Richard Armitage interviewed in The Telegraph
Thanks for the interview Jane. To clarify, we spoke extensively about The Stranger @NetflixUK @netflix and Uncle Vanya @unclevanyaplay so the headline is a little misleading… https://t.co/bB3SD1b4zq
— Richard Armitage (@RCArmitage) January 6, 2020
Me + Richard Armitage 
Expressing my own opinion: REALLY? Those audiobooks? Ellis can’t plot, and I stopped after the first 3 CDs of CJ Tudor. Hopefully he’ll still find the opportunity to do something better.
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Well! He did it. Glad he finally feels free. Thanks so much for posting the whole article!
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So, he confirms that he is in a relationship and gay… Did I get that right…? Didn’t expect that so easily…
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I suppose that’s the most obvious conclusion. However, I think all that we can really say based on these remarks is that he’s in a good relationship with someone with whom he can’t reproduce / have children. A man is one of those options, and a reasonable conclusion, but not the only one.
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I have never cared that much about his sexual orientation, but I share his frustration that the main takeaway from this interview seems to be something about his sexuality.
OTOH Tanya Gold is probably jealous as hell right now that someone else got the scoop, so that pleases me.
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I do care a little bit, because he was so damn attractive in the recent pictures… And he lied for quite a while. But ok, who am I to blame him…?
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historically, it’s been hard on people’s careers to admit that they are not heterosexual. That’s only really started to change in the last decade or so and judging by things even fans of his had said, it’s still an issue for some people. There was a whole tranche of people who said, “I don’t have a problem with him being gay but I can’t crush on someone who’s gay.” Obviously marketers think about stuff like that. But even beyond that, the storms in the fandom every time there was any suggestion were frightening. The lengths some fans went to defend the idea that he was heterosexual would have frightened any observer — let alone either Armitage or his management.
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Well, since it’s all in my head anyway i have no problem crushing over anyone (wink) ; totally on Andrew Scott or even Holliday Grainger (love her too). Shrugs, thank God even professionally at least here it’s a non-issue these days. I don’t care either way and at this stage whatever he says is to suit himself, be at peace with himself rather than anything else.
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I don’t think it’s a non-issue in the US. I don’t think it’s the issue it was even ten years ago but it’s an issue. That said, I think the point at which he’s not telling the truth in these last two interviews is where he says he didn’t want to have a Hollywood moment. He was going to Hollywood to try out for pilots back in 2005. He mentioned that, and that’s how he originally met Laila Rouass. I don’t understand why it’s apparently a problem for Brits to say they are ambitious. But to me that was the defining trope of these two interviews: “Just don’t say of me that I’m ambitious or want more attention.”
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Not the ambition thing is , the wanting to go to Hollywood and failing at it 🙂 Thought not sure why since 99% fail at it. One good thing coming from SVODS, that is now much less of an issue too. It saddens me that that maybe still grates on him as a failure, when if he’d ask me he was never Hollywood star material 🙂 But neither is DT and many others and i got give a rat’s ass, there is much better material these days on the smaller screens and outside big Hollywood stuff. But he is himself and every person has their own demons and regrets about themselves and their achievements. And Vanya presses those buttons with a vengeance 🙂
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and to be fair — what’s true now about production methods really wasn’t in 2004 when he started to be interviewed. I just read an article somewhere about how the first decade of the century kind of killed everyone’s assumptions on how to succeed — but obvs that’s primarily noticeable in retrospect.
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I’m not even sure that he necessarily lied, though. I certainly know gay men who had relationships and/or sex with women, particularly as teenagers or young adults. One man I know had long-term relationships with women until suddenly, at 40, he met the man of his dreams and never looked back.
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I have a friend who shares 4 children with her ex who is now in a same sex relationship. I asked her when she first suspected he was gay. She said it was day he left her for his boyfriend.
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Rough on her.
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Wow. Must have been crushing. But for sure it happens.
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I think the majority of gay men I know who are my age or older have had some kind of sexual experience with women, even if as teenagers, and yeah — it’s not all that rare for them to have been in straight marriages. Those who are ten-fifteen years younger may have been together exclusively with men, but in my generation AIDS happened when we were teenagers and there were definitely incentives to “hide.” People are much more open about it and accepting now in mainstream circles (although not in all religious ones).
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That’s true… although I do know one guy in his 50’s that really has never had an experience with a female. Apparently he finds the idea of breasts, even, distasteful. A guy who has always known what he wants.
But I know my kids just see being gay as another way of being. No stigma attached. It certainly makes life easier for people.
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Yes, it’s difficult to generalize about the behaviors of a minority that’s been very oppressed — or to make judgments about choices. There was the whole “confirmed bachelor” thing in small towns when I was little. That was code for something. Were those men having sex? Probably not when they were at home.
I’m glad it’s different now. (Even if gay men have been some of the most important resources to me in understanding my own identity struggles, they shouldn’t have to go through such hassle in order to get there!)
