Twenty-five years after running away from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, actor Joseph Mazzello is rocking the big screen with his portrayal of Queen base guitar player John Deacon in Bohemian Rhapsody. During press tour for the 20th Century Fox production, which opened nationwide this weekend, the actor spoke to Entertainment Affair about the experience of playing a very private living legend in the film.

Question: You've mentioned at the world premier of the film in London how excited about being part of a film that pays tribute to the legacy of Queen, but that can also be a double edge sword in terms of the pressure of living up to that. How quickly were you able to put that aside during filming or was it the fuel for you to try to do a good job?
Joseph Mazzello: Yeah, it never really went away. It was the driving force and the thing that allows you to focus on a very specific goal. Where no matter what was going on in your life, if you were tired or having a bad day Having that pressure there lets you find that extra spark to get yourself going and motivated. Because you know you have such a huge obligation and responsibility. In my case to John Deacon, his family and with this project a responsibility to Queen fandom, which you know, it's massive . So having all those things in your mind is really helpful I think. In every job as actor you want to give it your all every single time but this gives you an extra gear when you have this additional responsibility.

Q: It's totally crazy to me that your first day of filming in this movie was the climactic Live Aid Wembley performance. Was shooting that on the first day a trial by fire?
JM: Yeah i don't know whose idea that was. (he laughs) But we were not happy about it. But we sure acted like we were. We were like Oh My Goodness, That's Great. But on the inside we were terrified. But what was great about the whole experience is that they did not rush us. They gave us five weeks of rehearsal prior to filming. And they made sure that we were really, really prepared for it. It's sort of that thing were the four of us only had each other to get through that, it allowed us to say ok, lets come together. Lets rock this. And we knew that we could lean on each other and it forged a bond that has lasted to this day.

Q: During that rehearsal process did you have one moment in particular where it clicked how you were going to play John Deacon?  Was it an outfit, a wig, playing the base or was it a culmination of all those things?
JM: Yeah, this is such a funny job. And it was completely different from anything I have done before. I had to prepare at least four times as much for most of the other roles that I've done. Because any one thing would be a big challenge. I had to lear to play this music instrument because I really didn't know how to play the base. I had never picked up a base until I found out that I was getting this job. I had a small background in guitar but that was it. So that was the first challenge. But not only that, you have to learn how to play the base like John Deacon. And then you have to learn all his movements on stage. You have to figure out his body, the way he dances and the way he moves around. And then you got to figure out his dialect! Which was an accent that I had literally never heard before. And I haven't even gotten to the acting portion of this role yet. So it's amazing how much it had to go into it.  So was there a defining moment where I was able to put it all together? That's the sort of thing you are worried about as an actor the whole time. You do your homework, you practice and we were doing that every single day. Guitar lessons and band rehearsals five days a week. But at some point you just gotta walk on stage. and it's show time. And I think that was the moment. When the cameras roll for the first time and your doing it. It's sink or swim and that's when you feel like him.

Q: But the John Deacon is very private and the film sort of enhances this air of mystery about him. Was that an additional challenge for you in playing him?
JM: We shot a little bit of background on him that was unfortunately cut out of the finished film. But for me, I know a lot about John.  I know more about him than I ever thought I would know about anyone. But to me the key is the fact that he was sort of an accidental rock star. He really didn't set out to actually do that. He just wanted to play the base on the weekends  and be in a band sort of as a hobby and before you knew it this band took off. It's an interesting journey because his life's dream wasn't to become a rock star. I tried to always sort of play that. He is just interested in playing the music. He is focused on the base line and he is not interested in the arguments or all the theatrics. he loves a good one liner and a good joke. But he tries to stay level headed and tells everyone lets just shut up and play. But I also tried to play the fact that John was really affected by Freddie's death. Freddie really always stood up for John and was very protective of him. So there was a really special sort of bond there and I tried to bring that into my performance as well. John eventually stepped away from Queen and the limelight in big part because it brings back memories of the hurt he still feels about losing Freddie. So i tried to bring that into it.

Bohemian Rhapsody is in theaters now.