'In from the Side' Hunk Alexander Lincoln: 'I'm Not Straight'

The star of "In from the Side," the sizzling film festival hit about two gay rugby players caught up in an illicit affair, has confirmed that he wasn't just another straight actor playing LGBTQ+.

Digital Spy reported that Lincoln, 28, took "to Instagram to speak about being longlisted at the BIFA Awards for his performance" opposite onscreen love interest Alexander King in Matt Carter's gay sports romance.

Lincoln posted that "it was a HUGE moment for me and I was truly honoured to have been included for the longlist for the 2022 @bifa_film 'Breakthrough Performance...'"

"There were some astoundingly beautiful performances this year so I don't feel at all bad about not getting shortlisted. Though I will of course be watching the ceremony intently from the comfort of me sofa," the actor, who is also well-known in Britain for his role in the soap opera "Emmerdale," went on to add.

Lincoln then said that he was "[i]nfinitely proud of this film and what it continues to do and how it continues to resonate with audiences."

Fans crowded the comments section of the post with praise for the film, but one of them brought up the common practice of casting non-LGBTQ+ actors in LGBTQ+ roles, writing, "I loved the movie and its actors are still very handsome but I still think that the actors are posing as gay but they are not."

Deadline said that Lincoln jumped into the comments himself at that point to assure the fan, "Thanks so much – really appreciate it!!!! And no, I'm not straight."

That admission brought the actor more appreciation.

"I'd already read elsewhere that you'd already said it and it wasn't exactly a secret or anything, but seeing you say it here on Instagram means a lot more than you know," one person said.

The film follows the story of two players on a gay rugby team who, despite being in pre-existing relationships, start to fall for one another. EDGE Film writer Frank J. Avella opined that the movie is an "ambitious and emotional feature," and took particular note of Lincoln, writing that "the uber-handsome Lincoln, onscreen for most of the running time, makes the journey more than worthwhile with his passionate performance."

Deadline recalled that Lincoln explained the film to Time Out as being "about raw lust, throwing caution to the wind, not really thinking about other people's feelings and having it all blow up in your face."

"I think everyone can relate to that, whether you've had an affair or not," the actor went on to say.