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I’m sorry, but how did he lie?
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I suppose it depends on how you see it, and this will be a matter of discussion among fans probably until his dying day, but the parts of his early press that touched on relationships stated or implied that he was in relationships with women / a straight, heterosexual male. If he was in relationships with women (something I have no evidence for or against), he was also certainly in relationships with men.
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She’s probably seething 😂😂😂
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I thought about Ms.Gold too and punched the air she got nothing. She wrote an atrocious article about the Nike plus line as promoting obesity. All of could think about was ‘Richard, honey, how much restraint did it take not to tell her to take a flying leap.’
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yeah — that plus size article was literally insane. I read it and I thought, it must take a lot of work to hate yourself this much.
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For the record, I have two Nike Plus pieces, including that work out bra on the mannequin in the article. She then wrote an article about the hardship she endured online after the article was written and I just 🤦♀️ in response when it popped it. May the almighty algorithm make her a rarity in my timeline.
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I’m not a small woman and I don’t own any exercise clothes because I honestly haven’t given a shit about my weight since 1994. I remember the complaining too about the response. Not to blame the victim but one does write in order to provoke an audience response. Not sure why she would have expected to have been praised for the first piece.
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Like you said, she hates herself that much.
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and you know, it’s not like I’m someone with iron-clad self-esteem. I spend a lot of energy on sending myself negative messages. But I bow to her superior skill i this area.
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😄😄😄😄
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Me too.
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Ha Ha! Good one, Serv!
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It did occur to me that men are only one population segment that can’t bear a child, but the part about past concern re: causing problems for his parents & them not being proud of him seems to lead in that direction imo. I’m guessing he’ll be pleased how few people will actually care or be surprised, & I hope I won’t be wrong.
It disturbs me though when people are hostile about how or when he or anyone else defines their sexuality. It’s their life & business, and I don’t think someone else has the right to push anyone into a public confession about it before they’re ready.
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TBH, I feel like the extremes have disappeared from the fandom (or maybe i just don’t encounter them anywhere because they’ve moved). The people who were insistent he should come out in tandom with Pace have completely moved on (and seem to have disappeared into thin air, period). And the people who were insistent that he was definitely straight and anyone who thought or said differently was defaming him have also moved on — or at least I don’t encounter them anymore. It’s a big relief.
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Richlee forever in my heart! 😉
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I can’t lie, my heart sunk when I initially read the article, but re-reading it again he quotes he is in a relationship, “a good one”, and isn’t that what anyone would want for someone you have followed for a number of years and grown to respect and care about. He says, “because of the nature of his relationship”. We quickly conclude it is a man but an older woman could also have the same issues of reproduction. I remember the interview with the Anglophile host and was asked what leading ladies would he like to work with. His answer was that of women all significantly older than him by ten to 12 or 15 years. So, for me I’ll wait until I see a photo of him holding with the lucky individual, until then I’ll settle for “good for him”. Happy New Year everyone.
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At first I thought, ‘oh, he came out’ then I thought ‘well, I am a year older than him, maybe it’s a woman and roughly that age.’
Then I thought ‘he’s happy and that’s what counts.’ Bottom line is he wants to shield that person from becoming collateral damage to the spotlight. Good on him.
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We definitely want him to be happy and feel supported in any relationships he has!
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If it’s a woman, why hide? Lee Pace was not a woman. He made that same comment a few years ago in an interview, and during the Lee Pace affair. I was not happy with that part of the interview. It just annoys me that all he has physically, is being enjoyed by another man and he hates breast.
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I’m not entirely sure what your last sentence means. Armitage is the only one who knows why he’s saying what he’s saying. But logically speaking one could ask the same question about what he actually said, if he were discussing a man.
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I am soooo happy for him ❤ shed a few tears, too. Everyone deserves to be happy.
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I so admire his courage and grace to talk about his personal life–at last! I think he is right that now is the time and I trust that his partner is worthy of him. He has always been, and will remain, a very private person but it is good that he is finally free of the ironic position he has been in for so long.
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This was always my thought, too — that even if he were in a relationship with a woman, that we wouldn’t see much of her or hear much about her. He just has never seemed like the kind of person who needs or wants to proclaim that kind of information — no matter what it is.
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Thanks for this Servetus – when I saw his tweet I was confused because I hadn’t seen that part of the article and actually didn’t realise the section yesterday wasn’t the whole thing.
Whilst he could be alluding to a heterosexual relationship with a woman not able to conceive I read that as a declaration he is gay. I felt almost relieved reading that because although I’ve always felt his sexuality is his own business ( and not for anyone else to ‘out’ such as that statement by Ian Mckellan in which he appeared to out someone in the cast of TH) it saddens me that anyone in 2020 feels the need to hide their sexuality. Unfortunately though I think it might impact on roles he is offered even if, on a personal level , he no longer wants to be viewed as ‘totty’ . I suspect it’s more about roles than wanting to be a sex symbol to the heterosexual woman. I also wonder about him suggesting his parents would mind – I just can’t square the idea of parents who were clearly hugely supportive of their artistic child being uncomfortable with him being gay.
