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Luke Evans

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This article is about the actor and singer. For other people, seeLuke Evans (disambiguation).

Luke Evans
Luke Evans attending Queen Elizabeth's II birthday party held at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018.
Evans in 2018
Born
Luke George Evans

(1979-04-15)15 April 1979(age 45)
Pontypool,Torfaen,Wales
Alma materLondon Studio Centre
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2000–present
Musical career
Genres
LabelsBMG
Websitelukeevansofficial.com

Luke George Evans(born 15 April 1979)[1]is aWelshactor and singer. He began his career on the stage, and performed in London'sWest Endproductions ofRent,Miss Saigon,andPiafbefore making his film breakthrough in theClash of the Titans2010 remake. Following his debut, Evans was cast in the action and thriller filmsImmortals(2011),The Raven(2012), and there-imaginedThe Three Musketeers(2011).

In 2013, Evans starred as the antagonistOwen ShawinFast & Furious 6,and also playedBard the BowmaninPeter Jackson'sthree-part adaptationofJ. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Hobbit.[2]Evans portrayed thevampireDraculain the character's 2014 film origin storyDracula Untold.[3]Evans then portrayedGastoninDisney's live-action adaptation ofBeauty and the Beast(2017), psychologistWilliam Moulton Marstonin the biographical dramaProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women(2017), andthe Coachmanin Disney'slive-action remake ofPinocchio(2022). He released his debut album,At Last,on 22 November 2019. In 2020, he starred in a three-part miniseriesThe Pembrokeshire Murders.In 2021, he had a main role in theHuludrama seriesNine Perfect Strangers.He then starred in the black ops military seriesEcho 3(2022).

Early life and education

[edit]

Luke George Evans was born on Easter Sunday, 15 April 1979, inPontypool,[4]and brought up inAberbargoed,[1]the only child of Yvonne and David Evans.[5][6]He was raised as aJehovah's Witness,though he left the religion when he was 16 and left school at the same time.[7]

At age 17, he moved toCardiff,[8]where he studied with singing coach Louise Ryan.[9]In 1997, he won a scholarship to London Studio Centre, then inKings Cross, London.[10]He graduated in 2000.

Career

[edit]
Evans at the 2014San Diego Comic-Con

From 2000 to 2008, Evans starred in manyWest Endproductions includingLa Cava,Taboo,Rent,Miss SaigonandAvenue Q,as well as several fringe shows in London and at theEdinburgh Festival.

In 2008, he landed his most significant stage role playing Vincent in the playSmall Changewritten and directed byPeter Gillat theDonmar Warehouse.His performance drew attention from film casting directors and U.S. talent agencies, and he was nominated for theEvening StandardAwardfor Outstanding Newcomer. Later that same year he did his second show at the Donmar Warehouse,Piaf,in which he played Yves Montand.

Evans had his first film audition at age thirty. In 2009, he landed his first film role, playing the Greek god Apollo in the 2010 remakeClash of the Titans.Also in 2010, he appeared as Clive in the filmSex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,directed by Matt Whitecross, as the Sheriff of Nottingham's thug inRobin Hood,alongsideMatthew Macfadyen(whom he would later play alongside again inThe Three Musketeers), and played handyman and good guy Andy, in directorStephen Frears' filmTamara Drewe,based on Posy Simmond's comic strip. Evans went on to portray DI Craig Stokes inBlitz(2011), the film adaptation ofKen Bruen's novel of the same name, in which he starred withJason StathamandPaddy Considine.In early 2010, he shot the independent film,Flutter,directed by Giles Borg.

Evans played the MusketeerAramisinPaul W. S. Anderson's version ofThe Three Musketeers(filmed in 2010 and released in 2011). He was cast in a lead role inTarsem Singh's Greek epic,Immortals(2011), in which he played the King of the Gods, Zeus. And at the end of 2010, he took a role oppositeJohn CusackinJames McTeigue's filmThe Raven,replacingJeremy Renner.In the film, released in 2012 and set in mid-nineteenth century Baltimore, Evans played Detective Emmett Fields, who investigates a series of murders inspired by the poetry and short stories ofEdgar Allan Poe.[11]Shooting took place in Budapest and Serbia in November 2010. In 2011, he shotNo One Lives,a psychological horror film directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, in New Orleans, and began filming a role inPeter Jackson'sthree-part adaptationofJ. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Hobbit,playing the role ofBard the Bowman.[2]

