Is this real life? Is this just fantasy? On January 6^th, 2019, Bohemian Rhapsody, the film based on the life of Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury won the Golden Globe for “Best Drama,” in a move that few predicted, winning over the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper-led A Star Is Born. Actor Rami Malek, who portrayed Mercury, also took home the Golden Globe for “Best Actor.” During his acceptance speech, Malek was sure to thank Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, both of whom were in attendance, for, “ensuring authenticity and inclusivity exist in music and the world and all of us.”

Malek then shifted focus to the late Freddie Mercury, saying, “Thank you to Freddie Mercury for giving me the joy of a lifetime. I love you, you beautiful man. This is for and because of you, gorgeous.”

Bohemian Rhapsody was trapped in development hell for nearly a decade after its announcement in 2010. Through many ups and downs, including the hiring and eventual walking away of Sacha Baron Cohen, the film found its star and finally made its way to theaters. Telling the behind-the-scenes story of Freddie Mercury’s meteoric rise to rock stardom with his band Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2018.

While Queen continues to tour today, the story of their late vocalist is an essential story of how sexual orientation played such a huge role in the musician’s life. The band was willing to help tell Mercury’s story for a new generation, and they were rewarded greatly at the Golden Globes.