Sam Heughan is best known as Jamie Fraser on Outlander opposite Caitriona Balfe. He has a lot of fans, some of whom are convinced he’s gay. In this day and age, we can and should take his word for it that he’s straight. Which brings me to this interview he did with a LGBTQ+ blog, all to promote his role in The Spy Who Dumped Me (he plays “the gay friend” I think?). Some highlights:
How aware are you of your LGBTQ fan base?
I’m not aware! But I hope there is one. And if there isn’t, then we need to make one.I think it’s been made, Sam. Outlander’s queerness seems to have courted a sizeable gay audience.
I suppose it has. The only gay character is John Grey, but that relationship (with Jamie) is so interesting, and it’s been really, really fun. It’s a really beautiful friendship they’ve got, and this sort of understanding. And it’s sad, actually, for John Grey because he’s really fallen for Jamie, and it’s not reciprocated in that way. I really feel for that guy.The Spy Who Dumped Me just might lead to the Bond movie that William Shatner wants you to star in. And based on his endorsement, he wants you to play…gay Bond?
God bless him. Everyone’s being talked about, but I think it’s time that, yeah, why not? Let’s do a gay Bond. That’d be cool. I’ve actually played quite a few gay characters. I did A Very British Sex Scandal (in 2007), which was about this reporter who was taken to court in the late ’50s. I’ve done a few characters on stage as well. But, yeah, I don’t know if it’s typecasting. (Laughs)How did you end up playing so many gay roles?
Those parts are really interesting because there’s this grey area. These characters are not always fully aware of their situation or in control of their situation, and they have very strong feelings and very strong emotions and tend to be really interesting parts.Your love scene in the play Plague Over England, which was performed in London in 2008 and 2009, obviously resonated with gay audiences. How did you approach that role?
It’s such a wonderful awakening for this character to sort of fall in love with this very attractive, very intelligent, very fun guy. Then, we see him 20 years later. He’s kind of lost the love of his life, and I loved the arc, the journey of that.
And it doesn’t matter if he’s straight or gay; it’s just about love, and love lost, really. And it was a really nice play to do, actually. Leon [Ockenden] was my lover in that and we’re still very good friends.
A critic, or a troll, tweeted: “Mr. Heughan is one of the most boring homosexual actors out there.” Your retort: “Boring and homosexual never go together. But thank you for the compliment.x” Do people sometimes mistake you as gay, and do you usually just take that as a compliment?
Yeah, I guess. I played a few gay parts and maybe people might make assumptions about me. I mean, it’s not true, but I don’t really care. I think, whatever, if that’s what you’re gonna pick out from someone’s performance.But you take being called gay a compliment.
I love that world. My makeup artist in the U.K. is very camp and she brings out the best camp side in me.
His answers to the gay rumors are pretty cool – “I mean, it’s not true, but I don’t really care.” It’s 2018 and actors don’t give a damn if you think they’re gay and they’re not going to protest it loudly if you say they are. Of course, there’s always the possibility that he’s a straight guy who has spent his whole career queerbaiting the gay audience too, which is something a lot of the younger entertainers are doing these days. I have no idea – I don’t know the man and I’ll take him at his word.
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In April, 2020, Sam posted the following to Twitter. He was denying rumors that he wasn’t following Covid protocols and that he was closeted. Good for him.
[Sam Heughan] revealed he has endured “six years of constant bullying, harassment, stalking and false narrative” by – what he says are – “professionals who should know better.”
“I am at a loss, upset, hurt and have to speak out. It’s affecting my lif, mental state and is a daily concern. My costars, friends, family, myself, in fact I’m associated with, has been subjected to personal slurs, shaming, abuse, death threats, stalking, sharing private information and vile, false narrative.”
“Recently, these false claims vary from me manipulating fans, being a closet-homosexual, trying to mislead or exhort fans for money and disregarding Covid advice,” he wrote. “I’ve done non [sic] of the above.”
