This year has been a wild ride for cinema lovers! After a long dry spell at the box office, not just one, but a whole lineup of films has fans still reeling. Leading the pack is the return of the Bad Boys, followed by a Marvel-sized splash by Ryan Reynolds. The box office also spiced things up with a bit of everything—from a classic rom-com from Blake Lively to Hugh Jackman’s offbeat twist. And just when fans thought it could not get any more unpredictable, a rising star, Drew Starkey made a bold leap into art-house territory with Queer, where all eyes are on the steamy, intimate scenes.

Highlighting intimacy’s cruciality, Starkey dropped some never-before-heard insights on why it is such a game-changer.

In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Drew Starkey, having earned the title of Tinseltown’s new ‘It’ girl from Apollo Omar, got candid about the sizzling scenes with Daniel Craig in Queer. While the tabloids are focusing intricately about the s--ual ambiguity the film explores, Starkey himself is all for it, vouching as an essential element in storytelling. Starkey is thrilled with the trope hitting theaters again, emphasizing “it’s imperative we integrate s--uality” into narratives to help people better understand themselves.

Starkey took a jab at the American audience’s “uptight” reaction to steamy scenes, criticizing the double standard because what is a no-no on screen is totally cool on phones. However, Starkey does not just talk the talk—he walks the walk. On his very first day of rehearsals for the Luca Guadagnino film, he found himself in a sweaty embrace with Craig. “I think it unlocked something subconsciously,” Starkey mused, noting the early comfort and familiarity made everything else on set a breeze.

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Although Starkey made a compelling case for the importance of intimacy in every story, he took a moment to reflect on his rising star status and pinpoint the moment he believes was the real game-changer in his career.

In the chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Drew Starkey talked a lot about Queer but also reminisced about what he calls his “turning point” in acting. He admitted he had no direct connection to the filmmaking or theaters but sort of stumbled into it while at Western Carolina University. His early gigs were blink-and-you-miss-them roles in Mercy Street and American Animals, but everything changed with Love, Simon and The Hate U Give.

Despite some ups and downs during his university days, it was not until after graduation—when he reached out to an agent—that Starkey found his stride. These two movies helped him prove his acting chops, and even his role in Queer came about by happy accident. While it turned out to be one of the most beautiful twists in his career, for the audience, it was just as giving with the return of a fresh dose of intimacy.

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What do you think of Drew Starkey's admission to intimacy's importance beyond Queer? Let us know in the comments below!