Alexander Skarsgård is setting the record straight after months of speculation about his sexuality.
The 49-year-old actor found himself at the center of a viral moment last fall when comments he made at the Zurich Film Festival were interpreted by fans as him coming out as bisexual. While promoting his A24 drama ‘Pillion,’ in which he plays a biker who enters a BDSM relationship with a younger man portrayed by Harry Melling, the actor’s phrasing sent the internet into a frenzy.
At the festival, Skarsgård said:
“I found that in this case, it’s not really relevant what my background is. I mean, I do have a kid, but what I’ve done in the past, who I’ve been with, men, women… 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.”
Now, in a new Variety cover story, the former ‘True Blood’ star is clarifying he never intended the remarks as a “coming out” moment. When asked to elaborate on whether his previous comments were meant to suggest he’d been with men, the actor was reportedly taken aback.
He explained:
“That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement. I don’t know what I was talking about. Maybe it has to do with there’s a lot of focus sometimes on me as an actor. Maybe it was trying to shift the focus more to the story and these characters. And the importance of telling the story like this.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the Emmy winner opened up about how fatherhood has transformed his once nomadic lifestyle. Skarsgård shares a two-year-old son with Swedish actress Tuva Novotny and says he now prioritizes being present for his child over constant travel.
‘Pillion’ arrives in theaters February 6.