Modern Family’s Julie Bowen says she once fell in love with a woman but ‘has always been straight’
Modern Family’s Julie Bowen says she once fell in love with a woman ‘but I’ve always been straight’ (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Modern Family star Julie Bowen has revealed that although she has “always been straight”, she once fell in love with a woman.
Bowen, who starred as Claire Dunphy in the show, spoke on her podcast Quitters about her sexuality and the idea of “coming out” more generally.
She explained her belief that LGBTQ+ people should not have to divulge their private lives if they don’t want to.
“The idea that we lead with, ‘So, how do you identify?’ and immediately you get into what you do in the bedroom,” she began.
“I’m straight. I’ve always been straight. 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… it never really took off, so I never really had to challenge my concept of my sexuality.”
Bowen, 52, added: “What you do with your body should not be the first thing that we know about people or care about. That’s your business.”
She also spoke to guest Becca Tilley, who recently revealed she has been in a relationship with pop icon Hayley Kiyoko for four years.
Tilley said that the pressure to come out “causes a lot of stress”.
“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.”
The Modern Family cast, including Bowen, recently reunited for Sarah Hyland’s wedding, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell) performing the ceremony.
Hyland – who played Haley Dunphy in the sitcom – revealed that her now-husband Wells Adams asked Bowen and Ty Burrell, who played Hayley’s father Phil, for their blessing before popping the question.
Hyland said: “When my fiancé proposed, he asked my mom and dad for their blessing. Then, he also hunted down Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell for their blessing.
“They really, really are like my second set of parents.”
