Modern Family star Julie Bowen has opened up about her sexuality and revealed she once fell in love with a woman.
The 52-year-old, who has also appeared in Happy Gilmore and Horrible Bosses, long portrayed mum and wife Claire Dunphy in ABC's popular comedy in which her character was married to husband Phil.
In real life, Bowen was married from 2004 to 2018 to Scott Phillips, with whom she shares three children; Oliver, 11, and 9-year-old twins Gustave and John.
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Four years after their split, Bowen spoke on her podcast Quitters about the concept of having to 'come out' to the public, and about her own sexuality.
The actor argued that people shouldn't have to speak about their private lives if they don't want to, saying: “The idea that we lead with, ‘So, how do you identify?’ and immediately you get into what you do in the bedroom."
Bowen clarified that she is 'straight', and has 'always been straight', however she continued: "I was in love with a woman for a while, but she did not love me back. She liked women, but she did not like me in that way…"
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Because the relationship 'never really took off', the actor said she 'never really had to challenge [her] concept of [her] sexuality'.
Regardless of this, Bowen pointed out: “What you do with your body should not be the first thing that we know about people or care about. That’s your business.”
Bowen discussed the matter with her guest, health professional Becca Tilley, who has recently spoken out about being in a relationship with singer Hayley Kiyoko for four years.
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Tilley described how the pressure to come out can be detrimental to LGBTQ+ people, saying: “I don’t have an issue with coming out, but I hope that one day people don’t have to come out.
“It causes a lot of stress and weight added and life is already really hard. Falling in love should just be a natural and beautiful thing that people don’t have to explain to anybody."
Looking back on her relationship, Tilley said they fell in love 'so fast' that she didn't have time to ponder how she identifies, adding: "I'm just attracted to people. I'm attracted to men. I'm attracted to women—specifically Hayley, [who] I fell in love with."
Bowen's comments come after Heartstopper actor Kit Connor was forced to tell the world he was bisexual after being accused of queer baiting.
Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity, LGBTQ, Sex and Relationships
Emily Brown