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Sara Gilbert: Ex-boyfriend, co-star Galecki helped her embrace her sexuality

Sara Gilbert: Ex-boyfriend, co-star Galecki helped her embrace her sexuality

Actress and talk show host Sara Gilbert on Thursday credited former “Roseanne” co-star and ex-boyfriend Johnny Galecki with helping her embrace her sexual orientation while they were still in a relationship.

Gilbert spoke candidly about Galecki in an episode of “The Talk” on Thursday, admitting she would become “depressed” after she and Galecki kissed.

Sara Gilbert
Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP
Sara Gilbert

“I thought he was super cute and I had a total crush on him. And we started dating and he would come over and we would, like, make out, and then I would start to get depressed,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert said she thought felt Galecki started “taking it personally” until she told him she was gay. “He was super sweet about it.”

She said she kept her sexuality a secret throughout her nine years on Roseanne, from 1988 to 1997.

“No one knew at the [Roseanne] show, and Johnny held the secret the whole time. I was always so scared if it came out.”

Gilbert said that co-hosting CBS’ “The Talk” has helped her become more comfortable with talking publicly about her sexual orientation, but that there’s always a part of her that wonders, “What is this costing me in my career?”

“I want to live a true life. Beyond that, we do often say things like, ‘It gets better’ – and it does get better. I have an amazing life, but I want people to know that there can still be a struggle with it, and that’s OK,” she said.

“There can be a part of you that doesn’t want to feel different or feel scared. And that may be more important than any of it.”

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Gilbert said she and Galecki remain close friends and that she asked him prior about how he felt if she shared their story. His response was, ” ‘Yeah … I love you, and I think it’s really important. I’m so proud of you. If you want, I’ll be there with you and I’ll hold your hand.’ I just thought that was so sweet.”

Gilbert is engaged to songwriter and former 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry.

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