The Most Overlooked Bisexual Actresses

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Over the past twenty years, more bisexual actresses have become visible in Hollywood, but they’re often left out of major conversations. While the media sometimes ignores or oversimplifies their identities, these women have openly discussed being attracted to people of multiple genders. They’ve worked on everything from big blockbuster films and popular TV shows to independent movies. Recognizing their identities is important for showing a true picture of diversity in the entertainment industry.

Anna Paquin

Actress Anna Paquin, who won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘The Piano’, publicly shared she is bisexual in 2010 as part of a public service announcement for the Give a Damn campaign. Since then, she’s been a strong voice for LGBTQ+ rights, often speaking out to clarify common misunderstandings about bisexuality. Even though she is married to her ‘True Blood’ co-star Stephen Moyer, she emphasizes that her relationship doesn’t change who she is. Paquin continues to have a successful acting career, with recent roles in ‘The Irishman’ and the series ‘Flack’.

Stephanie Beatriz

Stephanie Beatriz became well-known for playing Detective Rosa Diaz on the TV show ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Interestingly, her character also came out as bisexual around the same time Beatriz publicly shared her own bisexuality in 2016. She’s been a strong advocate for better and more complex bisexual representation in movies and television. In addition to her work on ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, Beatriz voiced the main character, Mirabel Madrigal, in the Disney film ‘Encanto’.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood publicly shared she is bisexual in 2011 and has since become a strong voice for LGBTQ+ rights. She frequently uses her public platform to highlight the unique difficulties faced by bisexual people, such as increased risks of domestic abuse and mental health struggles. Known for her roles in films like ‘Thirteen’ and the HBO show ‘Westworld,’ Wood also advocates for survivors of sexual assault, including by speaking to Congress in support of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights.

Alia Shawkat

Alia Shawkat, famous for playing Maeby Fünke on ‘Arrested Development’, publicly came out as bisexual in a 2017 interview with Out Magazine. She shared that it took her a while to feel comfortable being open about her identity. Since then, Shawkat has appeared in shows like ‘Search Party’ and ‘The Old Man’, and has also showcased her talent as an artist, often drawing inspiration from her own life.

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza publicly shared she is bisexual in a 2016 interview, explaining she’s attracted to both men and women. She first became well-known for her role as April Ludgate on ‘Parks and Recreation’ and has since taken on more challenging and serious acting parts. Her performances in ‘Emily the Criminal’ and ‘The White Lotus’ have been highly praised, earning her award recognition. Plaza is celebrated for her distinctive sense of humor and her talent for playing quirky, offbeat characters.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson has spoken about being attracted to people of all genders, though she doesn’t feel the need to define her sexuality with a specific label. Best known for her role as Valkyrie in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, Thompson has also publicly advocated for greater LGBTQ+ visibility in blockbuster superhero movies. She’s also appeared in acclaimed films like ‘Passing’ and the ‘Creed’ series.

Megan Fox

As a film fan, I remember Megan Fox first talking about being bisexual way back in 2009 with Esquire – it felt pretty groundbreaking, though honestly, a lot of outlets didn’t really take it seriously. It’s great to see her reasserting that part of herself now, especially during Pride Month. Of course, most people know her from movies like ‘Transformers’ and the amazing, underrated ‘Jennifer’s Body’. But beyond the roles, she’s always been a focal point in conversations about how women are often overly sexualized in Hollywood, and it’s something I think about a lot when I see her work.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon, best known for her role as Miranda Hobbes on ‘Sex and the City’, came out as bisexual in 2012 and later used the term queer to describe herself. She’s been married to Christine Marinoni for many years and is a strong supporter of both marriage equality and well-funded public schools. While continuing to act, including in ‘The Gilded Age,’ Nixon also pursued a career in politics, even running for Governor of New York. Throughout her public life, she’s consistently championed social justice and civil rights.

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez publicly shared she is bisexual in 2013 with Entertainment Weekly, responding to ongoing speculation about her personal life. Best known for her role as Letty Ortiz in the ‘Fast & Furious’ films, Rodriguez has said she wants to be open about her experiences to encourage others to embrace who they are. She’s also appeared in popular projects like ‘Avatar’ and the TV show ‘Lost’.

