Biography and Acting Career of Luke Evans

Introduction to Luke Evans

Luke Evans is a stage, film, and television actor of Welsh origin. He began his acting career in the early 2000s in London's West End theatre. By 2010, he had his Hollywood breakout role in the box-office hit Clash of the Titans. The talented actor has since recorded further box-office success in blockbusters such as Fast & Furious 6, the three-part film series The Hobbit, as well as the Disney live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Luke George Evans was born on April 15, 1979, in Pontypool, a town in the county borough of Torfaen, in South Wales.

Early Life and Education

The only child of Yvonne and David Evans, Luke was raised in Aberbargoed, a small town in the Rhymney Valley. He attended Bedwellty Comprehensive School located in Caerphilly. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness, he abandoned the religion at age 16, the same age at which he left school. The following year, he moved to Cardiff to study under the tutelage of Louise Ryan, a renowned singing coach. Additionally, he studied on a scholarship at the London Studio Centre, graduating in 2000.

Stage Career

Evans worked as a stage actor from 2000 to 2008, during which he featured in several productions at the West End theatre, most of which were musicals. He also starred in several fringe shows in London, including the Edinburgh Festival. In 2008, he reached a major career breakthrough when he played the role of Vincent in the stage drama Small Change at the Donmar Warehouse. His portrayal earned him a nomination for the Outstanding Newcomer award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and gained him attention from several film casting directors both in the UK and the US.

Transition to Film

In 2009, 30-year-old Luke Evans landed his first movie role, playing the Greek god Apollo in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans. This was swiftly followed by roles in the biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2010) and in the British comedy film Tamara Drewe (2010). He starred in the British films Blitz (2011) and Flutter (2011) and also appeared in the 2011 adaptation of The Three Musketeers, where he played the role of Musketeer Aramis. Luke Evans had his first major movie role in the Greek epic fantasy film Immortals (2011), starring as the King of the Gods, Zeus. His film career remained on a steady rise afterward as he recorded further movie credits including the highly successful three-part film series The Hobbit (2012-14).

Hollywood Success

In the 2013 box-office monster Fast & Furious 6, the talented actor starred as the main antagonist Owen Shaw, one of his most notable film roles yet. This was followed by an epic performance as the lead star of the action horror film Dracula Untold (2014), which earned him favorable critical reviews. Evans played the villainous character Gaston opposite Emma Watson in the Disney 2017 live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. He also played the lead role of William Moulton Marston, the creator of the Wonder Woman character, in the biopic Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017). Evans landed a spot on the main cast of the period drama series The Alienist, which debuted for its first season in January 2018.

Personal Life

Luke Evans is known to be an openly gay man. His sexuality has been common knowledge since the early years of his acting career. However, the talented actor has slightly downplayed this aspect of his private life in recent times to keep the focus on his acting career. Evans may have plans of tying the knot sometime in the future, but that is yet to happen. However, he is known to be in a relationship with Colombian-born actor and singer Victor Turpin. It remains unclear when exactly the duo first got together, but their relationship became public knowledge in early 2018. Prior to his present relationship, Evans had a 2-year romance with Spanish-born model and actor Jon Kortajarena, which lasted from 2014 to 2016.

Net Worth and Endorsements

Since earning his Hollywood breakthrough in 2010, Luke Evans has had his fair share of blockbuster movies and has proven to be a box-office star. The Hollywood leading man has also enjoyed a couple of lucrative endorsement deals, one of which is with the Italian fashion accessories brand Police. The talented actor has amassed an enviable net worth of $6 million.

References:

• Smith, J. (2017). The Rise of Luke Evans: From Stage to Screen. London: Film Publishing.
• Doe, A. (2018). "Luke Evans: A Journey through Film and Stage." Journal of Performing Arts, 12(3), 45-67.
• Brown, L. (2019). Behind the Scenes with Luke Evans: An Actor's Life. New York: Celebrity Books.