Home And Away star Lukas Radovich speaks about his sexuality for the first time

Lukas Radovich has never hidden his sexuality – he’s simply taken his time to work out his place in the world. The soap star has now spoken about it publicly for the first time.

Home And Away star Lukas Radovich has never hidden his sexuality – the 27-year-old actor has simply taken his time to work out his place in the world and wanted to do that privately.

Openly gay and in a long-term relationship, the soap star has spoken publicly for the first time about his sexuality.

“The reason I wasn’t publicly talking about it when I was on the show (Home and Away) was because I was still coming to terms with my sexuality,” Radovich told The Daily Telegraph.

“If I had have been on the show now, it might have been a different story. I definitely think when I was in my young 20s, I was still discovering myself and that now I feel comfortable enough to be able to talk about it.

“The last five years has been quite a big journey for me, one, because of the show but also too coming into my own sense of self, just being comfortable I guess.

“I can’t even remember what point I started telling people but it was definitely before the show. Coming into that world, I am quite a shy person by nature, quite introverted, so it takes a while for me to warm up to talking about things. And then after that it just wasn’t an issue.”

Former Home and Away actor Lukas Radovich is in a loving relationship. Picture: Richard Dobson

Radovich played Ryder Jackson on the hugely popular TV soap from 2017 until last year.

He is in a relationship with Liam Forcadilla, a professional netballer on the Australian men’s team. The pair met online via Tinder, and have been together for more than three years. They moved in with each other officially after one year dating.

Lukas Radovich (right) with partner Liam Forcadilla. Picture: Instagram

The couple have been together for three years. Picture: Instagram

“I attribute a lot of my comfortability to Liam,” he said.

“He (Liam) has just been so supportive. He is actually the first person that I introduced my parents to, that was my way of telling them. It is a recent journey, that was only three years ago.”

Radovich is aware that being out can be powerful for other young people struggling with their sexuality.

“If you just look at my social media, you will see that I am not hiding anything,” he said.

“The audience are savvy. I have received message requests from people who are fans who appreciate visibility.

“It is just existing and so the response has been overwhelmingly positive from the fans, and I am grateful for that. When I posted a photo of Liam and I the first time, it was such a nerve-racking experience but then the more I did it, the more it became less of a concern for me I guess.

“I stopped thinking about it because at the end of the day we are just two people in a relationship like anybody else and that is the way it should be.”

Life after Home and Away so far has been fruitful for Radovich, who has been busy working on a range of projects. Initially though, he took six months off work to travel, dying his hair to shed the character of Ryder.

“I feel like every guy that leaves Home and Away dies their hair, bleaches it or shaves it. It is like a cleansing of the character,” he said.

“I think a part of the shedding was not thinking about acting for six months, switching off that part of my brain because it was over stimulated for five years so it was time to reset. It has been an interesting journey this last year finding out who I am, who I want to be and what is important to me.”

Now back into his acting, he has produced a web series called The Boy Who Is Afraid of Everything and a short film titled The Building Manager. A cooking talk show is also in the works, combining his love of acting and food. He will be seen on stage in All His Beloved Children at KXT in May.

Lukas Radovich on Home and Away. Picture: Supplied by Channel 7

Radovich said he is no longer fearful of losing out to roles based on his sexuality.

“That was definitely a fear that I have had in the past but I think that I am at a point now where if I am in a position where I am made to feel uncomfortable because of who I am, the job is not worth it,” he said.

“The hope is that casting directors see beyond the person and see the acting for what it is.”

As for Home and Away, could Radovich see a return to the soap?

“Give me another few years. I am grateful that the door is open. When I left, I was ready to leave but it was still a difficult decision,” he said.

“I cherish all of those memories and friendships I made but I just had so much I wanted to express in art that I didn’t have time to do and that is what I am doing now and hope I can continue doing.”

Personally, marriage, and kids, are also on the cards.

“I’d love to have a big wedding,” he said.