Alexander Skarsgård has addressed ongoing rumors about his sexuality while clarifying previous statements that ignited substantial online discussion last year.
The actor, renowned for his roles in hit series such as “Big Little Lies,” “Succession,” and “True Blood,” opened up in a new interview with Variety. He clarified that his comments during the promotion of his upcoming film “Pillion” were not intended as a personal disclosure.
Speculation initially took off after Skarsgård’s appearance at the Zurich Film Festival, where he was discussing “Pillion,” set to premiere on February 6.
In “Pillion,” Skarsgård plays the role of a dominant partner in a gay BDSM relationship. During the festival, he was asked about the personal experiences he drew upon for the character.
“I found that in this case, my personal background isn’t really relevant,” he stated at the time. “Yes, I have a child, but my past—who I’ve been with, be it men or women—isn’t what matters here. What was crucial for me was the chance to tell a story about a subculture I hadn’t seen depicted with such authenticity.”
His remarks were widely interpreted on social media as an admission of being bisexual.
Alexander Skarsgård has finally addressed long-running speculation about his sexuality while clarifying comments that sparked widespread discussion online last year (seen in 2025)
In his latest interview, however, the actor made clear that was not the case.
‘Oh,’ he said when asked about the reaction. ‘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 Variety interview, Skarsgård addressed the attention surrounding his increasingly bold, gender-fluid and bondage-inspired red carpet looks while promoting Pillion.
‘Um,’ he said hesitantly, ‘I never buy clothes. If you saw my closet, my wardrobe is very limited. I’m not a big consumer of fashion. I don’t spend money on expensive brands. 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.’
Skarsgård’s comments arrive after years of public fascination with his on-screen portrayals of queer and sexually fluid characters.
He is perhaps best known for playing Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood from 2008 to 2014 – an openly bisexual, pansexual vampire whose storylines included relationships with both men and women.
And, back, in 2006, he portrayed a transgender woman in the film Kill Your Darlings.
More recently, Pillion has again placed Skarsgård at the center of conversations about sexuality and subculture.
In the A24 film, he portrays Ray, a dominant biker who enters a BDSM-focused relationship with a younger man played by Harry Melling.
The actor spoke candidly in a new Variety cover story, explaining that remarks he made while promoting his upcoming film Pillion were never intended as a personal revelation
‘Oh,’ he said when asked about the reaction. ‘That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement. I don’t know what I was talking about’
Previously, Skarsgård joked about his on-screen kissing experiences.
When asked in 2016 to name the best kisser among Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and Ryan Kwanten, he quipped: ‘Out of the three I’ve got to say Ryan Kwanten is surprisingly a good kisser actually.’
‘He’s very tender. You wouldn’t think it because he’s kind of a tough guy but very soft, gentle, tender touch,’ he added.
Skarsgård famously locked lips with Kwanten during a raunchy scene on True Blood in 2014.
Most recently, the actor made headlines at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival after his film Pillion received a seven-minute standing ovation.
To celebrate the moment, Skarsgård hugged and kissed fellow actor Pedro Pascal, planting a kiss on the cheek of a smiling Pascal as cameras rolled.
He is perhaps best known for playing Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood from 2008 to 2014 – an openly pansexual vampire whose storylines included relationships with men and women
And, back, in 2006, he portrayed a transgender woman in the film Kill Your Darlings (seen R)
In 2016, he also discussed having a gay uncle with Pride Source in 2016.
‘I don’t know if you know this, but gay men love you,’ the Pride Source reporter said. ‘Is that surprising to hear?
‘I don’t know how to answer that question, but thank you. That’s very flattering to hear,’ Skarsgård explained. ‘It’s always been the most natural thing to me because my uncle and godfather is a gay man. So, growing up – even as a little toddler – it was just as natural as being straight.’
‘My aunt would show up with her husband, and my uncle would show up with his husband,’ the actor added. ‘He was, by far, out of my father’s four siblings, the most fashionable and the most trendy, cool guy. So, when I was a kid, he was the one I looked up to. I thought he was really badass: Fit and awesome and cool, and obviously not just because he was gay. When I became a teenager and the kids made fun of other teenagers who were gay, I never really understood that.’
Skarsgård concluded, ‘It just baffled me because my idol, my godfather, was gay… And he was the coolest guy I knew. I just couldn’t understand how that could be an insult.’
