Freddie Mercury

Grew Up... as Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar. Forced to flee a revolution when he was a teenager, Freddie’s Indian Parsi family resettled in England. Eager to assimilate to the local culture (while still celebrating his uniqueness), Freddie legally changed his name to Freddie Mercury.

Living... desperate for more. Freddie knows he was meant for bigger things than just working as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. An artist at heart, he spends his days studying design and his nights attending concerts at local pubs.

Profession... singer. When their lead singer quits, Freddie asks (or rather, demands) that drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May take him on as their new frontman. Freddie has an incredible voice, and, perhaps more importantly, the charisma of a true rock star. After they bring on bassist John Deacon and rename themselves Queen, the band sets off on a whirlwind journey of rock success. Along the way, Freddie discovers a unique talent for connecting to his audience. As he puts it, “When I know they're listening, when I know I really have them, I couldn't sing off-key if I tried.”

Interests... fashion, design, and his family of cats.

Relationship Status... it’s complicated. Freddie is deeply in love with his girlfriend Mary Austin, who he considers to be the love of his life. Yet he also finds himself increasingly drawn to men. Freddie doesn’t want to lose Mary, but he has to figure out what he truly wants in his romantic life.

Challenge... staying true to himself. As Queen skyrockets to fame, Freddie and his bandmates face all kinds of outside pressure. Freddie is dedicated to protecting what makes Queen—and himself—so original. But that can be hard to do when so many people keep trying to change him or steer him down unhealthy paths.

Personality... over-the-top. Whether he’s standing up to a record exec or winning over a crowd of thousands, Freddie has a huge, colorful personality. As he jokes, “Roger, there's only room in this band for one hysterical queen.” He isn’t always the most responsible or pragmatic person, but he has a soulful artistic voice that emerges in every aspect of his personality. Freddie can sometimes get distracted by his love of glitz, glamour, and success, but deep down he has a good heart that will always bring him back to what truly matters.