Newly declassified MI5 files have revealed that film star Dirk Bogarde had been warned by security services that the KGB had identified him as a “practising homosexual” and he could face being compromised in a sting operation. The files show that his name appeared on a list of six British gay men given to the Russians by a source who had himself been blackmailed during a visit to Moscow in the late 1950s. The document goes on to describe the actor as “clearly disturbed” by the news.

Bogarde never publicly came out but lived with his manager and life partner Anthony Forwood. He was reportedly informed of the threat by MI5, alongside further intelligence from a KGB defector codenamed Kago.

Kago had told MI5 that a young British actor, believed to have starred in a film with a title resembling “the kingdom of something,” was targeted for recruitment by the Soviets between 1958 and 1959.

Dirk Bogarde had never been to Russia and reportedly worried about the prospect of ever travelling there, as he might be invited to visit or film there. According to the document, he said that guests were usually required to drink a lot at parties and he was concerned he might put his arm around another man and worried about what actions would be considered compromised. 

The actor, who passed away in 1999, transitioned from lighthearted comedies, such as Doctor in the House (1954) and its sequels, to significant and challenging roles addressing themes of sexuality and morality. Notably, he starred in Victim (1961), the first English-language film to explicitly tackle the criminalisation of homosexuality. His critically acclaimed performance in Darling (1965) also earned him a BAFTA.  

The MI5 files form part of the recently released archives available at The National Archives, though some documents remain redacted to protect sensitive information. MI5 materials in the archives are catalogued under the reference ‘KV’ and include varied aspects of intelligence work. These revelations, alongside other intelligence records, are temporarily housed at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, awaiting a decision on their permanent home.