From The Hobbit to Fast & Furious 6 to Beauty And The Beast, Luke Evans is undoubtedly one of our most prominent gay blockbuster hunks. But it’s a career the actor admits he wouldn’t have at all if he were only allowed to “play gay.”
In a new interview with The Telegraph, Evans opens up about his own coming out journey, and the eternal debate surrounding “gay-for-pay” roles.
Specifically, the star was asked about comments TV creator Russell T Davies (It’s A Sin, Queer As Folk) made last year, asserting that only gay performers should take gay parts. “I’m not sure about that,” Evans responds.
“Gay people have definitely missed out on gay roles, for sure,” the actor elaborates. “Russell spoke very powerfully, passionately, about this point. I get it, and I totally think that things do need to change.”
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“But from my perspective: firstly, I wouldn’t have had a career if gay people played gay roles and straight people played straight roles. I’d have played two roles out of the 36 projects I’ve worked on, or whatever [the number] is.”
Related: Luke Evans has some thoughts on whether people are ready for a gay James Bond
Think about this: If the entertainment industry were so strict about only straight actors playing straight roles, then we never would’ve had Evans’ memorable turn in the new cult classic Ma! You know, the one where [SPOILER] Octavia Spencer’s Sue Ann threatens to cut Evans’ character’s d*ck off, and then proceeds to give him a transfusion with dog blood. Let that sink in.
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But, seriously, Evans is getting at a larger point here. The more you think about it, the sillier it is to quibble over who can play what role—especially when it comes to something as fluid as sexuality.
As he sums it up: “The right person gets the job. Talent and ability, and a bit of luck and timing … That should be the reason why you get a job. It shouldn’t have anything to do with anything else.”
Related: Guys Reveal What It’s Like To Be ‘Gay For Pay’
In the same interview, the actor also reveals that he’s lived an “openly gay life” since he first moved to London and began acting in his late teens. It wasn’t until he began booking roles in widely seen films that, suddenly, he felt pressured to come out again.
“It felt almost like I’d been born again. People said: ‘Oh, who is this person? Let’s get to know who he is,’” the actor recalls. “And all of a sudden I’m being told I have to come out again, like it’s a big thing. And it was just not. Not to me, at least. 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.”
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He remembers a specific instance when, at his first world premiere, he brought along a “good female friend,” whom The Daily Mail quickly assumed was his girlfriend—and even wrote that things were “becoming really serious” between them. But then, at the same time, others were saying this woman was his beard, and shaming him for “going back in the closet.”
Confidently out and proud, at least Evans is able to look back on that time with a sense of humor.
Related: Dan Levy just tapped this major gay star to appear in his directorial debut on Netflix
By the way, did you know that Luke Evans has an album out today? It’s a collection of cover songs called A Song for You, including “Say Something” (originally from Christina Aguilera and A Great Big World), which is a duet with—believe it or not—Nicole Kidman.
So, yeah, it sounds like he’s living out every gay’s fantasy these days. Good for him!
Den
Once again “gay for pay” is a term that refers to heterosexuals appearing in homosexual porn. It is not straight men playing gay roles any more than than the opposite is “straight for pay.” It is most correctly called “acting”. The notion that artists can’t have range and depth, but that everything must be based on self is ridiculous. It would be like saying a female author cannot write fiction with male characters.
Donston
He’s now trying to revise history. He most definitely did try to slink back into the closet once he got his first big mainstream role. And he only was “always unapologetically out” once people kept bringing up a couple of his old interviews. For several years he stayed mum despite those old interviews and people now assuming he was in hetero relationships. He’s also clearly avoided taking on queer roles. It’s evident that he’s been focused on hetero appeal and trying to have a career of a “straight” actor. So, I’m not sure he’s the best person to delve into this topic with.
Yes, casting based mostly on presented sexual identity is silly. That doesn’t determine whether they’re capable of pulling off that role. And at the end of the day, no matter what identities or behaviors someone presents or doesn’t present, you don’t truly know anyone’s dimensions, sexuality, sexual journey, potential fluidity, preferences, lifestyle, where they are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, relationship, commitment spectrum. But it’s also true that there are a lot of filmmakers and studios who purposely look for non queer presenting actors for “queer roles”. It’s true that someone’s career (particularly a male with sex appeal) can be greatly limited by being gay-presenting or unabashedly indulging same-sex love and commitments. It’s true that the industry still has a lot of internalized phobias, male homophobia, gay insecurities, hetero pressures. It is true that the industry still has a ways to go with queer representation and stories. That’s primarily what needs to be focused on.
drmiller
In my opinion, the issue is that queer people have a hard time getting their “big break” in Hollywood because, first of all, there aren’t many leading roles that are queer. Second of all, while “the industry” has no problem seeing and celebrating straight men acting in queer roles (rare tho they are), the same cannot be true for queer people acting in cis/straight roles. So queer roles offer an opportunity for queer people to be seen by the public, “industry”, and respected for their craft and performances. It’s not that straight/cis folk can’t or shouldn’t. The ask here is for them to step aside so queer people can have an opportunity to shine. It’s sort of like affirmative action (maybe? Maybe not. Idk maybe that’s too far). I’m just saying… let’s make space for queer people.l Hollywood. Because right now they’re mostly behind the camera rather than in front of it.
JAW
There are plenty of queer roles out there. shows like drag race modern family and I guess queer as folk so queers at their finest. Even in movies like The birdcage from years ago give queers a big venue
What we do need are many more rolls for the gay and lesbians. They don’t get enough credit either.
Most of us blend in to society so it really doesn’t matter if it’s a gay man or lesbian woman or someone who identifies as bisexual that has to play the role. The right person for the role should get it.
Even for the queer roles, looking at Eric stonestreet who played Cameron on modern family, a straight man played that role better than pretty much any queer could have.
And like Luke said most of his roles were that of a straight man. He would have lost many many roles if he could only play gay.
Joshooeerr
Eric Stonestreet was gay-face at its most nauseating. While I don’t at all agree with the dopey notion that only gay actors should play gay characters, Stonestreet should have been stopped.
Neoprene
“The ask here is for them to step aside so queer people can have an opportunity to shine.”
If A listers want to do this, great. Don’t expect young actors struggling to launch a career to follow this moronic “ask.”
The pool of highly talented actors is incredibly small. I’m glad Sean Penn didnt step aside for an inferior actor to play Harvey Milk. Gus Van Zant went for the best, as he should have.
nm4047
given only this week an 18yo (Kit O’connor) tweeted as a result of the constant hounding that he was clickbaiting etc & was forced to out himself (bi). I find it hard amazing that a str8 actor would want to play a gay character. Social Media will become the death of str8 actors supporting the gay community.
cuteguy
I don’t blame him bc homophobia is real and especially in the 90s but him taking a “female friend” to a premiere was really taking a beard, plain and simple. He did what he needed to do to not only survive but prosper in a homophobic world. Homophobia is what cost Brokeback Mountain the best picture Oscar and everyone with half a brain knows it was a travesty