Harris Dickinson says 'deeply inappropriate' fan requests show why he hates being sexualised after Babygirl
Actor discusses discomfort with being perceived as a heartthrob as he prepares to play John Lennon
Harris Dickinson says he has been shaken by the way fans have sexualised him since starring in Babygirl. The 29-year-old actor is preparing to portray John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic series and reflected on the erotic drama that paired him with Nicole Kidman. He described the film’s exploration of obsession and desire as something he’s proud of, but said the way fans reduced it was strange.
During the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Dickinson recalled there was “a big part of that that I really didn’t enjoy,” and he said that “the way the fans reduced some of it was quite strange.” He added that it’s “OK to do this to male actors, weirdly. That’s the problem,” and he argued it has “become OK and acceptable to do that to younger male actors.” He said he encounters remarks from fans that are “deeply inappropriate,” describing press events and Q&As where comments crossed a line as “completely unacceptable.”
On a recent trip to the United States, Dickinson described an uncomfortable plane encounter in which a fellow traveler said, “can you dance for me?” before adding, “Oh, you won’t believe what I was [doing] when I watched that film. I won’t say the rest.” He said, “that is not okay. I don’t want to know about your sexual experiences with this story. It is odd.”
The actor, who is in a long-term relationship with British musician Rose Gray, has previously discussed how being cast as a heartthrob feels strange. In an interview with The Independent earlier this year, he said he remains uneasy with being desired and cited insecurities from childhood about being a “really chubby boy” that he says linger into adulthood. He noted he’s happy to lean into attention for the right project, but the constant focus on his desirability remains uncomfortable.
Beyond Babygirl, Dickinson is preparing for the Lennon role in Mendes’ Beatles project, a high-profile shift that keeps him in the public eye while he navigates the mixed reactions to his past work and the evolving scrutiny of male actors in erotic or provocative material.