A Renaissance Man: The Many Talents of Hollywood star Luke Evans
|Published
Hollywood actor Luke Evans is a dynamic force in the world of entertainment, known for his versatility and commanding presence across multiple mediums. A leading man across genres, the Welsh creative has carved out a remarkable career as an actor, singer, and now entrepreneur.
His journey began on the stage, where he captivated audiences with his powerful performances in iconic West End productions. Transitioning seamlessly to the big screen, Evans has delivered memorable roles in blockbuster films such as "The Hobbit" trilogy, "Beauty and the Beast," “Dracula Untold,” and within “The Fast and the Furious” series, as well as starring in multiple television series’.
Beyond his acting prowess, Evans is also a passionate musician, having released two albums showcasing his vocal talents. Most recently, he has ventured into the world of fashion, co-founding the sustainable menswear brand BDXY.
With an impressive portfolio and a relentless drive to explore new creative avenues, the award-winning Evans continues to inspire and entertain audiences worldwide. His multifaceted career and genuine authenticity make him a standout figure in the entertainment industry. As we sit down with him in 2024, it becomes clear that his journey is far from over; with a future that promises even more exciting ventures and projects.
Reflecting on his career, he shares, “As an actor, I feel in a good place. I've had an incredible 16 years in film and TV at this point, and my work has varied. I do lots of interesting, different things. I don't stick to the safe options. I'm always trying something new.”
This past year alone, Evans starred in an action movie with Luc Besson in Taipei, revisited his roots in the West End with a play, and filmed a movie in Belfast. His commitment to challenging himself and diversifying his roles keeps him invigorated and satisfied. “You never stop learning as an actor. You're always looking for new things, new challenges, new roles, and stories to tell,” he adds.
One of his most notable recent projects is the play "Backstairs Billy." After a 15-year hiatus from the stage, this role marked a significant return. “I’ve been reading lots of scripts, and I finally found a story that I thought was very fun and enjoyable to read. It was a brand new story, so I was able to originate the character, which I wanted to do if I was going back to the stage.”
While he got to work with a talented and phenomenal cast, the experience, while joyous, was also intense. “Theatre is no joke. It's full-on. It's eight shows a week. You get a Sunday off and you work all the way through Christmas and New Year because that's when people want to go to the theatre,” he says.
When asked about his most challenging role to date, Evans emphasises that every role presents its unique set of challenges. “Each role I take presents a different challenge; whether it's an accent, a physicality, the costume, the personality or the backstory. But I don't think any of them have been more challenging than others. The biggest challenge is to be believable,” he says.
“When you take a role, it's about disappearing into that role so that whoever watches you, no matter how well they know you from other roles, they forget about those and only see you as that character in front of them.” This dedication to authenticity and depth is what makes his performances resonate so deeply with audiences.
He adds that the key to creating and playing a successful character is research. “If it's based on a real person or a fictional character, like a murderer or a superhero, you need to research that character's life as much as possible. If the backstory isn't provided, you create it. You have to understand that every character has lived a life before the story you're telling. This involves discovering everything about them, whether factual or fictional, to build a layered character. When bringing them to life on screen, you draw on their backstory, life experiences, scars, highs, lows, relationships, and breakups. All these elements shape who they are and how you portray them.”
Last year the performer was awarded a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award) for his BBC television special “Luke Evans: Showtime!” Returning to Wales to host an unforgettable night of music, he was joined by various special guests to celebrate his love of music and the release of his second album with the special homecoming concert.
Winning a BAFTA was a highlight in Evans' career, especially for a performance centered around his lifelong passion for singing. “To do the show was a dream come true. I got to sing with an amazing orchestra in front of a live audience, and everybody loved it,” he recalls. “It's been repeated on television about five times, since it came out the first time two Christmases ago.”
“I went to the BAFTA’s just being happy to be nominated, which is an honour by itself, because you're in a category of a small few people who have been voted as the best in your profession or whatever you've done that year. Winning was a lovely thing, because it's voted by your peers, people who know your work. To win it is a really lovely honour. It takes pride of place in my house. It looks great on the wall. People like to talk to me about it, and I'm very proud of it.”
Looking back, Evans describes his initial pursuit of acting as a natural extension of his passion for performing. “Firstly, I wanted to sing. I wanted to just make a career out of singing, which I was doing in musical theatre. And then the opportunity to do a movie arose from a play that I did.”
His career trajectory has been anything but predictable, requiring flexibility and resilience. “Sometimes as an actor, you sort of have an idea how you want your career to go, but it doesn't always go that way. I'm quite amazed and proud that I'm still doing it after all these years and still loving the job because it's hard work and not an easy business to be a part of. People think it's all red carpets and tuxedos and it's literally the opposite. I've just come from a very muddy six weeks of night shoots in forests, rain, hail, and wind in Northern Ireland to create a story. It's in those gruelling moments that the true magic of filmmaking happens but it's not an easy job sometimes.”
As an openly gay actor, Evans acknowledges that there have been significant changes in the industry. “Times are definitely changing. We see much more queer content and stories across the board, whether it's film or TV shows. There are many more strong narratives that represent queer lives and identities more accurately than in the past,” he observes.