The attacks regarding COVID-19 derive from to his decision to stay in Hawaii while filming on location during the outbreak. Heughan said he traveled there before the ban and prior to the peak of the virus.
“Upon the advice of everyone I trust, I decided to remain in a safe environment,” he wrote. “It was a good decision. I am safe, isolated, putting no one at risk and am not a burden to the locals.”
In addressing the attacks of stalking and hacking his information, the actor wrote:
“I’m so hurt by this. As an actor in these time, we feel impotent. We can’t do much but I have tried to use what leverage I have to provide a voice to charities that need it and hopefully a little entertainment or light relief. For those still unhappy I suggest you unfollow.”
He concluded his post by thanking his fans and supporters.
“I’m so grateful, from the bottom of my heart. Stay safe and please be kind to yourself and each other.”
Sam is currently thought to be dating a model named Monika Clarke and he’s been previously linked with actresses MacKenzie Mauzy, Amy Shiels and Cody Kennedy.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Getty Images.
I feel for the guy as his cray cray Outlander fans r desperate to have him and his female co star as an item and both have partners. That fan base is up there with the Twihards.
He doesn’t ping my gaydar so we should take him at his word.
Agreed, they are nuts. I’ve seen some fan accounts on IG because I’m a fan of the show and it’s so crazy.
Didn’t he have an off screen relationship with Catriona Balfe? So he’s at least bi-sexual, but definitely not gay
He has an actress girlfriend that isn’t Balfe but the outlander nuts have gone after her social media. The best part is that I learned all this from following William Shatner’s twitter. He seems to be friends with Heughan (Ron Moore was a writer for Star Trek next gen and other shows before he produced outlander) and he criticizes Heughan’s nutty followers all the time.
No, they never dated. Catriona has been with her fiancé Tony since before Outlander begun. It’s just crazy shipper fans who created the rumour that she and Sam are secretly dating/married and that Tony is either a het-beard used to keep their real relationship secret, or some evil stalker using Cat and stopping her showing off her real love.
Basically it’s the new Robsten (and some of the most fervent SamCait truthers used to be vocal Robsten truthers).
They never dated but are friends.
The “shippers” are certifiably deranged and delusional. I am a fan of the show but stay far, far away from the actors social media accounts to avoid the craziness.
I am glad he doesn’t mind being thought of as being gay because he does look a bit, just a bit effeminate. I am not saying that every guy out there who doesn’t look entirely masculine is gay but who knows.
I was a little shocked the first time I saw him outside of his Jamie character. He looked like an extreme metrosexual, and his suits are so tight and do nothing for his banging body. I accept a celebrities stated sexuality, as it isn’t our place to out anyone.
babypeanut-me too. I don’t like the way his look is styled outside of Outlander. His hair in particular. He looks better (to me) with the shaggy Jamie style hair. He has a very high forehead and with his hair pulled back it looks odd.
There’s a stereotypical way a person looks who is gay, but just like gaydar it’s not always accurate. Even if in your life it’s always been right, but I bet it hasn’t though, you just don’t know. I think it’s bad to label their sexuality, because of how they look. I wish we’d move on from that. Not sure why someone would not believe his word, especially with the way he simply just says he’s not.
At this point he is saying he is straight so who cares.
Is there a ‘gay’ version of a witch hunt?
People should have a right to a private life.
Except he was openly gay prior to becoming famous…
I looked online and couldn’t find anything.
Could you post the link?
Being “openly gay” as in he identified as gay or openly gay as in he had sex with men.Two different things.I know many people who have had sex with someone of the same sex who don’t identify as gay or bisexual.
Jane, this is all I could find. Lots of rumors and hearsay, which may or may not be true, but nothing of Heughan himself coming out and saying it.
https://www.datalounge.com/thread/20611664-sam-heughan-closeted-gay-actor-lead-in-outlander-part-27
OMG It’s from Datalounge. LOL. Everyone according to them is gay (or a lesbian).
