Alexander Skarsgård Finally Addresses Bisexuality Rumors and Sets the Record Straight
Alexander Skarsgård has finally addressed the whirlwind of speculation regarding his sexuality that has persisted for months. The rumors began swirling last fall following an ambiguous comment the actor made during a press appearance in Europe. Now, he is shutting down the internet theories that suggested he had quietly come out as bisexual.
It all started at the Zurich Film Festival while he was promoting his provocative new film. Skarsgård stars in Pillion, a movie that delves into a gay B*** relationship, where he plays the dominant partner. While discussing how he approached such a specific and intense role, his choice of words caught fans and media outlets off guard.
He was attempting to explain that his personal history shouldn’t matter when portraying a character on screen. “I found that in this case, it’s not really relevant what my background is,” he said at the festival. He then added the phrase that launched a thousand tweets and headlines.
“I mean, I do have a kid, but what I’ve done in the past, who I’ve been with, men, women…,” he said at the time. To many listeners, this sounded like a casual admission of past relationships with both sexes. However, he finished the thought by focusing on the film’s integrity. “To me, what was important was that this felt like an opportunity to tell a story about a subculture I hadn’t seen portrayed this way – with so much authenticity.”
In a new cover story for Variety, the Swedish actor clarified that this was a misunderstanding. He explained that he was simply trying to move the conversation away from his private life and back to the film’s narrative. He insisted that he was not making a declaration about his sexual orientation.
“Oh,” Skarsgård reacted when asked about the viral moment in the new interview. “That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement.” He admitted that his phrasing might have been clumsy in the moment, leading to the confusion.
“I don’t know what I was talking about,” he confessed to the publication. He believes the confusion stemmed from his desire to honor the specific community portrayed in the film without making it about himself. “Maybe it has to do with — there’s a lot of focus sometimes on me as an actor,” he theorized.
His goal was to highlight the storytelling rather than his own celebrity biography. “Maybe it was trying to shift the focus more to the story and these characters,” he said. “And the importance of telling the story like this.”
The interview also touched on his recent sartorial choices, which have been turning heads during the press tour. To promote Pillion, Skarsgård has donned gender-bending and bondage-inspired outfits on the red carpet. Despite these bold looks, he claims he is not actually a fashionista in his daily life.
“Um,” he said hesitantly when discussing his style evolution. “I never buy clothes. If you saw my closet, my wardrobe is very limited.” He emphasized that he views these red carpet moments as a creative outlet rather than a reflection of his shopping habits.
“I’m not a big consumer of fashion. I don’t spend money on expensive brands,” he clarified. “I really enjoy the creativity of it, but it’s not like I’m out shopping for these outfits. I guess it’s something I’ve leaned into a bit more of late.”
Alexander Skarsgård has been a Hollywood fixture for over a decade, known for his imposing physical presence and intense performances. He first gained massive international popularity playing the vampire Eric Northman in the HBO series True Blood. Since then, he has built an impressive resume across both television and film.
He earned critical acclaim and an Emmy Award for his terrifying portrayal of Perry Wright in the HBO drama Big Little Lies. He also played the eccentric tech mogul Lukas Matsson in the final seasons of the hit series Succession. His film roles have been equally diverse, ranging from the action-heavy The Northman to the monster verse in Godzilla vs. Kong.
He comes from one of the most famous acting dynasties in the world, as the son of celebrated actor Stellan Skarsgård. His siblings include Bill Skarsgård, known for playing Pennywise in It, and Gustaf Skarsgård from Vikings. While he is notoriously private, it is known that he welcomed his first child in 2022, which aligns with his comment about having a kid.
Please let us know in the comments if you think actors should have to clarify their personal lives to the press or if their privacy should be respected regardless of what roles they play.