While dating and intimacy play significant roles in relationship formation, individual experiences often shape how people approach them. For The Boys star Mercedes Blanche, years of difficult experiences with men prompted her to choose celibacy for nearly a decade.
In an interview with The Sun on 18 October, the Hungarian-born actress discussed her decision to remain celibate after years of difficult experiences with men and objectification in the entertainment industry. She also addressed assumptions about her sexuality based on her online image, clarifying that her personal style reflects her preferences rather than her interest in sex or relationships.
Why She Chose Celibacy
Blanche described how ongoing negative experiences led her to reconsider her approach to sex and relationships. 'After so many years of seeing the worst of men, I felt pushed to my edge, so I did a 180 and became celibate,' she said.
Celibacy has helped her concentrate on her career goals. 'I've been celibate for seven years now, and it's been life-changing for me. I've been able to focus on my career without any distractions,' she explained.
Blanche, who has established an online following through comedy and modelling, challenged assumptions regarding her sexuality based solely on her appearance. Her participation in lingerie shoots and choice of revealing outfits often led others to misinterpret her confidence as sexual availability.
Separating Image From Desire
Blanche rejected the idea that provocative clothing signified an interest in intimacy. Feeling comfortable in her body, she emphasised, remained separate from her desire for intimacy.
'People think of me as a highly sexual person because I like to wear revealing clothes and look pretty. They confuse that with my sexual desires, which are the opposite,' she said. 'I think the biggest misconception is that because I'm comfortable wearing lingerie and showing my body, I must be sexually available.'
She remained unapologetic about her online presence, regardless of others' assumptions. 'I know I'm hot, I love looking sexy, and I'm never going to apologise for that. But what you see on Instagram isn't an invitation into my bedroom,' she said.
For Blanche, confidence in her appearance and her choice to abstain from sex coexisted without contradiction. Sharing provocative photos, she maintained, expressed her confidence rather than her intentions in her personal life.
Will She Have Sex Again?
Although Blanche had been celibate for seven years, she remained open to the possibility of future intimacy. She intends to reserve intimacy for someone who respects her boundaries.
'I will have sex again, just not anytime soon. I don't have any plans to. If I meet somebody and it feels right, I'm not against it,' she said. 'I was just sick of the attitudes I was experiencing from men, and I got to a point where I didn't want that in my life anymore. It would have to be somebody who respects me and doesn't make assumptions about me because of how I look or what I post online.'
Other Stars Who Chose Celibacy
Blanche was among several celebrities who had embraced celibacy. Singer Lenny Kravitz reaffirmed his commitment to abstinence in a 2024 interview with The Guardian, describing it as 'a spiritual thing'.
Actress Suki Waterhouse also credited six months of celibacy with helping her achieve emotional clarity before meeting her partner Robert Pattinson. 'I got very clear and got very comfortable with being by myself,' she said on the Driven Minds: A Type 7 Podcast in 2023.
During an appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live With Andy,’ Julia Fox revealed that she has been celibate for nearly two and a half years due to the reversal of Roe v. Wade pic.twitter.com/0t3Q8W3mF2
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) May 23, 2024
Meanwhile, Uncut Gems star Julia Fox revealed in 2024 that she had been celibate for two and a half years. She described the decision as both a personal choice and a way to regain control in response to the US Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which restricted reproductive rights in several states.
