became a scapegoat because of what she represented as a single, financially independent woman,” Boynton explains, embodying Ellis’s blend of strength and vulnerability. “The authorities did not want her to serve as a symbol of possibility. Many people wrote to their MPs at the time, but their pleas were disregarded. Ruth was manipulated as a political pawn.”
Boynton continues, “The court was not permitted to discuss Blakely’s abuse because it was deemed inappropriate to address the misconduct of someone of his social standing.” Blakely was a well-connected former public schoolboy, making the situation even more unjust. “Psychologists labeled Ruth as hysterical, while she was acutely aware that the men surrounding her were the volatile and erratic ones. All of that was excluded from the courtroom narrative, resulting in no viable defense. Even in 1955, this was a profound miscarriage of justice. Had Blakely been held accountable for his actions, there would be no Ruth Ellis case to discuss.”
Boynton’s portrayal avoids the cliché of a blonde femme fatale wielding a gun; instead, she presents Ellis as a multi-dimensional, authentic human being. “I aimed to humanize Ruth because the public perception of her at the time was heavily influenced by sensationalistic media portrayals,” she states. “It’s intriguing when I’m asked how likable I think she was. I find that question surprising because I hope this project illustrates that you don’t have to like someone to acknowledge that they don’t deserve capital punishment.”
Despite her crime, many view Ellis as a feminist icon. “Her actions were a direct challenge to societal expectations of women,” Boynton asserts. “That, in essence, embodies feminism—questioning authority and resisting prescribed norms. Ruth didn’t set out to be defiant; she simply believed that women deserved more. She sought a vibrant life for herself, which is extraordinary given her traumatic upbringing.
Born in New York but raised in south London, Boynton has been passionate about acting from a young age. “I was captivated the moment I played Boulder Number One in a school assembly. It felt like a real promotion to finally portray a person,” she recalls.
Her journey continued as she landed the role of Lucy in her school’s version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “I took it very seriously. My mother gave me a haircut in the kitchen with kitchen scissors. I found an old dress and dyed it, wearing it around the house constantly. That’s when I realized acting was my calling, and I’ve never looked back.” At just 12 years old, Boynton was discovered in a school production and cast as the young Beatrix Potter in Miss Potter (where the adult version was portrayed by Renée Zellweger). Since that early role, opportunities have come pouring in.
- However, there was a role that slipped through her fingers. A couple of years ago, she was slated to play the iconic singer Marianne Faithfull, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The project was ultimately shelved.
- Fortunately, Boynton had the chance to meet Faithfull at Paris Fashion Week in 2020. She recalls the singer scrutinizing her with a calculating gaze, pondering, “Can she embody this?” Thankfully, Faithfull gave her approval, stating, “Yeah, OK.”
- Boynton describes Faithfull as “incredibly cool,” embodying everything one hopes for and more. “She exuded mischievous confidence, raw authenticity, and all the qualities you’d want to see in a legend.”
The biopic about Faithfull, who was often unfairly labeled merely as “Mick Jagger’s girlfriend,” was ultimately set aside due to the pandemic and “creative differences.” Nevertheless, this saved Boynton from the daunting task of mimicking the heavy smoking that characterized Faithfull’s later singing style. “The Method required for that!” she laughs.
Next, Boynton will appear in a film produced by the Duplass Brothers titled See You When I See You. “It’s based on a memoir about a man’s younger sister who took her own life and the profound impact it had on their family.”
Despite her busy schedule, Boynton remains grounded and often reflects on her origins. “You can bet I still think about my days as Boulder Number One,” she concludes with a smile.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story premieres on ITV at 9pm on Wednesday.