Hey, I made no claims for the website. I just said it was all I could find by very briefly Googling.
Dear, M.A.F the comments and stories about Sam being gay are not from Datalounge.. They re form other sites. People there only collect those rumours, comments storiee, tweets and other stuff in one place.
Maybe he’s bisexual. He only said he isn’t gay.
I remember reading comments on a story about him and several people were saying that when he was doing theatre he was openly gay. They mentioned names of boyfriends as well. Of course they could have been lying but they sounded very certain. I don’t care if he is or isn’t and respect that even if he is he might not want to come out.
it doesn’t matter how anyone feels about his sexuality. the only person who gets to decide is Sam and he was pretty clear about his feelings. that should be the last word on it.
Why do we as a society care so much about sexual orientation? I mean, it doesn’t make a difference unless you’d like/are planning to actually sleep with that person.
Otherwise, it’s none of our business.
Because we do not have a level playing field. There is everything for straight/cis people, and scraps for everyone else, and those scraps are in constant danger of being taken away. Gay/queer people crave role models. We could talk for hours about the psychology of it. But that’s the reason.
Makes sense.
Still doesn’t make it anyone’s business but the people in question and their partners.
MI6: Agreed. Someday that will be the prevailing wisdom. Someday.
It is quite a shift from a few years ago when actors would sue for just the insinuation. However now we have the problem of fans who won’t take an actor at their word or worse, get angry and say they’re homophobic for denying it outright. I actually think they should deny it outright if it’s not true. Sure there is nothing wrong with it, but by dancing around the issue it becomes: “So and so IS secretly gay….and look how hugely rich, famous, and successful they became by hiding it!” How does that help? That’s basically the message these tin hats end up inadvertently spreading.
Cognitive dissonance and sadly nothing actors can do.
I don’t know much about him, but every interview I’ve read, including this one highlighted here, he comes off as a good guy. I kind of put him in the same category as Robert Pattinson. He appeals to both sexes, so good for him and his career.
Ha hahah hahaha oh Sam. Not what people who knew you before fame would say.
Of course, sadly, coming out when you’re considered a heart throb and a big manly man star, does in fact affect an actor’s bankability, so I get it.
I just shook my head when I read the headline. I feel bad for him and others in his position. Having to deny yourself just to be able to work.
It’s annoying that people are still getting asked this in 2018. It shouldn’t matter.
All things being equal, no, it shouldn’t matter. But being openly gay/bi/queer is a political act in 2018. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. It matters a HUGE amount. Doesn’t mean speculation an actor’s sexuality is excusable, but that’s where it leads.
I, too, know very little about him other than his name and the name of the show he is in. But after reading this, I think I like him. And seriously, not that it’s any of our business, but his word should be enough.
Love him on Outlander
And he should post more pictures of his dog on IG.
Gay, straight… I don’t care, nor should anyone else! I adore him!
FYI: He doesn’t play the “gay friend” in the movie, he’s the love interest for Mila (after she gets dumped).
Who knows what the truth is, but I suspect TPTB behind Outlander are heavily invested in his publicly identifying as straight.
I really don’t care about actors sexuality because that is their personal business. They don’t owe the public the “truth” about everything in their private life. Furthermore bisexuality exists and people on this site love ignoring that for some reason. Gay or straight aren’t the only sexualities.
Anyway, I don’t care what his sexuality is because I’m not sleeping with him so why should I?
I thought the same about bisexuality. I often think some of the celebs who are “outed” are actually bisexual.
A friend in the UK was so excited when she saw Sam somewhere, said he was extremely nice and happily chatted and posed for selfies with her.
I’ve never seen Outlander but yes he was 100% out and proud when he lived here in London prior to becoming famous. His ex-boyfriend is now flatmates with an actor friend of mine.
He’s doing a Luke Evans. In 5 years he’ll come back out, I’d put money on it.
“His ex-boyfriend is now flatmates with an actor friend of mine.”
