Harry Styles and his "My Policeman" co-stars were interested in "the overall sociopolitical message of the film."
In his new movie "My Policeman," Harry Styles plays a gay policeman in 1950s England who marries a woman while having an affair with a man.
The film's director, Michael Grandage, told ABC Audio that Harry Styles impressed him with his reasons for wanting the role.
“I think he made a decision a few years ago with 'Dunkirk' that he really wanted to take advantage of being a film actor wherever possible and find roles that would be part of that evolution. And he, strangely enough, addressed us," he explained.
Michael Grandage mentioned that when he heard that Harry Styles thought the role of gay cop Tom would be good for him, he "wanted to hear why."
"And he was incredibly clear about why," according to the director.
Grandage agreed with Harry Styles on how the 28-year-old pop star would play Tom, who marries a schoolteacher (Emma Corrin) and must keep his relationship with a museum curator a secret from his wife and society (David Dawson).
"He saw Tom very much as I saw him ... that is, you know, a man who keeps his cards very close, reveals very, very little, is almost monologue sometimes, shy, doesn't want to let anything out at all out about his true feelings," the director explained.
And yet, noted Michael Grandage, "we know two people fall in love with him, so he's got to be quite charismatic and handsome," elements to which Harry Styles no doubt responds.
Grandage added that Harry Styles and his "My Policeman" co-stars were also interested in "the overall sociopolitical message of this film," which the director felt was "important to people of their generation."
The message is about the fact that at the time 'My Policeman' is set, homosexuality was illegal in the UK and could lead to years in prison.
The movie "My Policeman" is available on Amazon Prime Video.
