Does Michelle Hardwick Look Gay To You?

You might not be familiar with the U.K. soap opera Emmerdale, but we're willing to bet you're familiar with societal expectations about what a gay woman "looks like." Lord knows Michelle Hardwick, one of the newest additions to Emmerdale, is well-versed in those stereotypes. 

In an interview with The Mirror, Hardwick goes on record about being in a "blissful" lesbian relationship with her partner, Rosie Nicholl. 

"I've not spoken about it sooner because it never seemed like the right time," said Hardwick, who spent nine years playing receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in The Royal drama, according to The Mirror. 

But the actress noted that she's an active Twitter user, and regularly tweets photos of her and her girlfriend. That's Hardwick on the right in the photo above, seated with Nicholl, in a picture she tweeted back in April.

"People say, ‘I’d never have guessed you were gay’ because they expect you to look a certain way and I don’t fit their stereotype,'" Hardwick told The Mirror.

Although Hardwick is just now coming out to her fans, the 36-year-old actress said she's bee out to her family since her late 20s. And there might be second-class-wedding bells in the couple's future.

"Further down the line I'm sure a civil partnership would be something we'd consider," Hardwick said. "I don't know about children — I'm knocking on a bit, but never say never."

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