LOL. I’m sure he is.
“His ex-boyfriend is now flatmates with an actor friend of mine.”
Sure, Jan.
People over on Data Lounge claimed for years that Lee Pace was gay and guess what? He is. So if some people say Sam had boyfriends when he was in London theatre I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They claim almost everyone (ok well a very large proportion of the actors they discuss) in Hollywood is gay, to be fair, they are bound to be correct some of the time. And the “he was out and proud when he was young but is now closeted” narrative is one I have seen applied to tons of actors, including Matthew Rhys, another one that Datalounge was 100% branding as gay, then radio silence whe he and Keri Russell got together.
It was known in the theatre community here, Meggles is right. But whatever, if he has to go back in the closet to make it in the US, it’s his choice.
I’ll never be on board with famous people being put on the spot to discuss their sexual orientation. Just because an actor portrays a character many people are hot for doesn’t mean he owes the whole world his own private sexual history and details. Acting may be an unconventional job, but it IS a job. When reporters and fans of his show constantly ask about that stuff, isn’t it a form of workplace harassment?
Also, not believing him when he does choose to say he’s straight isn’t THAT far off from doubting a victim making claims of assault or abuse… shouldn’t we believe people first and only disbelieve them if there’s evidence that they’ve lied?
^ this.
I hate this kind of speculation. So intrusive!
He pings on my gaydar but sadly lots of actors still have to keep it under wraps to get jobs.
I don’t care what anybody does in their private sex lives. Unless they are causing harm to someone else.
I do wish people would realize that some things are private, even to people who earn their living in the entertainment biz.
He does nothing for me, but I do think he has a kind of strange beauty about him that makes him compelling to look at. Nice to see a guy laid back about that sort of thing, though.
This. I’m an Outlander fan and I’ve always thought Heughan is more “beautiful” than “hot.” Which works and is totally fine by me!! Other women (and men, too) seem to think he is sex-on-a-stick but for me he is just aesthetically pleasing without having a lot of stud appeal. I actually feel secondhand embarrassment when he and Balfe do their love scenes because they are supposed to be like fire but they look like two very gorgeous people who are good friends who have been commanded by the mean girls at some party that they have to make out in front of everyone.
He is just absurdly pretty. Unreal actually. And that is going to be a burden as time goes on.
I couldn’t watch more than the first season. It wasn’t working for me; I sympathized too much with the guy who got left behind….and in one sequence I observed that Sam had better cleavage – in those bandages – than she did, I couldn’t unsee it. Ah well.
I enjoyed him in First Light, a film about those British pilots during WW2. I have also enjoyed Outlander, particularly the Highlanders part. A good history lesson and a fine Scot cast.
I miss those Highlanders now though. I don’t care if he is gay or not. Why do people obsess with other people’s sex lives? They aren’t sleeping with them. I just enjoy good performances.
He is beautiful and gives me nice dreams no matter what. None of our business. He’s a fine actor and seems to be a good person. That’s all we need to know.
I agree Skippy.
It seems rude to put an actor on the spot and ask them to make an announcement about their sexual orientation.
All I am looking for something is some entertainment.
I mean really nobodies business.
Unless I am personally involved in a relationship, none of my business.
I don’t ask my car salesperson or my realtor a question so personal.
I cannot see how being gay (or not) matters? He is perfect in Outlander (my quilty pleasure number 1), and if he is gay (again, it doesn’t matter) Outlander proves that he is just a magnificent actor. In the end it always comes down to how convincing and versatile an actor is, and for this reason I would really like to see somene like, say, Cumberbatch, play a true working class character etc. Actors are too easily type cast.
i love him in Outlander and he seems a very likable person. What he does in his spare time and with whom, is his own business.
He really is gay, not bisexual, and he took this role that means exactly being the muse of millions of women that dream about an hetereosexual man. If he is supposed to prefer men over anyone else, then it is reslly fake. In any other role it would be ok, but in Outlander? I think it was a mistake.