Alexander Skarsgård is addressing comments she made about her sexuality while promoting her new BDSM film, pillion.
Skarsgård, 49, was asked at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival what he brought from his own life to the upcoming film, which follows shy Colin (Henry Melling) as she meets biker Ray (Skarsgård), who initiates her into a submissive relationship.
“I mean, I have a son, but what I’ve done in the past, who I’ve been with, men, women…” Skarsgård explained at the time. “For me, what was important was that it felt like an opportunity to tell a story about a subculture that I hadn’t seen portrayed in this way, with such authenticity.”
Some fans took the actor’s explanation as confirmation of his alleged bisexuality. However, when asked in an interview with variety posted on Tuesday, January 20, Skarsgård clarified that he was only trying to de-center his own personal experience when explaining the film’s premise.
Alexander Skarsgård brought an extra edge to his latest red carpet outing. Skarsgård, 49, stepped out at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of his film Pillion on Saturday (October 18), showing off his rather impressive physique. Skarsgård wore a sleeveless halter top that showed off his toned biceps, which he wore with a pair of (…)
“Oh. That resonated with my past? It was definitely not an intended statement,” she said Little Big Lies star told the network when asked about his earlier comments. “I don’t know what he was talking about. Maybe it has to do with: Sometimes I focus too much as an actor. Maybe I was trying to shift the focus more to the story and these characters. And the importance of telling the story like that.”
This is not the first time Skarsgård has hit the headlines for his comments on the film. The True Blood The alum previously opened up about why he was “thrilled” to shoot Pillion’s graphic sex scenes with co-star Melling, noting that the film strays from the typical construction of what intimate moments often feel like on screen.
“I was excited because (the sex scenes) are interesting (in Pillion),” he said The Hollywood Reporter in September 2025. “And that’s pretty rare. Most of the sex scenes on screen are pretty boring and sanitized.”
Skarsgård added that the sex scenes didn’t shy away from the “awkwardness” of many intimate situations, which he appreciated.
“We really leaned into the authenticity, the awkwardness of sex, which I thought was really fun and sweet,” she explained. “It’s pretty rare to have a sex scene that really has an emotional journey. Things happen, and they’re like erotic and sexy, but then it’s awkward and then it’s funny. I think (director) Harry Lighton) instilled a lot of confidence in us. We felt very comfortable. There was no trepidation going in. Quite the opposite. We were excited to jump in.”
When asked if any sex scenes were deemed too explicit for the final cut of Pillion, Skarsgård said with a laugh, “Oh yeah, we’ve got some extra scenes that we saved for the special Christmas edition, a triple X version for the kids.”
Pillion is based on the author Adam Mars-Jones Novel winner of the Edicions Fitzcarraldo 2020 Novel Award Box Hill. The book was also shortlisted by the Royal Society of Literature as one of the best British novels of 2021.
Alexander Skarsgård revealed he is “very excited” to film “graphic” sex scenes. The Big Little Lies alum, 49, and co-star Harry Melling have multiple intimate scenes in their critically acclaimed romantic drama Pillion, which chronicles a BDSM relationship between a biker gang leader (Skarsgård) and a shy young man (Melling) who lives with his terminal (…)
During his months promoting the film, Skarsgård has been praised for his method-like fashion choices, often appearing on red carpets in bondage-themed outfits. While talking to variety on Monday, she admitted that clothing isn’t her usual forte, but something she’s been playing with more recently.
“I never buy clothes. If you’ve seen my closet, my wardrobe is very limited,” she confessed. “I’m not a big consumer of fashion. I don’t spend money on expensive brands. I really like their creativity, but it’s not like I’m buying these dresses. I guess it’s something I’ve leaned into a little bit more lately.”
pillion hits theaters on February 6.