Long before he became one of the most recognizable action stars in the world, Daniel Craig took on one of the boldest roles of his career in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon.
Released in 1998, the film tells the story of legendary British painter Francis Bacon and his turbulent relationship with George Dyer, the man who became both Bacon’s muse and one of the defining figures in his artwork. Directed by John Maybury, Love Is the Devil is less a traditional biography and more an immersive journey into the emotional chaos, artistic obsession, and destructive passion that shaped Bacon’s life.
For viewers who know Craig primarily as James Bond, the film can be a startling discovery.
Daniel Craig Before Bond
Years before Casino Royale transformed him into an international superstar, Craig built a reputation by taking challenging and unconventional roles. In Love Is the Devil, he plays George Dyer, a small-time thief from London’s East End who becomes involved with Bacon after a chance encounter.
Craig’s performance is fearless. Dyer is vulnerable, volatile, charismatic, and increasingly tragic as the relationship spirals into emotional dependence and self-destruction. The role demanded a level of emotional exposure rarely seen in mainstream studio productions, and Craig fully commits to the character’s complexity.
The film is also notable for featuring full-frontal nudity from Craig, making it one of the most talked-about performances of his early career. Rather than feeling provocative for its own sake, the nudity serves the film’s raw and unflinching portrayal of intimacy, power, and vulnerability. It remains a striking reminder of the artistic risks Craig was willing to take before becoming a global franchise star.
A Queer Story Unlike Most Biopics
What makes Love Is the Devil stand apart from many LGBTQ+ films of its era is its refusal to soften its characters.
Francis Bacon, played brilliantly by Derek Jacobi, is neither hero nor villain. He is charismatic, cruel, brilliant, and deeply flawed. George Dyer is both victim and participant in a relationship marked by imbalance and emotional turmoil.
The result is a film that feels more like a living painting than a conventional drama. Scenes unfold with dreamlike intensity, often mirroring the distorted imagery found in Bacon’s artwork. Strange camera angles, warped visual effects, and unsettling sound design create an experience that places viewers directly inside the emotional landscape of the characters.
It’s challenging cinema, but also deeply rewarding.
Derek Jacobi’s Extraordinary Performance
While Craig’s role often attracts attention because of his later fame, Derek Jacobi delivers one of the finest performances of his career as Francis Bacon.
Jacobi captures the painter’s intelligence, wit, and cruelty while revealing the loneliness that lurks beneath his public persona. His chemistry with Craig forms the emotional center of the film, creating a relationship that feels both magnetic and impossible to escape.
Together, the two actors elevate the film beyond biography and into something far more psychologically complex.
Why Love Is the Devil Still Matters
More than two decades after its release, Love Is the Devil remains a fascinating piece of queer cinema. It arrived during a period when LGBTQ+ stories were still rarely given artistic ambition or mainstream visibility. Rather than presenting a sanitized romance, the film embraces the contradictions and imperfections of its characters.
For audiences interested in queer film history, Daniel Craig’s early career, or unconventional biographical dramas, it remains an essential watch.
The film also serves as a reminder that some of the most memorable performances come long before actors become household names. Watching Craig in Love Is the Devil today offers a glimpse of the intensity and commitment that would eventually make him one of the defining actors of his generation.
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