Daniel Craig sets Venice alight with his role in Queer

The English actor was warmly applauded after the premiere of Luca Guadagnino's latest film.

He was James Bond. He was Benoit Blanc. He was Lord Asriel. And last night at the 81st Venice Film Festival, Daniel Craig conquered the world with Queerthe latest film by Luca Guadagnino (Call me by your name). “The best performance of his career” wrote Variety this morning, impressed by this romantic drama set in the 1950s, in which he plays a gay American expatriate in Mexico City. Featuring explicit love scenes, Queer turned the sold-out festival hall upside down at its world premiere, earning a 9-minute standing ovation. And making Daniel Craig one of the favourites for the Volpi Cup for best male performance, tomorrow evening, at the closing ceremony.

When the applause began to rain down from the balconies, the English actor's eyes were red and misty, according to the press present, as he squeezed Luca Guadagnino in his arms. Each actor then walked down the steps of the Sala Grande to bow individually to the audience. Craig in turn blew kisses to the crowd while his wife, Rachel Weiszsmiled proudly. Then Craig and Starkey finally kissed – just like in the movie – and a cheer filled the room.

Queer is directed and produced by Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay written by Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote his previous film, Challengers. Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, Henry Zaga, Drew Droege, Ariel Schulman, Colin Bates complete the cast. For now, Queer does not yet have a release date in France.