Alexander Skarsgård Breaks Silence on Sexuality Rumors After “Men and Women” Comment Goes Viral

Alexander Skarsgård has finally addressed the intense online speculation regarding his s****, clarifying that a series of comments made during the promotion of his film were not intended as a “coming out” moment. The actor, known for his transformative roles in Succession and True Blood, sat down for a Variety cover story to set the record straight after months of fan theories flooded social media.

The frenzy began during a press tour for his upcoming movie Pillion, which is set for a wide theatrical release on February 6. At the Zurich Film Festival, Skarsgård was asked about the personal experiences he drew upon to play a dominant partner in a gay B*** relationship. 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…, he remarked at the time.

Fans immediately latched onto the mention of “men and women,” interpreting it as a subtle reveal of bise*****. However, the actor now explains that his words were a byproduct of trying to keep the focus on the art rather than his personal life. It was definitely not an intended statement, he told Variety. I don’t know what I was talking about. Maybe it was trying to shift the focus more to the story and these characters.

Skarsgård also addressed his recent trend of wearing bold, gender-fluid, and bondage-inspired outfits on the red carpet. While many saw this as a deeper expression of identity, the actor insists his personal style is far more basic. I never buy clothes. If you saw my closet, my wardrobe is very limited, he admitted, explaining that he simply enjoys the “creativity” of the promotional looks curated for him rather than leaning into a specific lifestyle.

This fascination with Skarsgård’s personal life is likely fueled by his long history of playing sexually fluid characters. From his seven-season run as the panse***** vampire Eric Northman in True Blood to his 2006 portrayal of a transgender woman in Kill Your Darlings, he has never shied away from queer narratives. He also famously joked in 2014 that co-star Ryan Kwanten was surprisingly a good kisser after their intimate scenes on the HBO hit.

The actor’s comfort with LGBTQ+ themes stems from his upbringing, specifically his close relationship with his uncle and godfather, who is gay. Growing up—even as a little toddler—it was just as natural as being straight, he recalled in a previous interview. He described his uncle as the coolest guy he knew, which made the concept of homophobia baffling to him during his teenage years in Sweden.

Beyond the recent headlines, Alexander Skarsgård is entering one of the busiest phases of his career. On January 31, he is set to make history as the host of the milestone 1,000th episode of Saturday Night Live, with Cardi B appearing as the musical guest. This follows a successful run at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where he premiered two highly anticipated projects: the dark romantic fantasy Wicker and the A24 mockumentary The Moment.

In Wicker, Skarsgård plays a literal strawman brought to life by a lonely fisherwoman, played by Olivia Colman.

Do you think an actor’s past personal relationships are relevant when they are portraying a character from a specific subculture? share your thoughts in the comments!