Celebs Who Came Out as Bisexual After Playing Straight for Decades

How the public views a celebrity’s sexuality is often shaped by the characters they play in movies and TV, or by the partners they’re seen with. It’s common for celebrities to be in long-term heterosexual relationships before openly sharing their true sexual orientation. When stars come out later in life, it shows that sexuality can change and isn’t necessarily something people know about themselves from a young age. Here’s a list of thirty famous people who shared that they are bisexual after becoming well-known.

Clive Davis

Clive Davis, a famous music executive who launched the careers of artists like Whitney Houston and Janis Joplin, lived a complex personal life. For most of his life, he presented himself as straight and was married twice. However, in his 2013 memoir, at the age of 80, Davis revealed he is bisexual. He explained that he had been involved with both men and women since the 1970s. His announcement opened up important discussions about sexual fluidity and the possibility of coming out at any age.

Susan Sarandon

The award-winning actress, famous for movies like ‘Thelma & Louise’ and ‘Dead Man Walking’, was in a relationship with actor Tim Robbins for over 20 years. In a 2017 interview, she openly discussed her sexuality, sharing that she’s attracted to people regardless of gender. She described her orientation as fluid and not limited to any one label.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon is well-known for her role as Miranda Hobbes on ‘Sex and the City’. She was previously in a long-term relationship with a man, and they had two children. In 2004, she began dating Christine Marinoni, an education activist, which came as a surprise to many of her fans. Nixon has since publicly identified as queer, explaining that she simply fell in love with a woman. She is now a strong voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming is a Scottish actor known for his stage and film work, including his role in ‘GoldenEye’. He was married to Hilary Lyon from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Cumming later publicly identified as bisexual and has frequently discussed his relationships with partners of all genders. He is now married to graphic artist Grant Shaffer, and often talks about how the media hasn’t always accurately portrayed his sexuality.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore became famous as a child with her role in ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’. Throughout the 1990s, she was often in the public eye due to her relationships and marriages. In 2003, she publicly confirmed she is bisexual, explaining she’s always felt attraction to both men and women, appreciating the physical form of both. By speaking openly about her sexuality, she helped bring more visibility and acceptance of bisexuality in Hollywood.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie became a global movie star with her role in ‘Tomb Raider’. She was well-known for her marriages to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. In interviews, Jolie openly discussed having relationships with both men and women, and affirmed her attraction to women. This openness was rare for a major celebrity at the time, as few public figures were publicly discussing relationships outside of traditional heterosexual norms.

Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin, known for her role in ‘True Blood’, won an Academy Award early in her career for ‘The Piano’. She and her co-star, Stephen Moyer, are married and have children. In 2010, she publicly shared that she is bisexual as part of the Give a Damn campaign. Because of her marriage, people often mistakenly assume she’s straight, and she consistently speaks out about the importance of bisexual representation and acceptance.

Fergie

Singer Fergie, known for her success with the Black Eyed Peas and songs like ‘My Humps’, rose to international fame. She was married to actor Josh Duhamel for eight years. In 2009, she publicly shared that she is bisexual, explaining she had enjoyed relationships with women even while maintaining a public image as a straight woman. She clarified that her marriage didn’t change her sexual orientation.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox gained worldwide fame and became a sex symbol after appearing in ‘Transformers’. She was in a long-term relationship and later married actor Brian Austin Green. In an interview with Esquire, she publicly shared that she is bisexual, stating she feels certain about her attraction to both men and women. Fox remains a prominent figure representing sexual fluidity in Hollywood.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood started acting as a child and first became well-known for her role in the film ‘thirteen’. She also gained attention through her relationship with Marilyn Manson, which was heavily covered by the media. In 2011, she publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter. Since then, the ‘Westworld’ actress has become a leading advocate for the bisexual community, often discussing the unique challenges and invisibility faced by bisexual people.

Stephanie Beatriz

Beatriz Milhazes is famous for her role as Detective Rosa Diaz on the TV show ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Many people initially thought she was straight, but in 2016, she publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter in response to a fan’s question. This inspired a storyline where her character on the show also came out as bisexual. Although she is married to a man, Beatriz continues to identify as queer.

Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez portrayed Dr. Callie Torres on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for several seasons. Her character was notable for being one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ representations on TV. In 2016, the actress publicly came out as bisexual and queer at a True Colors Fund event, discussing how her identity as a woman of color and a queer person connected. She already had a large and dedicated following at the time of her announcement.

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza, famous for her dry wit on ‘Parks and Recreation,’ has generally been publicly linked to male partners. However, in a 2016 interview with The Advocate, she shared that she’s attracted to people of all genders. She also noted that her family has always been supportive of her openness about her sexuality, which aligns with her straightforward and honest public image.

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson is famous for her role as Dana Scully on ‘The X-Files’. She’s had long-term relationships with both men and women. In a 2012 interview, she shared that she’d previously been in relationships with women, though she characterized those as less frequent than her relationships with men. She continues to be a beloved figure among LGBTQ+ fans.

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez is known for playing strong, assertive roles in the ‘Fast & Furious’ movies. For years, the public speculated about her relationships, especially since she frequently appeared at events either by herself or with her male co-stars. In a 2013 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she publicly came out as bisexual, explaining she’s been attracted to both men and women and felt a natural curiosity to explore relationships with both.

