Andrew Garfield, is an English actor who rose to fame after portraying Marvel’s Peter Parker in “The Amazing Spiderman” films. He was born to Richard and Lynn Garfield on August 20, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. Although he was born in America, Garfield’s parents were originally from England. Shortly after his birth, the family moved back to Epsom in Surrey where the actor spent the rest of his childhood.
Growing up, Garfield was active in sports such as swimming and gymnastics and didn’t think much about acting until he stumbled into a theatre studies class at 16 years old. The future actor took an interest in the arts and after completing his secondary education went on study at the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London. After graduating, Garfield took additional acting classes while working his first job at Starbucks. During this time, he starred in minor roles in theatrical productions and made his film debut in the 2007 drama, “Lion for Lambs” with Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise.
It wasn’t until 2010 that Garfield finally caught his big break in Hollywood. He received critical acclaim after starring alongside Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley in the film adaption of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Never Let Me Go.” Within the same year, the actor also portrayed Eduardo Saverin, one of Facebook’s co-founders, in David Fincher’s “The Social Network.” Garfield also gained worldwide recognition after landing the role of a lifetime as Peter Parker or Spiderman in Marvel’s reboot of the franchise.
In the following years, Garfield continued to earn praise and nominations through his leading roles in “Hacksaw Ridge” and “Tick, Tick… Boom!” to name a few. With the latter, the actor famously played the late American composer, Jonathan Larson. However, it wasn’t the first time Garfield portrayed a gay character. In 2017, he also snatched the lead role of Prior Walter in the revival of Tony Kushner’s “Angels of America,” which led to people questioning the actor’s true sexuality. So, is Andrew Garfield gay? Let’s check out what the actor has to say.
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Andrew Garfield’s Dating History
Unlike other celebrities, Garfield is notoriously private when it comes to his personal affairs. This is especially true after his very public relationship with Hollywood A-lister, Emma Stone. In a 2021 interview with Bustle magazine, Garfield shared that he wasn’t in the public eye because he designed it that way for himself. The actor insisted that he had a right to a private life where he could be messy, sorrowful, and overall, just be a normal person.
That being said, Garfield’s relationships didn’t always escape the limelight. Here are a few notable romantic connections.
Andrew Garfield and Shannon Woodward (2008-2011)
At the cusp of his acting career, Garfield started dating fellow actress, Shannon Woodward. The latter is best known for her roles in “Raising Hope” and “Westworld.” Unfortunately, not much is known about their relationship except for a few red carpet appearances. This is understandable considering that Garfield was still at the early stages of his profession. The duo broke up in 2011 after dating exclusively for two years.
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone (2011-2015)
Garfield’s longest and most public relationship is with award-winning actress, Emma Stone. The pair first met on set in 2011 while filming “The Amazing Spiderman.” According to reports, Garfield and Stone’s chemistry was off the charts and was clear even throughout their screen tests. It’s undeniable that the actor was smitten with his leading lady, even describing her affectionately as a “shot of espresso.”
We got on really well as people, in between [takes]. That was the fun stuff: In between, we’d just mess around, and I felt, ‘Ah, this is different.’ I wasn’t really aware what was happening in the screen test. She keeps you on your toes, and that wakes you up. That was the beginning.”
Andrew Garfield to MTV, 2012
The couple went on to date for four years and while fans thought they were destined forever, it simply wasn’t meant to be. In 2015, it was announced that Garfield and Stone had amicably split. Although there were rumors involving third parties, sources close to the pair insisted that there was no drama and that the breakup was caused by their busy working schedules. The duo remained on good terms with Stone eventually marrying and welcoming a child with Dave McCary in 2021.
We care about each other so much, and that’s a given, that’s kind of this unconditional thing. There’s so much love between us and so much respect [. . .] I’m her biggest fan as an artist. So for me, it’s been bliss to be able to watch her success and watch her bloom into the actress that she is. And it’s also been wonderful to have that kind of support for each other. It’s nothing but a beautiful thing.”
Andrew Garfield on Little Gold Men podcast, 2017
Andrew Garfield and Alyssa Miller (2021-2022)
After Garfield and Stone’s infamous split, the actor was linked to several lowkey affairs with high-profile celebrities including Rita Ora and Christine Gabel. It wasn’t until November 2021 when the actor embarked on his second serious relationship with model, Alyssa Miller. Garfield and Miller were first spotted holding hands in New York City. However, they didn’t make their relationship public until their red carpet appearance at the SAG Awards in 2022. The affair didn’t last long though and later in the year the two parted ways.
His Controversial Take On Homosexuality
In 2017, Garfield found himself in hot waters after he made a controversial statement regarding his role as Prior Walter in “Angels in America.” The two-part play followed the life of Walter and his battle with AIDS during the 1980s. During a press conference noted by Gay Times, Garfield shared that he immersed himself in gay culture in preparation for the role to the point that he considered himself a “gay man without the physical act.”
The statement ignited a series of criticisms, especially from the LGBTQ community. Many people accused Garfield of cultural appropriation. Others also pointed out that the actor’s privilege allowed him to enjoy the perks of being gay without the actual hardships. Despite the backlash, neither Garfield nor his team has commented on the issue.
Is Andrew Garfield Gay?
No, Andrew Garfield is not gay. Based on his high-profile relationships, fans can safely assume that the actor is heterosexual. However, he doesn’t shy away from taking on gay roles and sharing his thoughts regarding the LGBTQ community. Despite the controversies, Garfield has never publicly commented on his sexuality.
Featured Image: “Andrew Garfield”, by Gerald Geronimo, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED