At last night’s premiere screening of Rocketman, Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic, star Taron Egerton got visibly weepy as the film received a long standing ovation. At today’s press conference for the film, the moderator brought up Egerton’s tears immediately. “Alright, alright,†laughed Egerton, blushing. “Let’s stop talking about it. I got a little emotional. It was one of the best moments of my life.â€
But then Egerton almost immediately started crying again. He explained that his connection to John was forged all the way back when a young Egerton was applying for drama school, and chose “Your Song†to audition with. “I love that song. It’s the most beautiful song ever written. I can’t believe it, I’m gonna go [cry] again,†he said, laughing at his own tears.
These days, Egerton is delighted to call John one of his closest friends — so close that he felt comfortable drunkenly stumbling into his kitchen at three in the morning. “David [Furness] and Elton really allowed me into their lives,†said Egerton. “My girlfriend and I spent a lot of time with them. We actually went to stay with them a few days before filming. We got quite drunk one night, and security caught me stealing from his kitchen at 3 A.M.â€
While spending all that time together, Egerton said that John told him “absolutely everything†about his storied life, with no detail too sordid or private to share. “He’s the kindest, most interesting, warm man. My great privilege is that I was able to spend a lot of time with him and talk to him about anything,†said Egerton. “You really can ask him anything. He’s so much fun. He’ll tell you everything.â€
Something you shouldn’t ask Egerton, though? If he feels like he’s “at war†with Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek. At the conference, Egerton interrupted a reporter who posed that question. “That’s a horrible question,†he said. “I’m lucky enough to know Rami personally and he’s the nicest, most brilliant man — and one of the most talented actors of our generation. I’m very proud that we’re mentioned in the same breath, but our movie is a different animal. It’s a musical and it requires an actor who can sing in the lead role, and [Bohemian Rhapsody] is a biopic.â€