“Every actor in his heart believes everything bad that's printed about him,” said Orson Welles with a reassuring smile and a Montecristo cigar stuck to his lip. Nowadays, it’s worse than that. More news comes from Hollywood than from the barren paddy fields of Ethiopia.

Newspapers and magazines aren’t just concerned about someone’s acting ability anymore. They get ultra-tickled when they notice a puff of stage-smoke scandal. Take for instance Hugh Grant’s 1995 hookup which made international news. Back then, it was more a question of damage limitation (after all, there was a mugshot, people! And a picture paints a thousand words).

But we’ve moved on from such murkiness haven’t we -- haven’t we? Well not counting Charlie Sheen, Alex Rodriguez, Tiger Woods, Ne-Yo and Eddie Murphy (the list is still being added to).

The entertainment savvy of 2017 realize Hollywood is a place of "do and be done," self-expression, and devil-may-care wannabes and stars. And more or less nothing that comes from the famous central region of Los Angeles, California is unbelievable anymore.

The same is true of the relationships of the stars. Many have an attitude of being unchained and experimental, and we can imagine that a visitor to a Hollywood party becomes witness to the broadening of the tight lines of sexuality to which many of us stick.

As if by magic, we’ve found 16 ladies who've definitely broadened their outlook in one way or another. 8 who definitely have and 8 who we think might have. Sit back and enjoy!

Michelle Rodriguez (Definitely Is)

Acclaimed actress Michelle Rodriguez rose to fame with her part in Girlfight (2000). IMDb says of her that she's “known for tough-chick roles … proof that there is a cross between beauty and brawn.” She's appeared in numerous other films including Fast & Furious 6 (2013), The Assignment (2016), and more recently, The Fate of the Furious (2017). Rodriguez has featured in a number of successful action films, such as S.W.A.T., Avatar and Resident Evil.

Rodriguez is a self-proclaimed bisexual. Entertainment Weekly has previously quoted her as saying, "I've gone both ways. I do as I please. I am too curious to sit here and not try when I can. Men are intriguing. So are chicks." And to Latina Magazine, she said, "I'm getting older. Eventually, it's going to wrinkle up, and I'm not going to be able to use it. I wanted to be honest about who I am and see what happens.”

Keyshia Cole (Might be)

American singer-songstress Keyshia Cole has been involved in the entertainment industry since she was 12 years old. Born in Oakland, California she met famed rappers MC Hammer and Tupac Shakur around this time, both of whom inspired her own style and success. She soon released her solo album and musically went from strength to strength. Her second album Just Like You (2007) was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 50th Grammy Awards.

A recent single called “She” added fuel to the fire of speculation about her sexuality. The song seems to talk about a lesbian sexual encounter, but Cole was cagey about it when asked, telling reporters the lyrics were intentionally misleading: “I know people think it’s about girl-on-girl action, which it was at first, and then I kinda switched the lyrics around a lil bit.”

Stella Maxwell (Definitely Is)

27-year-old British-New Zealander fashion model Stella Maxwell is the talk of the town. Having been a successful model for many years, she's at the height of her career. Already having been a Victoria's Secret Angel, she was voted No. 1 in 2016 Maxim's "Hot 100 List" and is signed with three fashion houses: The Lions (New York), Oui Management (Paris), and Bon Image Corp. (Tokyo).

She was raised in Belgium, and at the age of 13, she and her family moved to New Zealand. It was while studying at the University of Otago in NZ that she was discovered as a model. Maxwell is a self-proclaimed feminist and lesbian. Her relationship with actress Kristen Stewart has been in full flood since 2016. Maxwell shares her time between Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New York.

Nicki Minaj (Might be)

American rapper, singer, songwriter, and model Nicki Minaj has had her own fair share of trauma. Her father was an alcoholic who "got saved [by the church] and started changing his life" (The Guardian, 2012) and in 2011, her cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered near his home in Brooklyn. Minaj has overcome the demons of her past to make a name for herself in the world of entertainment. She's sold 20 million singles as a lead artist and 60 million singles as a featured artist worldwide, according to CaribPress in 2016.

Always one for courting controversy, however, Minaj’s sexuality has often been a source of wonderment to the press. Her love of signing women’s breasts at any given opportunity is world famous, and she's often started rumors about her sexuality herself. However, her dates have always been men (such as rapper Meek Mill in early 2015), so there's no proof as such -- just oodles of gossip.

