Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård is setting the record straight. After months of online speculation about his sexuality, the Big Little Lies star has addressed comments he made last fall that sent social media into a frenzy.
The buzz started at the Zurich Film Festival in October 2025. While promoting his upcoming BDSM film Pillion, Skarsgård made a remark that caught everyone’s attention. When discussing what personal experiences he brought to the role, he 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…”
That phrase sparked immediate speculation. Fans rushed to social media, wondering if the actor had just casually come out as bisexual. The clip went viral across multiple platforms.
Fast forward to this week. In a new Variety cover story, the actor addresses how his words are interpreted. When asked to elaborate on whether the comment was meant as a coming out, Skarsgård was “taken aback,” according to the magazine.
“Oh,” he says. “That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement. I don’t know what I was talking about.”
The 48-year-old actor explained his thinking behind the original comment. “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,” he continued.
In Pillion, which hits U.S. theaters on February 6, Alexander Skarsgard plays Ray, a leather-clad biker who develops a dominant/submissive relationship with a younger man played by Harry Melling. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival last May and received positive reviews.
This isn’t Skarsgård’s first time playing a queer character. He previously portrayed pansexual vampire Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood. The actor has a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ stories and has spoken openly about his gay godfather being a major influence in his life.
Skarsgård remains focused on the importance of authentically portraying the leather biker subculture depicted in Pillion.
Meanwhile, the actor continues his press tour for the film, sporting gender-bending and bondage-inspired fashion on red carpets. Though he admits his regular wardrobe is quite limited, he’s embraced the creative styling for this particular project.
