UK Actor Max Parker is 'Comfortable Knowing I am Gay'

British actor Max Parker, star of the long-running UK soap "Emmerdale," spoke frankly about why he came out when he did, saying, "I feel comfortable now knowing that I am gay!"

UK newspaper the Daily Mail reports that although the hunky 29-year-old actor considered himself to be bisexual in his teenage years, and came out to a select few friends, it wasn't until after a long-term relationship with a woman that he realized he needed to embrace his authentic sexuality.

Part of the reason, he said, was concern for his girlfriend: "I knew that she's a beautiful girl and she could basically be with anyone she wants, and I was stopping her from [doing] that," he told the press.

Also, he said, after seven years with her, he began to wonder, "Am I doing the right thing by not pursuing this thing that I've had in the back of my mind?"

Breaking up with her allowed him to come to the conclusion that, "From now on I don't think I can imagine myself being with a woman," the actor went on to add.

Parker and fellow actor Kris Mochrie generated international headlines earlier this year when they shred the news that they had begun dating. As previously reported at EDGE, Mochrie had also starred on "Emmerdale." His character was killed off just as Parker joined the series, playing the brother of Mochrie's character.

The two didn't share the screen, but they did meet on the set while Mochrie was completing his final day of filming for the series. "I didn't know he was gay," Parker disclosed, "but I remember thinking he's very handsome."

Later, they found each other on Tinder. Parker described how the connection came about, saying, "It was later I thought 'I've never done Tinder, so I'll have a go', so I went on Tinder and I saw him pop up, and I was like 'OK this is a sign' – so I made the first move by sending a message on Instagram" even though he didn't know whether Mochrie was gay.

The couple recently moved in together, the Daily Mail noted, saying they now share "a swanky love nest in Manchester."