“There's lots more opportunity for gay actors to be working. I've spent most of my career playing straight guys. It's just the way it's worked out. But things are definitely changing. They've changed since I started the business and I hope that it will continue to evolve to the point where it won't even need to be a conversation and where an actor’s sexuality is irrelevant in casting decisions. They just get the job because they're the best person for the job,” he asserts.
Asked if Evans recognises his role as a gay idol for the new generation of gay artists, he says that with a profile that attracts attention, he does feel a responsibility to inspire younger generations and to show them that you can be happy, do what you love and succeed.
“I love my life. I'm proud of my life and proud of who I am. I'm proud of my partner and my relationship and the success we've created together,” he says. For Evans, living authentically and taking risks are crucial. He emphasises that one has only one life, and it should be lived fully, without regrets. “Before you know it, you'll be in your 60s and 70s and saying to yourself, what if? And no one wants to say that. So take the bull by the horns and live your life as truthfully and honestly and authentically as you can. It's the best way.”
Adding another feather to his cap, Evans recently launched a fashion brand BDXY with his partner Fran Thomas and long time friend and stylist Christopher Brown. “Two years ago, we decided we were going to build a brand together. We decided we would focus on what we knew best, which was menswear. We curated a 12-piece collection of beautifully made, sustainable, stylish essentials. Items used on a daily basis.” The collection includes underwear, t-shirts, vests and swimwear.
“It took us a year and a half to build our brand, and we launched it three months ago. We're very proud of it, knowing it’s been made well. We found incredible manufacturers in Portugal who deliver the highest quality. Our hero product is a t-shirt, a hybrid of three or four different cuts we loved, combined into one perfect piece.”
In addition to the t-shirt, are some lifestyle pieces, including a beautiful tote bag, a luxurious towel, and scented candles, which are a passion of his, reveals Evans.
“I love scented candles and travel with them everywhere. Our first candle, called the Salinas, is inspired by Ibiza, where we have a house. It encapsulates the essence of what we believe Salinas feels and smells like. We also designed two baseball caps, as we wear them constantly at home.”
“We're now in the process of designing our second collection. Three months in, things are going well. We're about to launch in Selfridges, and it's great to see people buying and loving our products. The positive responses from customers and the return buyers are awesome."
Fashion holds a significant place in his life, evident from his diverse wardrobe choices. When asked about his favourite fashion brand, he revealed, "I wear so many different brands and designers - I love them all. I could reel them all off. Valentino, Armani, I wear a lot of Ralph Lauren. In fact, I probably wear more Ralph Lauren than any other designer when it comes to suits. They've dressed me so well. In fact, I was wearing a Ralph Lauren velvet Tuxedo blazer for the Showtime musical special that I won the BAFTA for. So I'll always have a connection to them.“
Asked about the possibility of pursuing more endeavours like his BDXY menswear line after his acting career, Evans responded, “I don't think there is ever an “after an acting career.” I think if you're an actor, you either hate it and never want to do it again, or you just keep working. You may slow down, you may take some time off, but I don't think acting ever leaves your blood. I've been acting since I was 20 years old, and I'm 45 now. It’s been 25 years and I still have the excitement of stepping foot on a film set or walking out onto the stage or reading a script and going, 'I want to play this role.'“
"So I clearly have the hunger and the enjoyment of the profession to keep going. So I think I can do it side by side with lots of other things. I mean, I've just finished writing a book. We've got a brand, we develop property together. We have busy lives, we do lots and lots of things."
One such thing that the enigmatic actor mentions is an upcoming book release. When asked to divulge details about the new project, he playfully declined, "Well, I can't tell you, but you'll find out in the next couple of months. It's been a year in the process, but I can't tell you what it's about. It's a secret," he says with an air of mystery.
For Evans, curiosity is the key to staying young and engaged. “Curiosity is something you should never lose. People who aren't curious are boring. They don't care about other things. They don't want to learn. They're not interested in other people. They don't question things. And that's a very sad place to be. Curiosity is very important for personal and professional growth.”
He adds that besides curiosity sits contentment. “Contentment is probably the hardest thing to find in this day and age because we're always moving so fast. And in my industry, it's always about the next big job, the next big thing. I try to not get drawn into that too much because I think contentment is such an easy thing to attain, but it's a hard thing to keep because of the world we live in. But feeling content with yourself and the people you have around you is super important, especially as you get older.”
As the conversation concludes, it is evident that Luke Evans embodies a rare blend of talent, curiosity, and authenticity. Whether on stage, on screen, or in the world of fashion, his passion and dedication continue to inspire and captivate. The future looks bright for this multi-talented artist, and we can't wait to see where his journey takes him next.
Team credits:
Talent: Luke Evans @thereallukeevans
Editor-in-chief: Molife Kumona
Art Director: Keenan Jeppe
Graphic Designer: Siwe Bulawa
Written by: Shannon Manuel
Photographer: Luis Monteiro @luismonteirophotography
Stylist: Steven Doan @stevendoanstyle @bagency
Groomer: Charlotte Hayward @charlottehayward for @thewallgroup
Executive Producer: Jorge A. Rosell @georgemadeit for @wmi.global
Executive Producer: Thierry Tek @t.mcfly for @wmi.global
Set design: Marco Turcich @marcoturcich
Retoucher: Victor Wagner @VWRETOUCH
Photographer assistant: Pablo Gallegos
Producer: Firebird PR Agency @firebirdpragency