Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson says Valkyrie’s bisexuality was a ‘big topic of conversation’
However, the actress is tempering expectations of how much development Valkyrie's sexuality will get.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Disney
Thor: Love and Thunder star, Tessa Thompson, has said her character Valkyrie’s bisexuality was a “big topic of conversation” with the film’s writer and director, Taika Waititi.
The upcoming entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) picks up with the God of Thunder and co following the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment before the film’s release on 8 July Thompson, who identifies as bisexual, says she did discuss Valkyrie’s sexuality.
“We talked about it a lot, it was [a] big topic of conversation. Because I think rightfully there’s this real want in audiences to see characters be very clearly queer or LGBTQIA inside these spaces. And I think it’s hugely important to have representation.”
But she also says that “as human we are not defined by our sexuality, and by who we love. And so sometimes I think to hang a narrative completely on that is a way of actually diminishing the humanity of the character. Because you don’t allow them to be anything else.”
Continuing along this line she says, “It becomes the only storyline, particularly in a movie like this where you don’t, frankly, have a lot of room for storyline.
Thompson says she feels “really good” about how things have turned out and hopes Valkyrie is a character fans continue to enjoy. She also hopes “we have a lot of time to explore her, in all of her humanity.”
Finally, she adds, “But whether or not she finds love in this movie doesn’t mean she’s not still a fabulous queer character that is open to finding love when it makes sense.”
Thomspon first appeared in the MCU in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok where Valkyrie’s sexuality was reportedly addressed in a cut scene.
In 2017 the actress said she had played the character as bisexual, to match the comic book material.
YES! Val is Bi in the comics & I was faithful to that in her depiction. But her sexuality isn’t explicitly addressed in Thor: Ragnarok. https://t.co/hmb5lYN5to
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) October 23, 2017
Waititi has previously said he was open to exploring Valkyrie’s sexuality in Love and Thunder saying, “If Tessa wanted to do that, I’m in.”
Thompson revealed her character will be looking for a ‘queen’ in the fourth Thor movie.
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