Shannon Woodward

Actress Shannon Woodward, who’s known for her work on shows like ‘Raising Hope’ and ‘Westworld’, shared on Twitter in 2021 that she is bisexual. She explained that while her friends and family already knew, she wanted to be more open about it publicly. Beyond television, Woodward is also involved in video games, having provided the voice and performance capture for the character Dina in ‘The Last of Us Part II’. Her career includes both serious dramatic roles and lighthearted comedies.

Lili Reinhart

Lili Reinhart, known for playing Betty Cooper on the TV show ‘Riverdale’, publicly shared that she is bisexual in 2020 while supporting a Black Lives Matter protest for the LGBTQ+ community. She’s become well-known not only for her acting, but also for openly discussing her personal struggles with anxiety and body image, and encouraging others to embrace themselves. More recently, she starred in and helped produce the Netflix film ‘Look Both Ways’.

Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron publicly shared that she is bisexual in 2020 during an Instagram Live session, and she discussed it further in an interview with Gay Times. She first became well-known for playing dual roles in the Disney Channel show ‘Liv and Maddie’ and the ‘Descendants’ movies. Since then, she’s built a successful music career and taken on more adult roles, like in the show ‘Schmigadoon!’. Cameron has explained that she feels it’s important to be open about who she is to support fans who may be questioning their own identities.

Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez, known for their role as Dr. Callie Torres on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, publicly came out as bisexual in 2016 and non-binary in 2020. Their character on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ was a prominent LGBTQ+ representation on television for many years. Ramirez continues to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community through their work as Che Diaz on the ‘Sex and the City’ reboot, ‘And Just Like That…’, and actively supports organizations helping homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Amber Heard

In 2010, Amber Heard publicly shared that she is bisexual at a GLAAD event, which was a bold move for a young actress at the time. She’s known for roles in both big-budget films like ‘Aquaman’ and smaller, critically acclaimed movies such as ‘The Danish Girl.’ Early in her career, Heard was warned that being open about her sexuality could harm her career. Unfortunately, her personal life has often received more attention from the media than her work and the causes she supports.

Maria Bello

Maria Bello wrote about falling in love with a close female friend in a 2013 essay for The New York Times, titled “Coming Out as a Modern Family.” A well-known actress, she’s starred in critically praised films like ‘A History of Violence’ and ‘The Jane Austen Book Club,’ and also played Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane on the TV show ‘NCIS’ for several seasons. Throughout her career, Bello has been a strong voice for accepting diverse forms of love and relationships.

Kristanna Loken

Kristanna Loken, famous for playing the T-X in ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’, publicly came out as bisexual in a 2006 interview with Curve magazine. She’s consistently worked in film and TV, including a notable role on ‘The L Word’, and has openly discussed her relationships with both men and women. While continuing to act in action and science fiction films, Loken generally keeps her personal life private.

Saffron Burrows

Saffron Burrows publicly shared in a 2014 interview with The Guardian that she is bisexual, having been in relationships with both men and women. She’s a versatile actress known for roles in popular shows like ‘Boston Legal’ and ‘You’, as well as the film ‘Troy’. Beyond her mainstream work, she’s also a fixture in British independent film and actively involved in political causes. Burrows has consistently stated that her personal life is just one part of who she is as an actress and a mother.

Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho is a well-known comedian and actress who has openly identified as bisexual for many years. She’s used her career to speak out against harmful stereotypes about race, sexuality, and gender. Cho is famous for her role in the sitcom ‘All-American Girl’ and has also appeared in shows like ‘Drop Dead Diva’ and the film ‘Fire Island.’ She continues to be a leading figure in bringing queer Asian-American stories to a wider audience.

Chyler Leigh

Chyler Leigh, the actress from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Supergirl,’ publicly shared her experiences with understanding her sexuality in a 2020 post. She explained that her character Alex Danvers coming out on ‘Supergirl’ reflected her own personal journey, though she didn’t use a specific label. Married to Nathan West since 2002, Leigh has also talked about the strong support she received from her family as she explored her identity. Her portrayal of a woman coming out later in life on ‘Supergirl’ was highly acclaimed for its realism.

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton, known for playing Marissa Cooper on the early 2000s TV show ‘The O.C.’, recently talked about her experiences with fluid attraction and how the media previously focused heavily on her private life. After finding fame through the show, she’s continued to work in independent films and appeared on the reality series ‘The Hills: New Beginnings’. Barton has often spoken about the challenges of maintaining a sense of self and privacy while being constantly in the public eye and under intense scrutiny from the tabloids.

