Peter Hujar captured a queer Manhattan demi-monde that is now lost to Aids. Whishaw reveals what he learned playing the photographer in a minimalist film being hailed by some as a masterpieceOn 19 December 1974, the writer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/may/13/linda-rosenkrantz-peter-hujar-rebecca-hall-ben-whishaw-drugs-orgies">Linda Rosenkrantz</a> went round to her friend <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/apr/15/peter-hujar-new-york-demimonde">Peter Hujar</a>’s apartment in New York, and asked the photographer to describe exactly what he had done the day before. He talked in great detail about taking Allen Ginsberg’s portrait for the New York Times (it didn’t go well – Ginsberg was too performative for the kind of intimacy Hujar craved). He also described the Chinese takeaway he ate and how his pal Vince Aletti came round to have a shower. And he fretted about not being paid by Elle magazine.So what did Ben Whishaw, who plays him in the new film <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/14/peter-hujars-day-review-ben-whishaw-berlin-film-festival">Peter Hujar’s Day</a>, do himself the day before? The actor, on a video call from his home in London, rubbing his hands through his hair in a worried manner, says he could probably describe it in “about five sentences”, but after some persuasion attempts to give a flavour. “I got home from filming and I got the chicken that I’d cooked the previous day and eaten half of and I finished it. Well, not finished it but continued eating it and then had a glass of wine and fell asleep at half past nine. Boring. But, um, maybe there’s no such thing as boring.” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/16/ben-whishaw-interview-peter-hujar-day">Continue reading...</a>

يتحدث بن ويشاو عن دوره كمصور بيتر هوجار في فيلم بسيط يستكشف حياة وعمل هوجار في مانهاتن كوير النابضة بالحياة ولكن المأساوية، متأملاً في تجاربه في التقاط جوهر تلك الحقبة. وقد وصف بعض النقاد الفيلم بأنه تحفة فنية، مما يبرز العالم المفقود لموضوعات هوجار بسبب أزمة الإيدز.

Ben Whishaw habla sobre su papel como fotógrafo Peter Hujar en una película minimalista que explora la vida y el trabajo de Hujar en un vibrante pero trágico Manhattan queer, reflexionando sobre sus experiencias al capturar la esencia de la época. La película ha sido descrita por algunos críticos como una obra maestra, destacando el mundo perdido de los sujetos de Hujar debido a la crisis del SIDA.

Ben Whishaw parle de son rôle en tant que photographe Peter Hujar dans un film minimaliste qui explore la vie et le travail de Hujar dans un Manhattan queer vibrant mais tragique, réfléchissant à ses expériences de capture de l'essence de l'époque. Le film a été décrit par certains critiques comme un chef-d'œuvre, mettant en lumière le monde perdu des sujets de Hujar en raison de la crise du sida.

Ben Whishaw discusses his role as photographer Peter Hujar in a minimalist film that explores Hujar's life and work in a vibrant yet tragic queer Manhattan, reflecting on his experiences capturing the essence of the era. The film has been described by some critics as a masterpiece, highlighting the lost world of Hujar's subjects due to the AIDS crisis.

‘To be really successful, you have to be sexy in a straight way’: Ben Whishaw on libidinous New York and playing Peter Hujar

Having worked as an openly LGBTQ actor for more than a decade, Ben Whishaw is no stranger to the heteronormative pressure that comes with Hollywood. The Golden Globe winner recently explained why there are &#8220;not very many&#8221; out gay actors at his level, noting that he understands the need to separate his private from his [&#8230;]

بن ويشو، وهو ممثل مثلي الجنس بشكل علني، سلط الضوء على الضغوط التي يواجهها فنانو LGBTQ في هوليوود، مشيرًا إلى أن الكثيرين يشعرون بالحاجة إلى الت conform إلى المعايير المغايرة للجنس لتحقيق النجاح. وقد أشار إلى ندرة الممثلين المثليين في مستواه، منسوبًا ذلك إلى استمرار ظاهرة رهاب المثلية في الصناعة.

Ben Whishaw, un actor abiertamente LGBTQ, ha destacado las presiones que enfrentan los intérpretes LGBTQ en Hollywood, afirmando que muchos sienten la necesidad de conformarse a estándares heteronormativos para lograr el éxito. Notó la escasez de actores gays abiertamente en su nivel, atribuyendo esto a la homofobia persistente en la industria.

Ben Whishaw, un acteur ouvertement LGBTQ, a souligné les pressions auxquelles sont confrontés les artistes LGBTQ à Hollywood, affirmant que beaucoup ressentent le besoin de se conformer aux normes hétéro-normatives pour réussir. Il a noté la rareté des acteurs gays ouverts à son niveau, attribuant cela à l'homophobie persistante dans l'industrie.

Ben Whishaw, an openly LGBTQ actor, has highlighted the pressures faced by LGBTQ performers in Hollywood, stating that many feel the need to conform to heteronormative standards to achieve success. He noted the scarcity of openly gay actors at his level, attributing this to ongoing homophobia in the industry.

‘To be really successful, you have to be sexy in a straight way’: Ben Whishaw on libidinous New York and playing Peter Hujar

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