Omar Apollo on ‘Queer’ full-frontal nude scene with Daniel Craig

“It’s great to be invited. It’s sweet,” Apollo shared The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday night at the LA premiere at the DGA Theater Complex. “I don’t really think about how I’m perceived, so I kind of just exist, and it’s beautiful that people like my music and who I am as a person. I don’t take it for granted.”

He also doesn’t let it slip that the queer-themed film based on the William S. Burroughs novel (adapted by Justin Kuritzkes) comes out after a highly divisive election. Set in 1950s Mexico City, Queer follows an outcast American expat (Craig) who falls in love with a younger man (Drew Starkey) while battling drug addiction, who takes them on a surprising expedition. Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Henry Zaga, Colin Bates, Drew Droege, Ariel Schulman and Simon Rizzoni round out the cast.

“Look, I’m from Indiana. It’s a very conservative state, but I hope I open somebody’s mind out there,” he said. “Especially now, I’m even more proud to be in a movie like this. I was already proud but now I feel like it’s punk This movie coming out at this point I think it’s going to help a lot There’s a story about love and loss that transcends sexuality and people. It’s humanity.”

Apollo appears at the beginning, which means there’s a lot of story to follow when he exits the 135-minute film. “I thought it was incredible,” he said when he saw the entire film. “I thought, wow, I can’t believe I’m a part of it. I watched it as if I wasn’t playing the character, so it was really beautiful to see the finished product. I love my scene – it’s a little creepy, and I like that. I like that energy.”

As for his full-frontal shot, the singer said he kept both his role and the nudity under wraps except for his inner circle. “I told my really good friends. I didn’t really want too many opinions. It was cool. I didn’t think too much about it. I really trusted Luca and the cast and the story. William Burroughs is a great writer, so I just trusted everything about it,” he said, though he admitted to taking a look in the mirror and snapping a nude selfie to send to a friend just for some reassurance.

“I did. I took a picture and sent it to a friend. I was like, ‘You think I’m good?’ (The picture) is on my phone. Probably in a group chat.”

As for what the future holds in Hollywood, Apollo was optimistic that more screen work is on the way and more firsts, whatever that may be.

“I love movies and I love TV. I love everything about it. It’s something I really want to get into and I’m just letting it (unfold). Obviously, music is my driving force and my first love , and I’m obsessed with it, so it never stops. But the other things are a blessing. I’m very lucky to be here with all these very talented people.”