AP

Harry Styles hits Toronto for ‘My Policeman’ premiere

Sep 11, 2022, 7:48 AM | Updated: Sep 12, 2022, 5:47 am

Harry Styles, from left, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson attend the premiere of "My Policeman" at the...

Harry Styles, from left, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson attend the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)


              This image released by Amazon shows, from left, David Dawson, Emma Corrin and Harry Styles in a scene from "My Policeman." (Parisa Taghizadeh/Amazon via AP)
            
              Harry Styles attends the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Harry Styles attends the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Harry Styles, from left, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson attend the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Fans react after greeting Harry Styles at the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Fans holding mobile phones and a cut out of Harry Styles look on at the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Harry Styles attends the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Harry Styles greets fans at the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
            
              Harry Styles, from left, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson attend the premiere of "My Policeman" at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

TORONTO (AP) — With just as much fanfare but a tad less drama, Harry Styles took the Toronto International Film Festival by storm on Sunday, premiering the tragic gay romance “My Policeman” less than a week after the much-talked-about debut of “Don’t Worry Darling” in Venice.

“My Policeman,” in which Styles stars alongside Emma Corrin and David Dawson, features arguably the fullest dramatic performance yet from 28-year-old pop star. He stars as a closeted 1950s policeman in Brighton, England, who falls in love with a museum curator (Dawson) yet marries a local schoolteacher (Corrin). It’s a tasteful period piece, inspired by the life of “Howards End” author E.M. Forster, split between the ’50s and four decades later, in which the three characters are played by Gina McKee, Linus Roache and Rupert Everett.

Throngs of fans followed Style’s every move in Toronto, a whirlwind day that included a staged interview with the movie’s filmmakers and cast, a quick stop to pick up an ensemble award given by the festival to the “My Policeman” stars and the premiere, itself, in which the usual post-movie Q&A was shortened and trimmed of questions from the audience.

“My Policeman” revolves around an unresolved love triangle that plays out across 40 years due to the injustices of British ’50s-era laws against homosexuality and the repressions of several characters. Styles said he considered it a tragedy of lost time.

“The reason why the story is so devastating is that, ultimately, to me, the whole story is about wasted time, and I think wasted time is the most devastating thing,” Styles said at the earlier talk. “The only thing we cannot control. It’s the one thing you can’t have back. And I think the one thing that I think matters — whatever kind of life you’ve lived — at the end when you think back on time with people you love.”

Directed by Michael Grandage and adapted from the novel by Bethan Roberts, “My Policeman” is to open in theaters Oct. 21 before streaming Nov. 4 on Amazon Prime Video. While it hadn’t received quite as much attention as Style’s other fall movie, Olivia Wilde’s Venice Film Festival entry “Don’t Worry Darling,” “My Policeman” appeared to be more warmly received in Toronto, drawing praise for Style’s performance.

Styles wore a dark green double-breasted suit and light green trousers, with matching handbag, to the premiere. After the film, he credited Dawson and Corrin for an off-set relationship that allowed trust between the actors, particularly in the film’s most intimate scenes.

“Having a base of a real friendship outside of the characters allows for the friendship scenes, it doesn’t require much acting,” Styles said. “And in the most intense scenes, there’s a lot of trust and a safety there.”

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of David Dawson’s name.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

13 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

13 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

13 hours ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

4 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

6 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

6 days ago

Harry Styles hits Toronto for ‘My Policeman’ premiere