Hollywood actor Luke Evans, known for roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Hobbit, and Fast & Furious 6, recently opened up about his challenging upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness while secretly knowing he was gay.
Evans shared that he concealed his sexuality partly to protect his parents, who remain devout Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The religious community’s strict stance against homosexuality placed Evans in a difficult position, as he knew coming out would mean not only facing potential expulsion but also risking a rift with his family.
Growing up as an only child in South Wales, Evans enjoyed a close bond with his parents, David and Yvonne.
However, he felt the pressure to fit in during his early teens, despite his awareness of his sexuality.
Speaking with BBC Radio Wales, he reflected, “I guess I chose the religion. I’m not sure I believed in any of it, if I’m blatantly honest, but I didn’t have much choice. I was too young to leave home legally. If I’d left, they’d have dragged me back.”
In his memoir, Boy from the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey, Evans details the bullying he faced at school due to both his religion and sexuality, recalling a “horrible time” where he became an easy target.
“I was the perfect target,” he shared. “A Jehovah’s Witness, very quiet, an only child… I didn’t have the ability to fight back.”
The restrictions of his faith also meant he couldn’t participate in school performances, including the choir or holiday shows, which Jehovah’s Witnesses typically avoid.
At 14, he finally got to perform in a non-religious school event, a moment that he describes as his first taste of the stage.
By age 16, Evans left his hometown for Cardiff to pursue singing lessons and soon found his path to theatre college in London.
Evans officially came out to his parents at 19.
While his faith community had distanced themselves, his parents ultimately embraced him, showing that love transcended their religious differences. “We’ve been through a lot together.
Love, respect, and understanding — that’s what we’ve had to have with each other,” he said.
His journey was not without loss; he lost many friends due to his departure from the faith.
Later, Jehovah’s Witness elders discovered Evans’ sexuality through an interview he did with The Advocate, leading to his disfellowship from the religion.
He recalls, “They wanted me to go back and speak to them, but by then, I was living a very different life, and I was very happy.”
In Hollywood, Evans became one of the few openly gay actors cast as straight leading men and action heroes, navigating roles with few comparable figures to look to.
Despite the obstacles he faced as “a gay boy in the south Wales valleys,” Evans has built a successful career and found happiness.
Reflecting on his journey, Evans explained why he chose to write his memoir, saying he hopes it will resonate with others on similar paths.
“This is a story of hope, love, overcoming obstacles, and just putting one foot in front of the other,” he shared. “I may have started as a bullied kid in a small, little village, but I’ve fought for what I wanted, for who I am, and I am there now — and I’m very happy.”
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