Ben Whishaw
Ben Whishaw Reuters

Skyfall star Ben Whishaw has revealed he is gay and married to his longtime partner, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw.

The 32-year-old British actor reportedly entered into civil partnership with Bradshaw, in Sydney last year.

"Ben has never hidden his sexuality, but like many actors he prefers not to discuss his family or life outside of his work," the actor's spokesperson told to the Daily Mail, "Due to speculation, I can confirm that Ben and Mark entered into a civil partnership in August 2012. They were proud to do so and are very happy."

The two first met on the set of the film, Bright Star in 2009, for which Bradshaw scored the music.

"Everyone's delighted for them. Mark's a lovely guy, very talented and very close to Jane Campion," a friend close to the couple said, "There hasn't been a chance for a big celebration because of Ben's schedule but I'm sure there will be one at some point."

Whishaw had hinted about his sexuality in an interview with Out in 2011, while promoting the off-Broadway play, The Pride, in which he played a gay man.

When asked whether it was important for young gay people to have positive role models, he said: "I really agree with that, and I feel in my heart that it's important, but I don't quite know yet the way to go about that. Maybe that's the transitional thing I feel I'm in the middle of at the moment. It's something I think about, but it's important for me to do it at the time that's right for me. And I'm not there yet," he said.