'Modern Family' Star Julie Bowen Says She's Straight, but...

"Modern Family" star and host of the "Quitters" podcast Julie Bowen came out as once having "been in love with a woman" even though she identifies as straight, People Magazine reported.

"I'm straight," Bowen, who played Claire Dunphy on the hit series, told podcast guest Becca Tilly on the Oct. 31 edition of "Quitters."

"I've always been straight," Bowen went on to say, before disclosing: "I was in love with a woman for a while but she didn't love me back. She liked women, but she didn't like me in that way."

Bowen added that the relationship "never really took off so I never really had to challenge my concept of my sexuality."

"Bowen's comments came as she discussed putting labels on one's sexuality with the 'The Bachelor' alum, who went public with her relationship with singer Hayley Kiyoko in May," People contextualized.

Bowen had some thoughts about labeling sexuality, UK newspaper the Daily Mail said.

"I hope people don't always have to come out," Bowen told her guest. "What you do with your body should not be the first thing we know about people, or care about – that's your business."

Tilley, too, discussed the issue, "revealing that she 'never thought about a label' when it came to herself," the Mail went on to note.

"Hayley and I met and we just had this instant connection," Tilley shared. "I fell in love with her so fast that I never went into this like, 'What does it mean? What is my label?' For me, I'm just attracted to people."

Added the reality show star: "I just hope that one day people don't have to come out, because it causes a lot of stress.... falling in love should just be a natural, beautiful thing people shouldn't have to explain to anybody."