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson is known for her roles in popular movies like ‘Rent’ and ‘Sin City’. Throughout her career, she’s been linked to several well-known figures, including Senator Cory Booker. In 2020, she publicly discussed her identity during an interview about a Pride Month post, explaining that she identifies with the LGBTQ+ community even though she has never been in a relationship with a woman. She emphasized that a person’s identity is valid no matter their past relationships.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson, known for her roles in films like ‘Creed’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ has become a prominent actress in Hollywood. While many people initially assumed she was straight, she revealed in a 2018 interview that she’s attracted to both men and women. She comes from a very accepting family, making her comfortable sharing her life with anyone. Though she prefers not to put a strict label on her sexuality, she embraces her fluidity.

Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz is well-known for acoustic songs like ‘I’m Yours’. He’s been in public relationships with women and was previously married. In 2018, he shared a poem with the LGBTQ+ community, referencing his connection to the Two-Spirit identity. He later told Billboard magazine that he’s also had relationships with men, and he credits his wife with helping him come to terms with and embrace his sexuality.

Margaret Cho

As a long-time fan of comedy and diverse representation, I’ve always admired Margaret Cho. She’s best known for her groundbreaking sitcom, ‘All-American Girl,’ and she’s been a really important voice for so long. I know she and her husband, artist Al Ridenour, were together for over ten years. What I really appreciate about Margaret is her openness – she’s always been proud of being bisexual and identifies as queer, and she fearlessly weaves her experiences into her stand-up. Honestly, she’s a total trailblazer, especially for Asian-American LGBTQ+ visibility. She paved the way for so many of us.

Cassandra Peterson

Cassandra Peterson is the actress who brought the famous character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, to life. For forty years, she played Elvira while keeping her private life largely hidden. In her 2021 memoir, ‘Yours Cruelly, Elvira,’ she shared that she had been in a 19-year relationship with a woman, after previously being married to a man for many years. Peterson worried revealing her relationship might damage her public image, but was met with an incredibly positive response.

Maria Bello

Maria Bello is known for her roles in films such as ‘A History of Violence’ and ‘Coyote Ugly’. In 2013, she wrote a personal essay for The New York Times, titled “Coming Out as a Modern Family,” where she shared her experience of falling in love with her close friend, Clare, after previously dating men. She later developed these ideas further in a published book, consistently highlighting that the most important aspect of any relationship is love, not gender.

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough became well-known as a professional dancer on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Raised in a strict Mormon household, she married hockey player Brooks Laich. In 2019, she shared with her husband that she wasn’t exclusively attracted to men. Hough explained that letting go of her guardedness allowed her to be truthful about her sexuality, which was a key part of understanding herself better.

Mel B

Melanie Brown, most famously known as Scary Spice from the Spice Girls, has been married twice – first to Jimmy Gulzar and then to Stephen Belafonte. While her marriages received a lot of attention, she also had a five-year romantic relationship with a woman during her peak fame, which she kept more private. Brown has openly said she was in love with this woman and doesn’t feel the need to define her sexuality with labels, while still acknowledging her past relationships.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa Carlton, known for her 2000s hit ‘A Thousand Miles,’ was a prominent figure in pop music. She previously dated several musicians, including the lead singer of Third Eye Blind. In 2010, while performing at Nashville Pride, Carlton publicly came out as bisexual, proudly sharing her identity with the audience. She has been married to John McCauley since 2013.

Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry is the iconic lead singer of Blondie. She famously had a long-term relationship with her bandmate, Chris Stein. In later interviews, Harry shared that she had relationships with women when she was younger, and that she felt equally attracted to both men and women. She continues to be a significant figure and role model for the LGBTQ+ community.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson is well-known for her role in ‘American Horror Story’. She’s been in relationships with both men and women, including playwright Tracy Letts and actress Cherry Jones. Currently, she’s in a long-term relationship with Holland Taylor. Paulson doesn’t like to define her sexuality with a strict label, preferring to embrace the fluidity of her attractions and let her feelings guide her, rather than fitting into a category.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton is a British actress known for her roles in films like ‘Mission: Impossible 2’ and the TV series ‘Westworld’. She’s been married to writer Ol Parker for more than 20 years. In 2016, Newton shared that she had previously been in relationships with women, and spoke about the idea that sexuality exists on a spectrum and that many people may have attractions to more than one gender. She’s openly expressed her acceptance and pride in her diverse range of attractions.

Joan Baez

Joan Baez is a celebrated folk singer and activist who rose to prominence during the 1960s. She was a key figure in the counterculture movement and had significant relationships with both Bob Dylan and her husband, David Harris. Later in life, she revealed she had a romantic relationship with a woman when she was 22, admitting she was deeply afraid of the social judgment it might bring. Baez continues to use her music and platform to advocate for those on the margins of society.

Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein, known for her music with Sleater-Kinney and the show ‘Portlandia’, initially dated men, and the media frequently highlighted those relationships. She was publicly revealed as queer in a magazine article, but later openly embraced her identity. She later had a relationship with her ‘Portlandia’ co-star, St. Vincent, and wrote honestly about all of her relationships in her memoir.

Azealia Banks

The rapper first gained recognition with her hit song ‘212’ and is also well-known for being very direct and candid online. She’s been publicly linked to several high-profile relationships. Banks openly identifies as bisexual and often discusses her attraction to women, resisting attempts by the media to label her. This willingness to be herself challenges the traditional, often straight-focused norms of the hip-hop world.

Tell us which celebrity story surprised you the most in the comments!

2025-12-07 22:51