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By Rebeka Powell

Bohemian Rhapsody superfan breaks world record for seeing movie 108 times

A woman from Redcliffe, in Brisbane's northern suburbs, has set a Guinness World Record for most times viewing the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Joanne Connor made headlines last year when she revealed had seen the film 65 times while it was showing in cinemas — but in the past 12 months a lot has happened.

"Well I just found out last week from Guinness Book of World Records that I got the title of seeing the movie Bohemian Rhapsody 108 times, so that's the highest on record," Ms Connor told ABC Radio Brisbane's Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan.

"When I had the story last year I'd seen the movie about 65 times and I went on the TV and had an interview from there as well, but I just couldn't stop watching it.

"When it got to 108 I realised that it was above the record so I sent in all my stubs and got the title."

The film has a two-hour and 13 minute run time which means Ms Connor has spent approximately 240 hours, or 10 days, watching the film in the cinemas.

Ms Connor said she has seen the movie a further 291 times at home — that is approximately 645 hours, or 26 days.

"I got the DVD last February and I keep a diary everyday ordinarily anyway, and 291 times I've actually seen it at home — I watch it every night," she said.

"If I'm watching it with someone else they warn me with a hand saying 'please do not keep saying everything with them [the characters]'."

For many, watching a film more than once or twice can become a bore but Ms Connors said she still gets the same euphoric feeling each time she presses play on her remote.

"I love every minute of it," she said.

"It's just the most fabulous film.

"It's a rollercoaster of a film — one minute you're crying, next minute you're laughing and next minute you're singing with them."

'I wasn't a Queen fan before the film'

Ms Connor said she was not a fan of Queen, the iconic band whose story is depicted in Bohemian Rhapsody, but her love of the film has taken her to places most hardcore fans only dream of going.

"I used to like their music — if it was on the radio I'd turn it up, but I went one afternoon with one of my friends just to watch it, fell in love with it, couldn't stop going and I'm just smitten by them now," she said.

Earlier this month when Queen performed in Brisbane, Ms Connor said she heard from the band's road manager and was asked to meet Brian May and Roger Taylor backstage.

"Brian and Roger actually wanted to meet me because of the title," she said.

"So I went backstage, I had a cuddle from them. Had a kiss on both cheeks and had a lovely photograph taken with them.

"I had a warning from my daughter, she said to me, 'this is a once in a lifetime moment, don't spoil it'.

"So she said, 'do not cry, go in there talk to them and cry afterwards'.

"But when I went in and I saw them they were just such wonderful people I spoke to them as if I'd known them my whole life.

"When I walked out I must admit I did cry."

Ms Connor also has plans to see the band once more before they head back overseas, and again in the United Kingdom later this year.

"I'm going to the concert on the Gold Coast on Saturday," she said.

"I'm going over to England to see them at the O2 in June, and I don't know what's going to happen after that.

"I'll still be watching the movie whatever happens."

Ms Connor also received a Bohemian Rhapsody framed poster, signed by Rami Malek, the lead actor who played Freddie Mercury in the film.

"[The film's production company] 20th Century Fox found out that I'd seen the film so many times so they sent it to me and when I opened it and I saw the signature I really couldn't believe it," Ms Connor said.

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