I can see why he might be irritated that one statement not related to his current role becomes the headline but it was inevitable as I’m sure he knows. So perhaps that’s why he is so reticent.
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I think Armitage is right that he’s out of the age range for straight romantic leads. When McKellen came out I think he was five years older than Armitage is now. When people used to hassle me about this, though, I always used to think “have you ever seen anyone kiss as enthusiastically as that?” I still fantasize about the Crucible kiss. If that’s acting, dude, act away!
I don’t know about his parents, but I know the town he grew up in is about twice the size of the town I grew up in, and that kind of situation is prickly. No matter how you feel about your kids, you’re constantly subject to other people’s prejudices about them. Maybe especially if your kid is on TV twice every weekend.
I can’t imagine this wasn’t on some level orchestrated — not in the sense of planning it, but just in the sense that he or his management decided it was time to have this conversation and this was the next opportunity (also because the issue in general doesn’t seem to be such a decisive one for theatre goers).
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🙂 Thank you!
Between his confession and the tumult of the news: Donald Trump, Soleimani, Carlos Ghosn, Weinstein, Australia burning, Gafa taxes, strikes in France, …the news media will have no trouble to choose. Now mister Armitage, you can live hidden away from the hustle and bustle, as I always hoped to.
About Carlos Ghosn’s life and Richard Armitage future plans what an amazing journey it could described in movie or series!
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it’s true — it’s a handy moment to say something important that one doesn’t want to be noticed!
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I think that’s what Boris Johnson is counting on too.
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This comment made me guffaw!
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As far as geography is concerned I’m not sure that you can compare an English town with a US one. I come from a small town is Berkshire ( and have family in Leicestershire) but everything being so close together it’s easy to escape somewhere larger. My high school had a huge catchment which allowed me to have friendships with people whose parents would never socialise with mine. I agree things are a bit different if your kid is on the TV but surely by the time he found fame that should have been a conversation that had already happened. I’m aware I project onto Margaret Armitage a bit- my view of her is that she was a pretty amazing mother- but I think it would have been brave to take a boy to dance classes in the 1970’s and to enrol him in a performing arts school, especially as they weren’t from a creative background. That in itself would cause tongues to wag. I think it more likely he was raised to be quite private no matter what his orientation.
But good point re theatre audience being more open/ less bothered so maybe the time is tight.
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I don’t question that he was raised to be private / quiet / not take up space (something he’s also said in interviews), but “where you come from” is important. It depends a lot on where their social interactions took place, also keeping in mind that neither of his parents were from there, so that’s an additional wrinkle, in terms of how well people fit in and whether they become the object of gossip.
In a Wisconsin town of 1700 people there will typically be five churches and eight to ten bars. (Drinking is out of hand in Wisconsin, though.) His little town seems to have two churches; also keeping in mind that pubs in England are disappearing, there don’t seem to be a lot of pubs there, one for sure, a few more in driving distance. It seems to have a few sports clubs (running, cricket). There’s an elementary school. So it’s not just a bedroom community for Leicester. But assuming that they socialized with their neighbors and in the village, they wouldn’t have a lot of options. RA himself eventually went elsewhere for school, but they were still in that town. Mrs. Armitage was active in the WI for a few years that I was aware of and RA’s brother was active in the nearby cricket club.
Of course it’s not like one is trapped in a place like that. When I was in school I took music lessons and played in the youth symphony in the next big town, went to school in the next small town over as we didn’t have a school anymore; I went away to Girl Scout and church camps, and my parents’ social lives extended beyond the borders of our town (not least because my parents were also not from the town in which we lived — our relatives were thirty miles away). Still, everybody’s nose is in everybody else’s business and I’m guessing if your child is nationally known you are probably the object of greater scrutiny — not least out of jealousy in a society that doesn’t like people to be the “tall poppy,” which seems to be a bigger problem in the UK than here. If his parents or father was a regular at a particular local pub, if his mother was involved in community activities, there would have been chatter both in and out of their hearing range. If you’re uncomfortable with being the focus of attention, as his parents seem to have been, an openly gay son could be an uncomfortable thing to deal with. You walk into the post office or the hair salon and they say, “hey Mrs. Armitage, saw that picture of Richard with his boyfriend in the Mail, wink wink, nudge nudge” (or however that is expressed in the UK).
