Mickey Rourke's sexuality remains a mystery. The actor has never addressed the matter publicly; however, he was once willing to portray a gay character in a biopic based on a former Welsh rugby player.
In 2009, former Welsh Rugby player Gareth Thomas publicly came out as a gay man in an interview with the Daily Mail. The longtime sportsman had kept his sexuality a secret for over a decade but broke down after a game in November 2006 and eventually confided in his coach.
He also came clean with his now-former spouse Jemma, and the pair separated, finally divorcing in 2009. After his story became public, renowned actor Mickey Rourke was touched.
Actor Mickey Rourke attends the TEATRO Even Summer White Affair at Skybar on June 17, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
He applauded Thomas's courage to hold a secret of that much gravity and still be one of the best players in his field. Rourke met with Thomas to get a more in-depth understanding of Thomas's struggle with his identity as a gay man.
In late 2009, he revealed his desire to portray Thomas's story in a biopic. A script was already in the works, and although Rourke had yet to secure funding, he was committed to making the film happen and was even willing to learn Welsh.
Gareth Thomas and Mickey Rourke arrive at Relativity Media's "Immortals" premiere at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 7, 2011, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Mickey Rourke Never Portrayed Gay Athlete Gareth Thomas
Years after announcing his commitment to starring in Thomas's biopic, which would have reportedly been titled "The Welshman," Rourke confessed he would be starring as a rugby player, but in another film first.
It was in 2014, speaking to a reporter, when he revealed minimal details about a then-upcoming rugby movie called "The Irish Thunder." However, regarding the portrayal of Thomas's story, it was turned into the stage production, "Crouch Hold Pause Engage," in London.
Mickey Rourke is seen on April 17, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Mickey Rourke's Sexuality: The Hollywood Star Has Only Been Linked to Women
Rourke, who underwent plastic surgery in the 1990s, first married actress Debra Feuer in 1981. The former couple divorced nearly ten years later in 1989. He moved on to Carre Otis, marrying the model and actress in 1991. They divorced in 1998.
In a brief 2009 anecdote, Rourke explained what he'd learned from his experiences in romance since childhood. He excelled in sports in school but was admittedly less confident with girls than on the field.
After joining Hollywood, he declared, "I made it clear that I didn't want to marry an actress." That conviction contributed to his first marriage's end — his second ended with domestic abuse allegations, which he has candidly denied.
Mickey Rourke visits the Acropolis on September 10, 2020 in Athens, Greece. | Source: Getty Images
Mickey Rourke Found Love Once More, but It Appears She Has Moved On
Rourke began dating Russian model Anastassija Makarenko in 2009. The lovebirds went public with their relationship in early 2010, with Rourke calling his beau a "gift from heaven," adding that in addition to her beauty, Makarenko had "the biggest heart."
Makarenko felt the same, gushing, "He's the most beautiful man in the world; he's a sweetheart and the best boyfriend." Rumors of the pair planning to marry were already spreading, as a source reportedly claimed they wanted to tie the knot in early 2011.
Anastassija Makarenko and Mickey Rourke arrive at the "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For" Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 19, 2014, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Rourke and Makarenko kept their relationship under wraps. They rarely made public appearances together but were seen at a Christmas party in Beverly Hills in 2018. It's unclear when they ended their romance, but it seems Makarenko found a new love.
Her new partner is Real Estate Broker Wilson Chueire. Both have appeared on each other's social media, with Makarenko posting photos and clips featuring Chueire and what is presumably their new pup, Rio, in June 2023.
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