‘Obsession’ Star Inde Navarrette Is a Proudly Out Bisexual Actor

One of this year’s biggest films (so far) is, low-key, a massive queer success story.

Obsession has absolutely crushed it at the box office this summer, breaking records and earning more than $429 million globally and counting, on a relatively tiny budget of between $750,000 and $1 million, which means it has become one of the most profitable movies, relative to its budget, of all time.

And a big part of that success was the star-making performance of its co-lead, Inde Navarrette, as Nikki. In the film, she is the object of affection for Bear (played by openly gay actor Michael Johnston), who makes a fateful wish on a novelty “One Wish Willow” stick that she will love him more than anything in the world—a wish that comes horrifyingly true.

To say Navarrette runs away with the picture is an understatement. Her commitment and raw power on screen are shockingly, engrossingly, and terrifyingly effective. It’s a breakout performance that has the actress’ career blowing up, with reports that she is in talks for potential roles in Heat 2, an X-Men reboot, and a film with A24.

But before this rise, Navarrette starred in Superman & Lois as Sarah Cushing and 13 Reasons Why as Estela de la Cruz. It was while talking about that latter role that she opened up about her sexuality in a 2020 interview with Seventeen , while discussing a queer plotline in the show’s final season and how she could relate to it both as a queer person and because people in her family are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Being bisexual, I understand how much you could definitely keep it to yourself because it’s such a sticky subject,” she said. “Because my family was exposed to it earlier on with my cousin coming out, it wasn’t that big of a deal. But I know for a fact that I have friends who are queer or lesbian or trans who are in ethnic communities where it’s a lot harder.”

We love a casual coming out and are excited to see whatever Navarrette does next.