To some extent I am basing this perception on my own experience of doing something that was both considered beyond the pale and hugely embarrassing to my parents as a 21 year old: converting to Judaism. After my mom got past her phase of not speaking to me at all, she begged me not to tell any of my school / local friends or anyone in our home town. Her major local involvements were church, the school, and scouting. It would have been a matter of huge embarrassment to her had it become known, in part because people in those networks would have been talking about her negatively both openly and secretly. And by the time I converted I hadn’t even lived here for three years and certainly had no plans to move back. I complied with her request mostly because I knew that people were still gossiping about the girls in my class who “had to get married” five years earlier (to state only one example), some of whom were on their second or third children by then. Nowadays it doesn’t matter anymore — our little town is much bigger and if her remaining friends or acquaintances gossip about my failure to be a Christian or my other divergent live choices, my reaction is that I’m sorry they don’t have more interesting things to worry about. (Whereas I am concretely anxious about what they say about me in relationship to dad — so that small town dynamic hasn’t changed — and it’s a piece of why Flower is such a thorn in my side.) But I don’t have to worry about what they might say to or about mom anymore. It’s a real difference — if you can handle gossip about yourself, vs gossip about yourself that’s targeted at your mom.
I have no difficulty believing he had an amazing mother, but I think that makes the question of “diverging from the path” harder as well as easier. On the one hand, she’s supportive of all of these time-consuming and expensive activities; on the other hand, you’re aware that something essential about you would be a matter of embarrassment to her (publicly, no matter how she feels about it personally) if it were known. If you had a poor relationship with her, it would be one thing to expose those differences, but you love her, she made big sacrifices to give you the chances you got, and she still does a lot for you, probably including providing moral or emotional support. Do you want to make her life more difficult? Probably not.
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Nice to see RA come into his own, speaking candidly and revealing a bit more about himself. Best thing – it finally puts a stop to all the speculation.
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I’m happy as long as he’s speaking free from coercion (which he seems to have been). As far as speculation goes: we can hope — but some people will never be satisfied.
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True. It looked as if it came from himself. But I guess you are right – what looks crystal clear to me and many (if not all) other commentators here, may be interpreted differently by others. Maybe this was only the first step to future openness… if he wants that.
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At this point, I’m looking for data point #3 on the openness issue (I always look for three air tight points before I think of things as firm) but it does seem to me now that he is opening up somewhat. As long as it’s what he wants. Honestly, I always want to know the truth (as I said when he began tweeting), and I don’t regret saying that. It’s still true. But he hasn’t done himself any favors in that regard. I think less well of him now than I did in 2014. So I don’t know that I’m always benefited by the truth on a certain level, even if I do want to know it.
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Not sure if it counts as a data point, but I have seen evidence that Jim was with him in Toronto. Taking your partner along to an event – to me that would also point to more openness.
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It would depend on the reliability of the evidence — but I’m pretty jaded after observing after all the blatant lying that went on during RichLee. My professional training makes me reluctant to move quickly to conclusions and very picky about the quality of evidence. That just may be a difference between us.
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And I suppose the other thing is I really don’t want him to be more open. To me, his tweeting has been a pretty unmitigated disaster (with fewer than a handful of exceptions). Twitter has more or less killed fandom for me. As far as I am concerned, he has been more than open enough and he could close himself off a bit more now.
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i’d say this probably happened on the back of conversations with parents/mum? Doubt he’d said anything and even more the way he did had that not been the case. And undoubtedly his parents have always loved him very much, which is a gift in itself and not a given for everyone. So if for his peace he feels he needed to say something, good on him. Doubt many people will care either way at this stage (not talking fans)
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Do you mean he talked about it with her before she died? That would be interesting, if true. I’ve never been clear on the extent of his relationship with his father (the only thing he’s said is they don’t talk much). His parents have definitely been extremely supportive and you’re right, that’s not given.
Anyway, maybe he won’t have to talk about this anymore now. Honestly, the question of his orientation was primarily of interest in the context of the matter that his primary audience seems to be women, which points to another reactionary piece of this interview — the assumption being women cannot be interested in actors who aren’t at least potentially interested in them. Fandom is a lot further along, at least in some quarters, than that.
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That’s my take on because i’ve always felt he had a very close relationship with his parents. Close not being always equal to open. Just doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would ever start talking private life suddenly without having done so with them first. Don’t think he’d ever say in the press something he hasn’t said in person first or feels wouldn’t hurt them in any way. But who knows.. TBH it’s a bit boring talking about this ultimately minor thing compared to the for me much more stressing or conflicting matter of his work and what next and not being able to see something i really enjoyed him in. I’m afraid i’m not even that confident i’ll be bowled over by the play as much. Icke’s Vanya was so perfect for me it will be very very hard to beat. Maybe because i’m more in a place of trying to cope as well rather than assessing achievements. I hope i’ll like it, i want to, but i have many doubts. And frankly am much more attracted from local proposals by the Cyrano proposal (smiles, competition abounds). And i’ve seen great and challenging stuff last year, i have high expectations. So, bottom line for me at least, i don’t care about your private life mate whatsoever, just make sure you work your ass off and deliver to the best of your abilities to blow me away. Sorry, but the hot bod alone won’t do at all in my case. Maybe he should focus on that more (evil laugh).
