Matt Smith, best known for his roles on Doctor Who and The Queen, has been getting rave reviews for his portrayal of legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The biopic has only been shown so far at a handful of film festivals but it’s trailer has just dropped giving everyone a chance to see what all the hype is about.

The film chats Mapplethorpe’s rise from obscurity to finding fame for his provocative photos. Mapplethorpe created large scale photographic works, predominately in black and white, that featured nudes, still life and self portraits. His most controversial works were images focusing on the underground BDSM culture.

The photographers work spurred discussions about public funding of art works and censorship. His work was noted for its homo-eroticism.

Mapplethorpe lived with punk singer Patti Smith for a decade between the 1960’s and 1970’s before he realised he was gay. Mapplethorpe died in 1989 of an AIDS related illness at just 42 years of age.

Check out the films trailer.

Matt Smith previously played gay author Christopher Isherwood in a high profile TV movie Christopher and his Kind. Prior to taking on the role of the Doctor in Doctor Who Smith starred in the TV series Party Animals and Moses Jones.

Since leaving the high profile role on the long running sci-fi series Smith has appeared in the film Terminator: Genisys played Patrick Bateman in a theatrical production of American Psycho  and be praised for his portrayal of Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of The Queen. 

The film is directed by Ondi Timoner who was behind the documentary Dig!. When the film was first announced Girls star Zosia Mamet was slated to play musician Patti Smith but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. The singer is now played by Marianne Rendón.

The film has the support of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation which the artist founded prior to his death. Patti Smith however declined to be involved in the making of the film.

OIP Staff