He says dancing isn’t his thing. A shame, for the one who made himself known in 2016 thanks to the film “Free Dance” and who also has to his credit the musical comedy “Cinderella” (2021), with Camila Cabello. Today, it is with a romantic comedy that Nicolas Galitzine returns to the screen. In “The Idea of Being With You” (available on Prime Video), the 29-year-old British actor plays the singer of a boy band who falls in love with the mother of a teenager, 15 years his senior, played by Anne Hathaway.
How did you end up headlining this romantic comedy?
The director asked me to audition opposite Anne Hathaway to see if we could have a real connection, which is essential in this kind of story. She has the same humor as me, lucky you! So it worked between us from the first minute. I was terribly nervous before going to the appointment, but Anne was able to quickly put me at ease. We shot a multitude of short scenes on the first day, lasting almost twenty hours. It allowed us to get to know each other even better for the rest of the shoot.
Have you ever dreamed of being part of a boy band like your character?
No never. But in my youth I really appreciated the Backstreet Boys, which I studied before the start of this shoot. It’s the camaraderie between the members of a boy band that makes all the difference. I spent time with the four actors who play the other musicians in my group in the film, so that we had strong bonds on screen. We followed a several-week course together with a choreographer to learn how to dance like one of those boy bands. And I’m not ashamed to tell you that my partners were much more talented than me! Dancing is not my thing at all.
This isn’t the first time you’ve sung on screen. Does this make you want to start singing?
Not immediately, because my dream has always been to be an actor. I’m lucky to be at a stage in my career where I’m being offered a lot of things. Until a few years ago, I was struggling to get auditions and working as a waiter at an ice cream shop to pay the bills.
This is your fourth project in less than a year. In particular, we will soon find you on Canal+ in the series “Mary and George”…
Impossible for me to refuse such an offer. Julianne Moore plays my mother, Mary, what an honor! This is a miniseries based on the true story of successful George Villiers in the 17the century, to seduce King James Ier from England before becoming her lover. It was George’s mother, Mary, who pulled all the strings to make her son the most influential man in the kingdom.
