Daniel Craig says he and co-star Drew Starkey wanted to make gay love scenes as 'touching and as real as we could' as pair lark about together at the photocall for new movie Queer

Daniel Craig appeared in high spirits on Tuesday as he attended the photocall for his new film Queer during the annual Venice Film Festival.

The actor, 56, was seen larking around with his co-star Drew Starkey, 30, on the carpet as they promoted the same-sex romance movie in which they play lovers. 

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans, Daniel - who has been tipped for Oscars success thanks to his role - beamed for the cameras before donning black sunglasses to pose with his other co-stars and the film's director Luca Guadagnino.

The photocall comes as Daniel spoke about the frank gay love scenes in his new film Queer, telling the Venice Film Festival: 'We just wanted to make it as touching and as real and as natural as we could.'

Craig stars in the movie which is an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs.

Daniel Craig appeared in high spirits on Tuesday as he attended the photocall for his new film Queer during the annual Venice Film Festival

The actor, 56, was seen larking around with his co-star Drew Starkey, 30, on the carpet as they promoted the same-sex romance movie in which they play lovers

The photocall comes as Daniel spoke about the frank gay love scenes in his new film Queer, telling the Venice Film Festival: 'We just wanted to make it as touching and as real and as natural as we could

Craig plays an American, William Lee, living in Mexico City who becomes sexually obsessed with a former sailor, Allerton [Starkey]. 

Delegates at the film festival have professed surprise at the sex scenes which are like nothing hitherto seen in a mainstream film.

Speaking on Tuesday he said: 'Drew (Starkey) is a wonderful fantastic beautiful actor to work with and we had a laugh, we tried to make it fun.

'There was some choreography in the movie which was a very important part of the movie. Drew and I started months before filming rehearsing the dancing. Dancing with someone is a great icebreaker.

'You know as well as I do there is nothing intimate about filming a sex scene on a movie set, but we just wanted to make it as touching and as real and as natural as we could.'

Director Luca Guadagnino, behind the recent hit Challengers starring Zendaya, said: 'Daniel in our first Zoom was adamant that this was going to be a love story first and foremost. We stuck with that - what does it mean to love and to be loved, to be connected and to be disconnected.'

Asked if James Bond – the spy played five times by his leading man – could be gay, Guadagnino replied: 'Let's all be grown up about this. There is no way around the fact that nobody would know James Bond's desires. 

'Having said that – no! The important thing is that he does his missions properly.'

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans, Daniel - who has been tipped for Oscars success thanks to his role - beamed for the cameras before donning black sunglasses to pose with his other co-stars and the film's director Luca Guadagnino

The James Bond star plays an American expat and war veteran who becomes embroiled in a romance with younger man, and is said to feature several explicit sex scene

He added: 'I have been an admirer of this gentleman (Daniel Craig) for a long time. I had this intuition about him that I suffocated within me because have to make movies you have to not daydream.' 

However when he asked Craig to play Lee in this film he said yes. 

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Describing Craig as 'one of the greatest actors', he cited his 'generosity of approach' and added: 'He has the capacity of being very mortal on screen, very few are. Very few iconic legendary actors allow that fragility to be seen and one of them is Daniel to be sure.'

Guadagnino added that he had tried to create imaginary worlds when filming the unfinished novella, and including scenes in which the actors try the hallucinogenic drug Ayahuasca.

Earlier on Tuesday, Daniel cut a dashing figure in the same outfit as he arrived on the jetty Venice to promote his new film Queer at the festival.

The actor has been tipped for an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of an American expat and war veteran named William Lee in the same-sex romance movie.

Daniel, who has yet to be nominated for an Academy Award despite his Hollywood career, recently debuted his long shaggy blond locks and opted for a classic white shirt and blue jeans with trainers for the occasion.

Daniel and Drew were in a playful mood during the photocall

The film's leads posed alongside director Luca Guadagnino [centre]

Daniel said of his and Drew's scenes: ''You know as well as I do there is nothing intimate about filming a sex scene on a movie set, but we just wanted to make it as touching and as real and as natural as we could' 

Director Luca Guadagnino said: 'Daniel in our first Zoom was adamant that this was going to be a love story first and foremost. We stuck with that - what does it mean to love and to be loved, to be connected and to be disconnected'

Daniel posed for snaps alonsgide Jason Schwartzman and Omar Apollo

The cast and crew of the film posed together amid Daniel's words about the gay love scenes

He smiled and waved as he headed to the photo call for the explicit same-sex drama, which will premiere at the festival later in the day.

The James Bond actor, who is in the city with his wife Rachel Weisz, sported a pair of black sunglasses and accessorised with a watch.

He has taken fans by surprise in recent months with his new do' for his upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which began shooting in June. 

Daniel has reprised his role as Detective Benoit Blanc for the third instalment with the film set for a release date next year. 

Initial reviews for Queer suggest moviegoers will be left shocked by the explicit nature of some of the key moments in the movie.

Earlier on Tuesday, Daniel cut a dashing figure in the same outfit as he arrived on the jetty Venice to promote his new film Queer at the festival 

The actor, who recently debuted his long shaggy blond locks, opted for a classic white shirt and blue jeans with trainers for the occasion

He has taken fans by surprise in recent months with his new do' for his upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which began shooting in June

One much talked about scene, in particular, sees Daniel perform oral sex on Allerton.

Venice Film Festival boss Alberto Barbera said he believes Daniel has given 'the performance of a lifetime' in Queer, and added he'd be surprised if we don't see the British actor at the Academy Awards next year.

It would mark the first ever Oscar nod for Craig.

The 81st Venice International Film Festival is organised by La Biennale di Venezia and is being held on the Lido di Venezia from August 28 to September 7.

Sigourney Weaver will receive the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award during the festival. 

The James Bond actor, who is in the city with his wife Rachel Weisz , sported a pair of back sunglasses and accessorised with a watch

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Queer is based on William Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella and stars Daniel as American expat and war veteran William Lee

The actor has been tipped for an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of William Lee in the same-sex romance movie 

Drew, Luca and Daniel pictured on the boat

Drew and Daniel were spotted chatting on the boat

The group were waving as they arrived at the event

The group put on an animated display as they arrived

In the film, Allerton initially rejects Lee's advances but eventually relents. 

A source told the Daily Mail reported: 'It's a long way from Bond, and very explicit. Craig is brilliant in the film.' 

Venice Film Festival boss Alberto Barbera said he believes Daniel has given 'the performance of a lifetime' in Queer, and added he'd be surprised if we don't see the British actor at the Academy Awards next year. 

Barbera told a journalist that Daniel had 'a couple of sex scenes that are quite full-on'.

In an interview, Guadagnino commented: 'Queer will be my most personal film. It's a tribute to Powell and Pressburger.

'I've seen The Red Shoes at least 50 times and I think they would appreciate the sex scenes in Queer, which are numerous and quite scandalous.' 

Ethan Hawke was also seen at the Excelsior hotel on the same day

Ethan saluted and waved to the crowds

He was sporting a blue linen suit with trainers

The novella was penned between 1951 and 1953 but not published until 1985. Much of it was written in the aftermath of the death of Burroughs' wife Joan Vollmer – who he shot in the head during a drinking party in Mexico City. 

Their four-year-old son was in the room at the time. Burroughs said he was trying to shoot a glass off her head, William Tell style, but later changed his story to say the weapon misfired. 

He was convicted of manslaughter in his absence, after fleeing to the US. 

Daniel lives mostly in New York these days with actress Rachel and their young daughter.