Aubrey O'Day (Definitely Is)

American singer-songwriter Aubrey O’Day is best known as the member of the duo pop group “Dumblonde.” Born in 1984, she's already been involved with various other groups such as Danity Kane. Following her departure from Danity Kane, O’Day began a TV career, appearing in reality television shows such as the fifth season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, Famously Single on the E! Network, and most recently, Celebrity Big Brother 18.

According to her website, O'Day ranks #86 on Maxim's Hot 100 list and #81 on Blender's 100 Hottest People list. An acclaimed model, she appears at international fashion shows such as Heatherette's Fall and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Speaking to Broadway.com in 2008, O’Day admitted she was bisexual. She's been outspoken about those who pigeonhole her sexuality, arguing that she looks for "incredible passion and honest love" and not “at gender.”

Maria Bello (Definitely Is)

With roots in Montella, Italy, Maria Bello has a rare Romance beauty. Her father is an Italian American and her mother Polish. It’s plain to see how the marriage of these two European cultures was always going to produce such an intoxicating mix. Bello is an American actress and writer and is probably best known for her starring roles in films such as Permanent Midnight (1998), Payback (1999), Coyote Ugly (2000) and Thank You for Smoking (2006). What’s more, Bello has excelled in humanitarian work (like so many other Hollywood stars who realize their riches can help others). She founded WE ADVANCE, a charity to help those who suffered in the 2010 Haitian earthquake.

Although she has a son with former boyfriend Dan McDermott, she's written extensively about the restrictions we impose on our own sexuality, admitting as well to having had a lesbian relationship with ex-partner Clare Munn.

Kerry Washington (Might be)

There are rumors going around that American actress Kerry Washington has had lesbian encounters with unknown women. The rumors started before she married former NFL cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and centered on speculation that whoever she was seeing was sworn to secrecy. Nothing has ever been confirmed (or denied) by the 40-year-old actress, but we think it’s only a matter of time before something emerges.

Meanwhile, Washington’s acting credits continue to build. She's perhaps widely known for her role in the ABC drama Scandal as “a crisis management expert to politicians and power brokers in Washington” (Bricker, Tierney, 2011). Bricker also mentions that Washington has been nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series.

Erica Mena (Might be)

Former model Erica Mena is known for her appearances on the show Love & Hip Hop: New York, the original installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise. In fact, she's appeared in around ten reality TV shows as herself, including Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami (2009-2010) and, more recently, Wild 'n Out (2017). Previously in a relationship with rapper Bow Wow, speculation began to grow that Mena’s love life was not restricted to men.

During the filming of Love & Hip Hop: New York, she and one of the female cast started “dating" -- proof enough that Mena was open to all sorts of offers. However, the relationship began just as the show’s ratings dropped, prompting many to believe that it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. Mena, however, has neither confirmed nor denied reports that she's bisexual, so the truth of the matter is anybody’s guess.

Catherine McNeil (Definitely Is)

Australian fashionista Catherine McNeil has been modeling for a long time. In fact, by her early teens, she was winning fashion shows. According to Vogue Magazine, McNeil was “one of the top 30 models of the 2000s” and continues to wow runway audiences the world over. After all, her beauty is the sort that makes our legs go weak and our lips start to quiver.

If that wasn’t enough, McNeil is a confirmed bisexual temptress. When she was 20, she was caught in a compromising pose with fellow model Ruby Rose, and the rumors started piling up. In fact, although the pair shared a kiss at a pool party in LA, it turned out to be only the start of a passionate love affair between the two beauties that led to them being engaged in early 2010.

Jennifer Hudson (Might be)

American TV personality, actress, and singer Jennifer Hudson is best known as a finalist on the 2004 season of American Idol. Although a famed recording artist, her acting career was also spurred on by the popularity of the show. Hudson has dated some big names in the world of entertainment, including James Payton and WWE professional wrestler David Otunga.

But this is Hollywood, folks, and nothing is quite as it seems. Back in 2013 at the MTV Video Music Awards, some keen reporters began to consider that some of her lyrics were pointing to closeted lesbian desires. Hudson felt she needed to set the record straight, though, and said, “If someone ever questions or thinks that, I don’t care what you think. It shouldn’t matter. And I did get that! People were like, ‘Is Jennifer trying to tell us something?’ Hey, I wasn’t, but if you wanna think that, it’s alright with me.”

