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Williams’ next film, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” premieres Dec. 20.
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Tim Fitzsimons
Tim Fitzsimons was a former reporter for NBC News Digital.
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“But he coined a phrase that’s, ‘Anima animus.’ And anima means that is the female counterpart of the male self, and the animus is the male counterpart of the female,” Williams continued.
That’s a whole new term," Williams, 82, said in an interview published Wednesday in The Undefeated.
A week before his interview with The Undefeated, Esquire ran an article in which the actor said, “I think of myself as a relatively colorful character who doesn’t take himself or herself too seriously.”
Williams then added, “And you see I say ‘himself’ and ‘herself,’ because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine."
Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy group, tweeted congratulations at Williams for “coming out and living your truth as gender fluid."
Williams told The Undefeated that he was referring to “men getting in touch with their softer side of themselves,” and pointed to the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who theorized in the early 20th century that both men and women have “anima and animus,” which are masculine and feminine consciousness and subconsciousness.
“So, that’s what I was referring to.
He also expressed his lighthearted view on the current debates surrounding gender, finding them "really amusing, to say the least."
Reflecting on his journey with the "Star Wars" franchise, Williams described it as "a real interesting journey," particularly highlighting the unique experiences at conventions where young fans express their passionate emotions about his character's actions in the movies.
I was talking about men getting in touch with the female side of themselves. I was talking about men getting in touch with the female side of themselves.
"My daughter was very happy to think that I was gender fluid!" he shared with amusement.
“I was around it all of my life, so I never really gave it much thought.”
Sign up to get the best stories straight to your inbox. Consciousness. “I was around it all of my life, so I never really gave it much thought.”
When promoting his book, he spoke of those rumors, claiming they never bothered him.
Unconscious. "I was around it all of my life, so I never really gave it much thought."
The 86-year-old actor, who is set to turn 87 in April, further revealed his open-mindedness regarding gender fluidity. People should read [Jung]. He humorously recounted instances where he had to explain the complexities of his character's decisions, finding it to be a fun and enjoyable part of engaging with fans.
Through his memoir and candid interviews, Billy Dee Williams exemplifies a nonchalant yet open-minded approach to life, embracing diverse experiences and perspectives with ease.
In a conversation with Page Six, he nonchalantly stated: "I've been called a 'Closet Queen.' But, I don't pay much attention to any of that." This carefree attitude is a testament to his resilience in the face of potential career jeopardization due to such rumors.
In his memoir, "What Have We Here?", Williams delves into his illustrious 7-decade-long career and shares intriguing encounters with iconic figures like Marlon Brando, James Baldwin, Laurence Olivier, and Angela Lansbury.
His carefree attitude towards rumors and his willingness to engage in discussions about gender fluidity reflect his progressive outlook and unwavering confidence.
Billy Dee Williams, best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the 'Star Wars' franchise, is addressing the rumors of him being part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The 86-year-old actor spent nearly 80 years both on screen and on stage, but he also spent most of his life in the arts industry, even beginning life as a painter.
Now, for the first time, the 'Star Wars' actor is letting down his walls fully as he is opening up about his decades-long career in his memoir, 'What Have We Here?'
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When promoting his new memoir, Williams addressed those rumors that he was part of the LGBTQIA+ community, which many said could have ruined his career.
The actor says he was always comfortable hanging out with members of the LGBTQIA+ community -- and admitted to attending secret gay parties in the Metropolitan Opera’s basement.
“It all seemed very normal to me,” he shared of that time in his life.
Billy Dee Williams — who rose to fame as Lando Calrissian in the original “Star Wars” trilogy — never cared that people thought he was gay in the 70s.
While speaking to Page Six about the rumors that could have jeopardized his career at the time, he said, “I’ve been called a ‘Closet Queen.’
“But, I don’t pay much attention to any of that.”
Earlier this month, the actor released his rollicking memoir “What Have We Here?” which covers not only his 7 decades-long career but also stories of the many famous people he met along the way, such as Marlon Brando, James Baldwin, Laurence Olivier and Angela Lansbury.
The Harlem native — who is turning 87 in April — writes that he was always comfortable hanging out with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and even attended secret gay parties in the Metropolitan Opera’s basement when he was an extra.
“It all seemed very normal to me,” he shares.
I mean, it would be an interesting education for a lot of people.”
He then said“he identifies as a man” and that he is “not gay.”
Billy Dee Williams's new memoir, 'What Have We Here?' is out now.
“Star Wars” actor Billy Dee Williams walked back comments he made to Esquire magazine that were construed by a number of media outlets, LGBTQ advocacy groups and fans as an expression of his gender fluidity.
“What the hell is gender fluid?
In his book, the “Brian’s Song” actor recalls a recent conversation with his daughter (he’s been married 3 times) in which he discussed Carl Jung’s theory of anima and animus.
The famed psychoanalyst believed that animus is an unconscious masculine side to women, while anima is the unconscious feminine side to men.
“I told my daughter about it,” he recalls.
The book also sheds light on his comfort in socializing with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, reminiscing about attending secret gay parties in the Metropolitan Opera's basement during his early years as an extra. “
He then clarified, “So, that’s what I was referring to.
“I was talking about why men should get more in touch with the female side of themselves and then my daughter told me — the first time I ever heard the phrase — gender fluid.
“My daughter was very happy to think that I was gender fluid!”
The “DWTS” alum notes that he finds the current wars over gender “really amusing, to say the least.”
Williams became a matinee idol in movies like “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Mahogany” and a global star for his turn in the “Star Wars” franchise, which he dubbed as “a real interesting journey.”
“Especially, when you do the conventions and you’re doing Q & A’s, and you get some little 10-year-old kid who wants to kill you because you’ve betrayed Han Solo!
I wasn’t talking about sex, I wasn’t talking about being gay or straight. “I’ve been called a ‘Closet Queen," he told Page Six, adding, “But, I don’t pay much attention to any of that.”
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This comes a few years after Williams, who was the first Black character in the 'Star Wars' universe, referred to himself as a "colorful" person.
“I think of myself as a relatively colorful character who doesn’t take himself or herself too seriously," he told Esquire at the time, adding, "and you see I say ‘himself’ and ‘herself,’ because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine."
LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign then took to social media to congratulate Williams for “coming out and living your truth as gender fluid."
However, the 'Star Wars' actor later clarified his comments, claiming that he was actually talking about “men getting in touch with their softer side of themselves.”
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“There’s a phrase that was coined by Carl G.
Jung, who was a psychiatrist, who was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, and they had a splitting of the ways because they had different ideas about the…what do you call it? I mean, it would be an interesting education for a lot of people,” he told The Undefeated, further clarifying that “he identifies as a man” and that he is “not gay.”
Williams did not respond to NBC News’ requests for comment.
"It all seemed very normal to me," he reflects.