Luke Evans.Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Luke Evansdoesn’t believe that an actor’ssexualityhas to match that of a character they’re playing.The 43-year-old actor, who is openly gay, acknowledged in an interview withThe Telegraphpublished Thursday that “gay people have definitely missed out on gay roles,” when asked about quotesDoctor WhoshowrunnerRussell T. Daviesgave last year.WhileThe Telegraphdidn’t specify Davies' quotes, the latter said in a 2021 interview withThe New York Timesthat he believed, for the most part,only gay actors should be permitted to play gay roles.And though Evans is “not sure about that,” he does concede that he understands where Davies, 59, is coming from and “totally think(s) that things do need to change.““But from my perspective: firstly, I wouldn’t have had a career if gay people played gay roles and straight people played straight roles,” he said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Luke Evans inFast & Furious 6(2013).EverettRELATED GALLERY 10 Celebrities Who Have Played Gay Characters"I’d have played two roles out of the 36 projects I’ve worked on, or whatever [the number] is,” theBeauty and the Beaststar continued.Evans also revealed that he believes it’s more important that “the right person gets the job,” whatever said job may be, based on “talent and ability, and a bit of luck and timing.““That should be the reason why you get a job,” he added. “It shouldn’t have anything to do with anything else.“RELATED VIDEO: Josh Gad and Luke Evans Discuss the Best Disney PrincesPersonally, Evans said he has “lived an openly gay life” from the time he was in his teen years, but remembers being “told Ihave to come outagain, like it’s a big thing” when he was breaking into the film scene 14 years later, around age 30.“So that was weird, and to have to endure that was unpleasant — the public opinion saying that I went back in the closet and all that stuff. Absolutely ridiculous,” Evans recalled.Specifically, theEcho 3actor remembers attending a world premiere with a female friend and the two having “giggled so hard” about a report that she was his girlfriend."[But] the next thing is: ‘Luke Evans has a beard and he’s hiding away!’ How wrong people are!” he said. “And how quickly a story can be made up to the pointwhere I hid it away. And I didn’tat all.”
Luke Evansdoesn’t believe that an actor’ssexualityhas to match that of a character they’re playing.
The 43-year-old actor, who is openly gay, acknowledged in an interview withThe Telegraphpublished Thursday that “gay people have definitely missed out on gay roles,” when asked about quotesDoctor WhoshowrunnerRussell T. Daviesgave last year.
WhileThe Telegraphdidn’t specify Davies' quotes, the latter said in a 2021 interview withThe New York Timesthat he believed, for the most part,only gay actors should be permitted to play gay roles.
And though Evans is “not sure about that,” he does concede that he understands where Davies, 59, is coming from and “totally think(s) that things do need to change.”
“But from my perspective: firstly, I wouldn’t have had a career if gay people played gay roles and straight people played straight roles,” he said.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Luke Evans inFast & Furious 6(2013).Everett
RELATED GALLERY 10 Celebrities Who Have Played Gay Characters
“I’d have played two roles out of the 36 projects I’ve worked on, or whatever [the number] is,” theBeauty and the Beaststar continued.
Evans also revealed that he believes it’s more important that “the right person gets the job,” whatever said job may be, based on “talent and ability, and a bit of luck and timing.”
“That should be the reason why you get a job,” he added. “It shouldn’t have anything to do with anything else.”
RELATED VIDEO: Josh Gad and Luke Evans Discuss the Best Disney Princes
Personally, Evans said he has “lived an openly gay life” from the time he was in his teen years, but remembers being “told Ihave to come outagain, like it’s a big thing” when he was breaking into the film scene 14 years later, around age 30.
“So that was weird, and to have to endure that was unpleasant — the public opinion saying that I went back in the closet and all that stuff. Absolutely ridiculous,” Evans recalled.
Specifically, theEcho 3actor remembers attending a world premiere with a female friend and the two having “giggled so hard” about a report that she was his girlfriend.
“[But] the next thing is: ‘Luke Evans has a beard and he’s hiding away!’ How wrong people are!” he said. “And how quickly a story can be made up to the pointwhere I hid it away. And I didn’tat all.”
source: people.com
