Luke Evans is a name that commands respect in Hollywood. From stealing scenes as the villainous Gaston in ‘Beauty and the Beast‘ to saving the day in the ‘Fast & Furious‘ franchise, Evans has made a name for himself as a versatile and captivating actor.
Despite the glitz and glamour, the Welsh actor’s journey to stardom wasn’t always a given. Before he became a leading man, Evans was a stage actor in West End productions like ‘Rent‘ and ‘Avenue Q.‘ His big break in Hollywood came in 2010 when he played Apollo in ‘Clash of the Titans,’ a role that catapulted him into the world of big-budget action films. But what makes Evans’s story even more remarkable is that he achieved all of this while being openly gay—a rarity in the hetero-heavy world of action movies.
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Luke Evans Wonders How He Was Able To Carve A Path In Hollywood As A Gay Man
“I was the only one doing these big action movies and being gay. I was on my own for a long time. And that was a strange place to be,” Evans shared in a recent interview with Out. Imagine that—being the only openly gay man headlining blockbusters in a genre where macho, hetero-heavy roles are the norm.
Take his upcoming project, ‘Criminal‘, for example. In this Prime Video adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, Evans is set to portray Tracy Lawless. It’s a character about a former outlaw turned almost-reformed military man.
The show also features big names like Emilia Clarke, Charlie Hunnam, and Richard Jenkins. But Evans doesn’t take any of it for granted. “It’s gonna be a very intense journey,” he says. “But I love the role, and I love the direction that they’re taking it in.”
He admits that his success still feels surreal at times. “I still am shocked that I’m still working,” Evans confessed. Adding with typical Welsh humility, “I struggle with it. I’m not like the most comfortable with my success and my fame. I handle it OK. But you know, it’s not easy.”
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Breaking Barriers In Hollywood
It’s worth noting that Evans’s sexuality wasn’t exactly a secret when he started his acting career. Back in 2002, he candidly discussed his sexuality in an interview with The Advocate. He said, “It’s who I am. And if people don’t like it, then I don’t want their jobs.” At a time when many actors felt pressured to stay in the closet, Evans’s honesty was both brave and risky.
Yet, despite his early openness, Evans did experience moments of doubt. There was a period when he shied away from discussing his private life. But the roles kept coming, and Evans soon found himself becoming a queer outlier in Tinseltown.
“People could see me as that role even being a gay man, which I thought was great, and it means that we are progressing,” he said, reflecting on a time when he was even considered for the role of James Bond—a testament to how far Hollywood has come.
His upcoming memoir, ‘Boy From the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey‘, due out this November, promises to delve deeper into his life, from his beginnings in South Wales to his Hollywood success. Reflecting on his career, Evans offers a piece of advice that’s as timeless as it is simple: “Don’t give up…never think you’ve come to the end of the road—because you haven’t.”
‘Boy From the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey‘ will be released on November 7, 2024.
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