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feels would not ‘wouldn’t’ hurt them of course, grr
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I had always felt that RA would be more forthright AFTER his mum died. I always had the feeling she knew, and was probably accepting, but preferred it be kept ‘in the family’ and he did so out of respect and love for her as that is the kind of son he seems to be. As sad as her passing is for him as he seemed to love and respect and admire her a great deal, it is also in many ways freeing for him. If he is actually gay. He still talks pretty gender neutral about ‘the nature of his relationship’. Could be a horse for all we know.
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He could have fallen in love filming Sparkhouse. Baa Baad joke.
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I’m bleating with laughter XD
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It’s that Shetland pony from The Hobbit. Shaman or Charmaine or whatever her name was. He said they had a relationship.
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RichLee never was, it had always been Ritchie. An enduring love/hate relationship from his Guy of Gisborne days.
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This kind of talk only ever REALLY seems to come around when he’s doing theater. Just an observation. But I’m happy for him 🙂
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Thanks Servetus for posting the interview for those like me who couldn’t read it any other way.
I follow Richard’s career for some time (not nearly as long as most of you do) and despite the title (which we all know the reason for it’s choice) I found it quite interesting and even refreshing in some ways.
As for his personal life I can empathize with him (even if for very different reasons) about keeping it private and how that might impact on family. People will always talk, especially when they don’t know anything about ones life. Hopefully the speculation will stop though.
I only wish I could be able to go to London and see Uncle Vanya. At least I hope some of you might enjoy it.
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Thanks for the comment and welcome. It’s absolutely true that it’s not easy to be a target of public scrutiny.
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Thanks for the welcome.
I’m sure Richard is used to it by now.
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You’d think. Although he has so often appeared to live in a bit of a haze.
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I guess not everything is black and white. Over the years people tend to change.
Perhaps Richard now feels more confortable talking about his life even if not completely. Let him adjust in his own time. I only hope he knows that won’t matter much for those who really like him mostly for his work (for me the looks came as a plus and make no difference in the end).
I wish him all the best and am quite happy he’s a great relationship (whoever the person is) that allows him to finally be much more at ease about life in general.
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Well, I don’t have any power to let him do or not do anything. I just kibitz. And it’s certainly true that sexuality changes over years (or even less time than that).
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I was speaking generally about life, yet I agree with you.
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Ack! Forgot to thank you for screen capping the article 🤦♀️.
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any time. This was another “one link per week” outlet. Will have to conserve clicks now until the reviews for the play come out.
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Thank you for posting the article. I share similar thoughts about the point of his personal life – it is personal and shouldn’t be the focus of attention. As he has always stated, it is about the work. If he is choosing to disclose more of his personal life, he will do so at his own timing and pace. In the meantime, let’s celebrate his upcoming projects – still waiting impatiently for the release of “The Stranger”, still jealous of all fans who are going to see “Uncle Vanya”, and am happy that he seems to be in a comfortable place with himself and his significant other.
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and hoping soon for an announcement of what will happen after Vanya — if The Seville Communion or something else.
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He seems to be in a really good place at the moment, professionally and personally, and that makes me happy for him.
For someone like him for whom his craft is so important, it must be frustrating talking about his current projects only to have a headline about his parents. I wouldn’t be surprised if he retreats again and sticks to the work.
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I think talking about the work is his natural inclination — and honestly it’s really frustrating that all these interviews in conjunction with Vanya spend so little time on the play.
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That happens so often (again during theater runs) what is it about the theater that make interviewers want to really dig into his personal life?
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These are some things I would guess:
First, I suspect that there’s no publicist at these interviews to enforce the rules. Most theater productions (although there are exceptions) don’t have the big auxiliary budget. He had a minder all through the Hobbit whose job it was to protect him. Those people sit in on interviews and are allowed to say “no questions on this topic, move on.” There was probably something similar at work with Berlin Station.
Second, I think it’s a combination of theatre audiences (or at least those in Britan) caring less about the sexual orientation of the actors and theatre being seen as a much more personal art form than a big film.
Finally, I think that since The Hobbit, he’s been involved in so many indie and small productions. They tend to get publicity primarily from people who write for genre audiences, and those audiences may be more interested in genre-specific questions than they are in the personal lives of the actors. The interviewers are more likely to be nerds themselves.
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Thanks for grabbing the article. As he said, there was a lot more to the conversation than just talk about his relationship. But it is great that he feels he can be a bit more open. The second time “he returns to it himself, later” is really taken out of context, it seems, and put directly after the comment about his relationship. It could be that he is talking there more generally about his personal vs professional life and just generally giving fodder for the press which could impact his family.
