Pillion’s Alexander Skarsgård clarifies sexuality comments after confusion on press tour

Pillion‘s Alexander Skarsgård has clarified previous comments he made around the film that led many to believe he’d come out as bisexual.

The 49-year-old actor stars as Ray, a dom biker who takes the doe-eyed Colin (Harry Melling) as his sub partner in Harry Lighton’s debut feature film.

At the Zurich Film Festival last October, Skarsgård discussed getting into character. 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… 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.”

This set the internet ablaze with people thinking the actor had subtly referenced his sexuality during the conversation around the film.

However, speaking to Variety while appearing on the cover, Skarsgård was asked about the comments. Appearing taken aback he told the entertainment publication: “Oh. That it resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement. I don’t know what I was talking about.”

He then explained that he was trying to remove himself and his own personal experiences from the movie.

“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.”

Pillion, which is out in the US on 6 February, follows the complicated relationship between Ray and Colin. The film first premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival where it earned a seven-minute standing ovation.

In an interview at the time, the True Blood actor teased a “raunchier” version of the film. Skarsgård later shared how he and Melling shot “way more graphic” sex scenes than those that ended up in the final cut.

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