He has always been notoriously discreet about his private life, but now it can be revealed that actor Ben Whishaw has entered into a civil partnership.
The 32-year-old star ‘married’ his partner, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw, in Sydney last August.
His sexuality has been the subject of a lively internet debate in recent years. Speculation was sparked by an interview he gave to the gay magazine Out in March 2011 while playing a homosexual character in an off-Broadway play, The Pride.
When the interviewer asked whether it was important for young gay people to have positive role models, Whishaw replied: 'I feel in my heart that it’s important, but I don't quite know yet the way to go about that. Maybe that’s the transitional thing I feel I'm in the middle of at the moment.'
Last night Whishaw's spokesman confirmed the civil partnership, saying: 'Ben has never hidden his sexuality, but like many actors he prefers not to discuss his family or life outside of his work.
'Due to speculation, I can confirm that Ben and Mark entered into a civil partnership in August 2012. They were proud to do so and are very happy.'
A friend of the couple, who live in Hackney, East London, said: 'Everyone's delighted for them. Mark's a lovely guy, very talented and very close to Jane Campion. There hasn't been a chance for a big celebration because of Ben’s schedule but I'm sure there will be one at some point.'