That being said, of course a reasonable conclusion is that he is in a relationship with a man. I’m glad he’s happy. The probable conclusion doesn’t seem to be affecting me as much as I thought it might.
In fact, I may quite easily imagine that he particularly likes women his age or older that are past their reproductive years. And/or that he is bisexual. As you say, there are other possible conclusions. But even if there weren’t, I think he will still loom large in my thoughts.
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By the way, I meant that he could be talking more generally about not having wanted to give fodder for the press, which could impact his family.
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Sexuality / sexual orientation is way more complicated than the media suggest, or even than fans realize. Even setting aside the relationship between love and sex. And it certainly changes over time. I don’t think this information really needs to interfere with anyone’s fantasies about him. I mean, fantasy is fantasy. My own fantasies about him have changed over the years, but primarily in relationship to my own needs rather than in response to information or rumors about his preferences.
I agree re: the awkward turn in the article. He seemed to want to talk more about his experience of midlife / midlife crisis and she seems to have focused that on “who he’s sleeping with.”
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It’s so interesting how some people now are coming out with very fluid sexuality, like Harry Styles, for example, who is open to whoever he finds attractive and/or falls for.
But yes, fantasy is fantasy. However, if Armitage dies his hair pink or something, the fantasy might be hard to maintain. 🙂
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A world where we could stop labeling people via acronyms would be my preference. I was still doing academic advising when the whole vogue for very complicated labels was happening and I was a bit bemused (pansexual, asexual, demisexual, gray, etc.. I saw the utility of it to a certain point (could say more about that but I won’t), and it also seemed to me to be symptomatic of the late adolescent struggle for certainty. OTOH I wondered if ten years later these labels would mean anything to anyone or if people would feel restricted by their choice of labels (in the way that religious converts often do in retrospect). To some extent those labels are not only about personal identity decisions but also about segregating people from things that make them feel uncomfortable. I’d wish for a world in which people just have sexuality.
re: pink hair — I would say that’s about the hair and not about the sexuality [laughs]
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I hope we’re heading in that direction of just having sexuality.
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Yes this, (especially) what you wrote in the first couple of sentences. Thank you for saying that.
Thank you also for sharing the article.
I’m glad he sounds happy. It’s terrible how whom you love can have a negative impact on your career, still. And the thing with parents, small town origins, and this stuff – yeah, I know very well what that can be like. He’s brave, and sounds like he’s maybe made some amount of peace with certain things regarding how people/audience/acquaintances/casting people etc see him. Finding your truth and being truthful to yourself, and others perceptions and the consequences, these things can be so hard.
Happy also for him that he’s in a good relationship! And what’s been said by others, great timing considering the news flow at the moment haha… While I’ve assumed he isn’t straight for quite a while, it’s still kind of nice to see him talk a little about it. However he identifies his sexuality doesn’t really matter. It’s nice to hear it because I feel that it implies he’s feeling more secure, and because to me it’s also the matter of representation. From someone like him. It’s silly maybe but it’s validating. Not so much as in what label he’d use, but that he’s not “the norm” and dares to say so.
I’m glad someone loves him and (hopefully) tells him often. I think he needs that. (Seriously surprised there are no pictures of him as a broody goth teenager. But maybe he was never concerned with image and expression in that sense. Well he did dye his hair black for many years… 🙂 And I suppose he would have never made that strong a statement. Sometimes I get the feeling his sense of who he is has been a bit unclear. Or maybe just been uncomfortable displaying anything personal…? Or just not one to pick up something like that, as it is in a way something that identifies a group… I’m just thinking out loud. For some reason he raises many questions – the Armitage enigma. He has that thing about him doesn’t he.)
I still don’t like how brutally self-critical he is. I mean on some level it’s a good thing to have of course, but it’s painful to read.
One of the first thoughts I had when I read the article were also that damn, his Thorin. And the Thorin/Bilbo relationship was pure love, and how carefully and beautifully he crafted that magic –
(It’s the only RA portraying a non straight relationship that I’ve seen, I think? as well. And of course he’s brilliant in the straight pairings as well, but this is special to me.)
-and what a gentle, intense, and devastating thing that is. And how thankful I am that that exists.
I’m proud of him. Because still 2020 this is not easy.
What he said about losing his mother and how in a way it made him more free was something that turned a key for me. It’s a sad thing.
I’m having trouble commenting. I hope I’m not spamming you 🙂
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I wonder if not having an entirely clear sense of identity is a benefit for an actor — not having to clear out your own baggage, or as much of it?
I really related to that statement about his mother. My immediate reaction to my own loss was that my superego was gone overnight. I didn’t experience that as freedom so much but I get what he is saying.
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I am glad he has found someone who loves him, perhaps now he will stop feeling as though he is on ‘the outside of things’
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I’ve been thinking about how his comments in his previous interview, including the outsider one, square with what he says in this interview. The previous one has a carefully-worded “[he is] 48 and lives alone” and repeats what he’s said many other times about the good and bad of liking to spend time by himself. None of that needs to be at odds with his being in a happy relationship. Perhaps he does feel less of an outsider now, and if he wants that, cool. But more than anything I hope the two sets of comments combined, however tiny a glimpse they are into his situation, indicate that he’s in a relationship that’s structured to allow him to be the self he wants to be.
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ps I don’t automatically equate being alone with feeling like an outsider, but he used the former as evidence of the latter in the previous interview. My point is that you can be in a happy relationship and still feel like an outsider in other ways good and bad.
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and being an outsider is also to some extent a choice.
I always smile when I read about his alone time preferences, b/c I’m the same way. I like being alone. I don’t know that it’s always good for me and there are definitely consequences (like at times feeling external to things) but I wouldn’t give it up for that reason.
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Me too Serv. It always makes me feel he and I have something in common, as I enjoy being alone. I love the days when the only time I go out the front door is to check the letter box.
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OMG, yes.
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Ditto. Alone time has always been a big thing for me and something not everyone in my world understands. So I’ve always loved that it’s important to RA, despite its unhealthy side.
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I don’t experience any unhealthy side!
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I am glad he has finally found someone who cares about him enough to give him the confidence he needed to be more open about his private life, I am pleased for him.
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He deserves to be happy as much as any of us do!
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Thanks so much for posting this and the Times article. I have to admit that my crush is as strong as ever, especially seeing that new profile pic! I’ve got tickets for around the beginning and the end of the play’s run, I’m so looking forward to it that I’m reading Chekhov’s Five Plays in preparation 😃
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I’ve seen a few comments now that people were surprised by this interview and that in turn has surprised me. It didn’t affect my feelings about him in any way. And I love these more “mature” pictures of him. I hope you enjoy the play!
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[…] too. That is basically why I have been silent on my blog the last couple of days. Both Esther and Servetus reported the Telegraph article and provided the opportunity for fans to comment. I did so on both […]
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I had hard times writing this.
First of all: I am happy if he’s happy, whether he’s straight. bi or gay.
But I suppose. that’s a crossroad for me. I grew up in quite religious family, quite closed, maybe that’s why I’m confused right now. I always believed his acting, his on-screen romance always were good. I always saw him as a terrific actor. I can say, I’m kind of an old tree in the RA fandom, ’cause I’ve been following his works since Robin Hood.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to see him as it was before, I won’t be able to see his future works clearly.
Kinda sad. He was a big part of my life and had an impact on me, even he have no idea about this.
Still, as I said, I am happy if he is happy,
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I don’t think anyone can really separate themselves from their identity totally — something that goes for you as well as for him. We do learn things as children that stick with us (and sometimes things that don’t). It’s okay to be confused and if you need time to sort stuff out for yourself, I’m sure you will do that. It’s not an either / or situation.
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Thank you very much! ❤️
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Gay, gay, gay….don’t know why he didn’t come clean years ago…suspect didn’t want career foul rather than parental disapproval. Suspect his mum already knew…how could she not? His attempt at a career push in the USA probably didn’t help….all behind him now..bit older, bit wiser…Astrov all over! Hey ho! Still drop dead gorgeous….sigh!
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If I’m not mistaken, he doesn’t say here that he was concealing it from his parents. He says that he was afraid it would negatively impact his career and that that in turn would affect his parents’ view of him.
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I think by the sound of things he felt a successful career gave his parents every reason to be proud of him. From what I remember his mum poured her wages for him to be in the school of performance art, so I think in some ways he felt responsible to give some kind of “answer” to his parents on that matter.
And we all know that in Hollywood or entertainment industry have these “hidden rules” where they might typecast you into something or barricade you from getting roles like everyone else such as race etc. Hence he felt whatever sexuality he is, he felt the career would be affected hence letting his parents down because of it.
Just my interpretation really.
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Yes, I think he felt a tremendous obligation not to rock the boat too much with his parents, perhaps particularly after his name became known.
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His remarks seem entirely consistent with his desire to keep his private life, just that, private. On the other hand, he clearly wanted to communicate a message about his relationship. If he’d done that last-century thing of “coming out”, many people would have criticised him by saying “who cares?” (when in fact they really do care, of course). Sadly, the sexuality of others is still a big deal for many people. The carefully chosen wording is his tentative first step, in my opinion, maybe to test the water. Maybe as he approaches 50, he’s more confident about who he is and how others regard him. Whatever his motivation, I can entirely empathise with him, but it’s always easier than you fear. I plucked up the courage to introduce my kids to a male partner when I hit 40 (they were late teens). They didn’t miss a beat – the word “gay” was never mentioned, and there was no coming out. They just accepted him as dad’s new partner with gender not being the issue they picked up – the only thing they commented on was our height difference! Hopefully, going forward, Richard may want to say more, but equally he may not. Let’s hope he feels comfortable enough to be seen walking the dogs in Central Park hand in hand with his new partner. Let’s hope he is able to be a great dad, if that’s what he wants. I can understand some of his female followers being somewhat disappointed, but he remains the same beautiful man he always was, who is actually improving with age. He doesn’t need a label, based upon his sexual preference, nobody does. He’s defined by a whole range of other stuff – great actor, beautiful eyes, great sense of style, sensitive and caring guy, etc.