Samantha Fox (Definitely Is)

Famed British glamour model Samantha Fox is no stranger to gossip. Born in London, England, the singer, songwriter, and actress rose to fame in 1986 when she began to appear topless for a British tabloid newspaper. At the time, she was only 16, so it’s no wonder her appearance caused such a stir. During this time, she became the most popular pin-up girl of her era, as well as one of the most photographed British women of the 1980s.

It didn’t take long for people to begin to speculate about her sexuality, especially since she was never seen “attached” to a man. However, in 2006, she confirmed what most had thought all along. "I have slept with other women, but I've not been in love before Myra Stratton,” Fox said, mentioning her long-time love affair. “People say I'm gay.... I don't know what I am. All I know is that I'm in love with Myra [Stratton, my manager].”

Queen Latifah (Might be)

Dana Elaine Owens is an actress, model, and rapper/singer, perhaps better-known as Queen Latifah. But since the early days of her career and the 1993 release of her album Black Reign, speculation has been rife about whether Latifah enjoys the company of women. With very few men linked to her romantically, we can see why some might have come to this conclusion. Since Black Reign, Latifah has answered prying reporters with a blank face and no words (which just makes things worse!)

There was a famous disagreement between Latifah and Foxy Brown in 1996 when the media reported that Latifah had made surreptitious comments about Brown in her record “Name Callin'.” In response to the record, Foxy claimed Latifah had been "checking her out" at an awards ceremony. According to Vibe, Brown released “10% Dis” where Latifah’s sexuality is continuously questioned.

Jodie Foster (Definitely Is)

Famed American actress Jodie Foster has had an illustrious career in film and television. Born in 1962, she's often been cited among the leading actresses of her generation and has starred in such blockbuster films as Anna and the King (1999), A Very Long Engagement (2004), and Carnage (2011). Her acting skills are also supplemented by her production credits, notably, Waking the Dead in 2000.

Rumors about her sexuality began in 1991 after The Silence of the Lambs. Two years later, she began a relationship with Cydney Bernard, whom she met on the set of Sommersby (1993). Foster first publicly acknowledged her sexuality in a speech at The Hollywood Reporter's "Women in Entertainment" breakfast, which was held in honor of her in 2007. In 2013, she addressed coming out in a speech after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 70th Golden Globe Awards.

Sandra Bullock (Might be)

American actress Sandra Annette Bullock first acted for the big screen in the 1987 thriller Hangmen. From this point on, her popularity soared, even though this was a minor role. She's filled her career with dazzled credits for TV and film, and Forbes listed her in 2007 as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses. Her credits include Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2002) and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011).

It was after her split from Jesse James (who had been accused of multiple infidelities) that questions arose about her sexuality. Shortly after their split, James was reportedly intent on releasing details of Bullock’s secret lesbian penchant, effectively outing her in his memoirs. However, no such segment was released, leaving the secret a secret. It's possible that James was just trying to add insult to injury or make a name for himself.

Kristanna Loken (Definitely Is)

American actress and model Kristanna Loken has some impressive credits to her name. Some of the films that boosted her popularity are Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), BloodRayne (2005), and Bounty Killer (2013), but she's also had a great deal of success in TV acting in such greats as Painkiller Jane (2007), The L Word (2007–2008), and Burn Notice (2011–2012). Half-German and half-Norwegian, the raw Scandinavian beauty of her Viking ancestry is hard to miss.

And this rawness doesn’t just stop at her looks. Her sexual appetite is voracious, which she elaborated on recently to Curve Magazine: "I have dated and have had sex with men and women and have to say that the relationships I have had with certain women have been much more fulfilling, sexually and emotionally, than of those with certain men... I connect with an aura, with energy. And if the person with whom I connect happens to be a female, that's just the way it is. That's what makes my wheels turn."

Janelle Monáe (Might be)

There are often rumors about whether singer-songwriters include any hints to their life experiences in their songs. Taylor Swift is a current example. Born in 1985, Janelle Monáe rose to fame with an unofficial studio album called The Audition, in which she introduced a conceptual EP titled Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Her songwriting has always been a source of both inspiration and intrigue to her fans who continue to try to work out whether Monáe is straight, gay, or both.

In a 2011 interview with London’s Evening Standard, Monáe said that she "only dates androids" – a term which could easily be used for men and women! After discovering whispers about her sexuality from PrideSource, Monáe told the magazine that she had no idea there were rumors that she was gay, although she clarified that she would be cool if there were: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay or lesbian or straight or black or green or purple, so I’m OK with that” (PrideSource, 2012).

Sources: madamenoire.com, ranker.com, wikipedia.org