Kristen Stewart has revealed that she was told to hide her sexuality in the past in order to increase her chances of being cast in certain films. 

In a cover story for Harper’s Bazaar, the actress discussed her struggles with fame and fans’ obsession with her sexual identity. Although previously open about having dated women, Stewart publically came out in 2017, calling herself “so gay” on Saturday Night Live. Since then the Twilight star’s sexuality has been a hot topic of conversation.

When asked by Harper’s Bazaar how it felt to constantly have to discuss her sexuality, Stewart replied: “I think I just wanted to enjoy my life. And that took precedence over protecting my life, because in protecting it, I was ruining it.”

“I was informed by an old school mentality,” she continued, “which is – you want to preserve your career and your success, and there are people in the world who don’t like that you date girls, and they don’t like that you don't identify as a ‘lebsian’, but you don’t identify as a ‘heterosexual’. And people like to know stuff, so what the fuck are you?”

Stewart revealed that in the past she was wrapped up in this fear about jeopardising her career, telling Harper’s Bazaar: “I have fully been told, ‘if you just do yourself a favour, and don’t go out holding your girlfriend’s hand in public, you might get a Marvel movie’.” Though she asserted that she no longer cares about the potentially damaging impact of her personal identity. “I don’t want to work with people like that,” she said.

The actress also expressed her admiration for younger generations who are increasingly rejecting stringent labels, explaining that she doesn’t identify as a particular sexuality herself. “I think we’re getting to a place where we’re all becoming incredibly ambiguous,” she mused. “And it’s this really gorgeous thing.”

Stewart is starring alongside Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska in the upcoming Charlie’s Angels reboot, set for release in November. Watch the trailer here.