I’m heartened by people’s positive comments on here. Let’s always be supportive. Richard deserves it
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Thanks for the comment and welcome. I’m glad your children were accepting of your new partner.
I used to read regularly about Armitage fans being homophobic and it always alternately amused or angered me. Yeah, a few of them were / are. (And I don’t think saying “I need my crush to be a heterosexual male” constitutes homophobia, which i guess some people do.) But most of us were somewhere between “it doesn’t matter” to “it doesn’t bother me but I don’t want to dwell on it” to “it’s his business, and he wants privacy” or “we shouldn’t talk about it, it’s career-damaging” to actually finding it a plus — fwiw I think this is why Armitage slash RPF used to be so popular — because it didn’t spark straight women’s jealousy). But the people who read and comment here have also been around the block a few times — most of us are very long-term fans and we’re bothered less by his sexual orientation than we might be by other things. And no one or almost no one here felt that he should be obligated to make a political statement by announcing his sexual orientation.
He should have what he wants. I personally can’t get excited about heteronormative domesticity — one of the things I envy about gay men’s lives is that they get to break the rules — but he should have what he wants.
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I was not surprised by his revelation. Many good British actors are gay, like Trevor Howard [Brief Encounter]. He admitted, Orlando Bloom mesmerized him , no surprise, Orlando is wholesomely handsome, and a good father too. But , still in my heart of hearts, RCA is Thornton forever. That story convinced me that happiness can exist when a man loves his woman this intensely and loyally. I like to keep that dream, my secret garden when I become too old to dream. I have a very young grandson, with the same original hair color as Richard , blue eyes and very vivacious character. In a way, Richard could not create an emptiness , because I have a grandson to keep me happy. Over and above my own discomfort, I am happy for him and told myself :stop asking ”who is he”. Be content that at last Richard came to grips with his dilemma and declared his freedom over the useless gossip that permeates the world of performance arts. I wish he will continue to act because , I think he has a lot of ideas waiting to materialize. It is too early to declare a requiem for our favorite John Thornton and Margaret Hale. Yes, spreading his wings into directing, producing or narrating. I would like to listen to The Tattoist of Auswichtz and see Uncle Vanya in Netflix probably. We live in the boonies.
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I know I’m late to the party.
-First of all, I have to admit that when I read that part I felt devastated, upset, deceived. And no, I have no explanation to those feelings, they didn’t ask for permission to come. So if someone wants to share trustfull material about it (studies, investigations, articles, whether about psychologic, psychiatric, neurological, cultural, experiential, contextual etc. reasons, it’ll be welcome).
-Second: from time to time it comes to my mind that when someone is so reluctant when asked about their sexual orientation, well, “when the river sounds, water it runs”. It doesn’t seems to be a problem saying you are heterosexual, but the other way around… well, it’s another story.
-And last: well, it’s his life 🤷♀️
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I think a lot of people were upset and at the time it was hard for them to say that publicly. It wasn’t a big issue for me but it was for a lot of people. (That said, I think the upset is a lot less now than it would have been ten or even five years ago. The core parts of the fandom have really moved on from this question.) Ten years ago a lot of people said they wouldn’t have an issue with his orientation, but with the fact that he lied about it. (That, in turn, was not an issue for me so much — or not in the same way.). Some women can’t have the kind of fantasy life they want to have about an actor who doesn’t share or fulfill their needs with regard to sexual orientation. This is a known thing and in part, it’s why artists hide this part of themselves. It is potentially less difficult for people in the generation after Armitage’s and mine to be open about it. Things are changing. Hopefully it won’t be such a problem in the future.
And yes: it is his life, and he makes his choices.
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[…] 1.Richard Armitage interviewed in The Telegraph. Screengrabs of a paywalled article written in conjunction with UV that skirted a discussion of Richard Armitage’s sexual orientation in a very oblique way that sort of turned coming out (?) into a non-event. This is something that would merit further discussion, as I’ve had a lot of thoughts about it over the years, but it’s never seemed safe to talk about it openly (I’ve had fan friendships self-combust over this issue, and also see #3). […]
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2020 at “me + richard” | Me + Richard Armitage said this on December 31, 2020 at 8:56 pm |
[…] (I’m not sure what that means, since he insists he wasn’t closeted). He did it in 2020 and again in October and now […]
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me + richard armitage’s sexual orientation + the new openness | Me + Richard Armitage said this on April 12, 2023 at 8:16 am |