The Welsh actor talks religion, rebelling and why he had to come out twice
faced an impossible choice – either be true to himself and embrace his sexuality, or stay true to God. If he told his Jehovah’s Witness parents that he was gay, they would be honour-bound to inform the church elders, and that would be the end of life as he knew it. If he didn’t tell them, he would be forced into a world of deceit or denial. He chose God.
Knocking on strangers’ doors, knowing that what we were about to say they didn’t want to hear, was terrifying “What hurt the most was being pushed away. Somebody not wanting to sit next to me in class. At break time, not having anyone to hang out with or being safe in a crowd or gang. I didn’t have one. The girls who were Jehovah’s Witnesses had their own group and everyone else just seemed to merge into their little group and I didn’t find mine. That was the hardest part. It’s a terrible thing for a child to have to think, what’s wrong with me? I felt like I was dirty, like I had a disease.
At 16, Evans left school and town for Cardiff and a new life. He decided that was the only way he could hold on to his parents while being true to himself. He got an admin job in a finance company and began a relationship with his line manager, Tom, 20 years his senior. An anonymous letter was sent to personnel exposing the relationship, and Tom was fired. The couple could see no future for themselves.
After he left for London, he told his parents that Tom was his landlord and rarely at home because he travelled for business. David and Yvonne accepted the story happily. Meanwhile, Evans studied at the London Studio Centre for a three-year diploma in musical theatre, where his tutors recognised him as a star in the making. He had a great time – partying, shagging, doing drugs.
to help his parents out when his father got sick and could no longer work. He bought the house next door to his parents for them to rent out, providing them with an income. Every so often, the elders would knock on their door and tell David and Yvonne that they knew they were still in touch with Luke and that it was a sin. David comes across in the book as obedient to the point of meekness. But there came a time when he’d had enough.
It was bonkers, he says. Little Luke Evans who couldn’t get regular work in the West End was then cast in film after film. Five of them in his first year. The more movies he made, the more he found himself in demand and the bigger the paycheque. Hollywood decided he was a natural action man. His sexuality was never questioned. “I played straight rugged masculine men. I am queer, but I present in a masculine way.
There was a lot of hate. I was being treated as if I’d turned my back on my identity and the community I was a strong part of
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