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner, known for her role as Sansa Stark in ‘Game of Thrones’ and Jean Grey in ‘Dark Phoenix’, has spoken about her attraction to people based on personality rather than gender. She shared this in a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, saying she falls in love with a person’s soul. Turner has also been a vocal advocate for mental health, openly discussing the challenges of growing up with constant public attention.

Shay Mitchell

Shay Mitchell has openly discussed her sexuality, identifying as fluid and explaining she prefers not to use labels. She’s known for playing Emily Fields, a queer character, on the popular show ‘Pretty Little Liars’. Since then, she’s appeared in the series ‘You’ and the comedy ‘Dollface’. Beyond acting, Mitchell is a successful businesswoman with her own travel company and a large following on social media.

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe publicly identified as pansexual in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, after previously using the term bisexual. She’s a successful singer and songwriter, and has also earned praise as an actress, appearing in films like ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘Moonlight’. Monáe often uses a unique, futuristic style to examine ideas about who we are, freedom, and the impact of technology. Her work in the 2022 film ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ confirmed her as a talented and adaptable performer in the movie industry.

Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil publicly shared that she is queer in 2020, after discussions about her work on a show inspired by ballroom culture. She’s widely recognized for playing Tahani Al-Jamil in the NBC comedy ‘The Good Place.’ Jamil is a strong voice for body neutrality and created the ‘I Weigh’ movement to fight against unrealistic beauty standards. More recently, she played a villain in the Marvel series ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.’

Abbi Jacobson

Abbi Jacobson, known for co-creating and starring in the comedy series ‘Broad City’, publicly shared she is bisexual in a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair. She explained that she’s attracted to people of all genders, and what she looks for most is a good sense of humor and passion in a partner. More recently, Jacobson created and starred in a television adaptation of ‘A League of Their Own,’ which features LGBTQ+ storylines. In addition to acting and writing, she’s also a skilled illustrator and author, having published multiple books.

Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein is a creative force, best known as a member of the band Sleater-Kinney and for co-creating the comedy series ‘Portlandia’. She’s been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and wrote about her experiences as a bisexual woman in her 2015 memoir, ‘Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl’. Beyond music and comedy, Brownstein has also directed TV episodes and acted in films such as ‘Carol’ and ‘The Nowhere Inn’. Her work frequently delves into topics like underground culture, feminism, and what it means to be an artist.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson describes her sexuality as fluid and has dated both men and women. She’s a highly acclaimed TV actress, winning an Emmy for her performance in ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.’ Paulson often works with Ryan Murphy, appearing in several seasons of ‘American Horror Story’ and as the lead in ‘Ratched.’ She’s been in a well-known relationship with Holland Taylor since 2015.

Holland Taylor

Holland Taylor, a well-known and award-winning actress from television, film, and stage, has recently discussed her relationships with women, after previously dating men. She’s famous for her work in shows like ‘Two and a Half Men’ and ‘The Practice’, as well as the movie ‘Legally Blonde’. Taylor also starred in her one-woman Broadway show, ‘Ann’, which portrayed the life of Ann Richards. Her long-term relationship with Sarah Paulson is celebrated as an inspiring example of partnership within the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood.

Auliʻi Cravalho

I was so happy to see Auli’i Cravalho, who I loved as the voice of Moana, share that she’s bisexual back in 2020! She did it through a TikTok video, lip-syncing to an Eminem song, which I thought was really cool. Since then, she’s moved into acting in movies like ‘All Together Now’ and the recent ‘Mean Girls’ musical. She’s talked about how much it means to her to represent the LGBTQ+ community as a young woman of color, and I think it’s amazing. She’s really becoming a big star in both movies and musical theater, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Willow Smith

In 2019, Willow Smith publicly shared that she identifies as both bisexual and polyamorous during an appearance on ‘Red Table Talk’. She explained that she’s naturally attracted to people of all genders and prioritizes deep emotional connections in her relationships. Smith started her career as a young actress in the film ‘I Am Legend’, but has since become a musician, releasing albums that combine elements of rock, pop, and R&B.

We’d love to hear your opinions on these actresses and how they’ve influenced representation. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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2026-02-26 19:49