Evans at the2015 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2013, Evans played the antagonistOwen ShawinFast & Furious 6,and in 2014, he playedDraculain the filmDracula Untold.[12][13][14]Evans was cast as Eric Draven in the reboot ofThe Crow.In June 2014, he joined the cast of the filmHigh-RisewithTom HiddlestonandJeremy Irons.[15]In January 2015, Evans officially exitedThe Crowto pursue other projects.[16]The same year,GQnamed him one of the 50 best dressed British men.[17]

In 2016, Evans appeared in the thriller filmThe Girl on the Train,co-starringEmily Blunt.[18]In 2017, he had the villainous role ofGastonin Disney's live-action adaptation ofBeauty and the Beast,directed byBill Condonand co-starringEmma WatsonandDan Stevens.[19]Evans was also set to reprise his role as Gaston in aBeauty and the Beastprequel limited series forDisney+,alongsideJosh Gad,who was serving as co-creator, co-writer and executive producer.[20]

He also played the lead role,William Moulton Marston,the creator ofWonder Woman,in the filmProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women.

In 2018, Evans starred in TNT dramaThe Alienist,as newspaper illustrator John Moore.[21]The following year, he announced the release of his debut studio album,At Last,which was released on 22 November 2019.[22]

On 8 November 2019, Evans starred inRoland Emmerich's war movieMidway,alongsideEd Skrein,Patrick Wilson,Mandy Moore,Aaron Eckhart,Nick Jonas,Dennis Quaid,andWoody Harrelson.[23][24][25][26][27][28]

In 2021, Evans played Lars Lee in theHuluminiseries,Nine Perfect Strangers,based on thenovel of the same namebyLiane Moriarty,which featuresNicole Kidmanin the lead role, alongsideMelissa McCarthy,Michael Shannon,Samara Weaving,Asher Keddie,andBobby Cannavale.[29]

He also playedThe CoachmaninRobert Zemeckis'live-action film adaptationof Disney'sPinocchio,withTom Hanks.[30]

Evans was awarded Man of the Year at the ninth annualVirgin AtlanticAttitudeAwards.[31]

Personal life

[edit]

While Evans isopenlygay,[32]he chooses not to discuss his sexuality in the press, asserting his personal life to be private.[33]He deliberately shields his family from the press.[33]When asked about the opinion that Hollywood might have of his sexuality, he argued that his private life is not connected to Hollywood and that "Talent, success, what you do in your personal life – I don't see how one should have an effect on the other."[33]

Between 2014 and 2016, Evans dated actor and modelJon Kortajarena.[34]Since 2021, he has been in a relationship with Fran Tomas.[35]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[36] 		AUS
Dig.
[37] 		IRE
[38]
At Last
  • Released: 22 November 2019[39]
  • Label: BMG
 11 30 84
A Song for You
  • Released: 4 November 2022[41]
  • Label: BMG
 4 — —

Soundtrack albums

[edit]
Title Release date
Beauty and the Beast 10 March 2017

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Love Is a Battlefield"[42] 2019 At Last
"Changing"[43]
"Horizons Blue"[41] 2022 A Song for You
"Come What May"
(featuringCharlotte Church)[44]
"Say Something"
(featuringNicole Kidman)[45]

Tours

[edit]
  • At Last! The Live Tour (2021)[46]

Filmography

[edit]
Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

[edit]
Year Film Role Director Notes
2002 Ding Dong Gareth Tracy Spottiswoode Short film
Taboo Billy — Musical
2009 Don't Press Benjamin's Buttons Benjamin's Father Short film
2010 Cowards and Monsters Paul
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Clive Richards Mat Whitecross
Clash of the Titans Apollo Louis Leterrier
Robin Hood Sheriff's Thug Ridley Scott
Tamara Drewe Andy Cobb Stephen Frears
2011 Blitz DI Craig Stokes Elliott Lester
The Three Musketeers Aramis Paul W. S. Anderson
Immortals Zeus Tarsem Singh
Flutter Adrian Giles Borg
2012 Ashes Crewcut Mat Whitecross
The Raven Inspector Emmett Fields James McTeigue
No One Lives Driver Ryuhei Kitamura
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Bard, son of Girion, Lord of Dale Peter Jackson Extended edition only
2013 Fast & Furious 6 Owen Shaw[47] Justin Lin
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Bardand Girion, Lord of Dale Peter Jackson Dual role
2014 Dracula Untold Vlad III Țepeș/Dracula Gary Shore
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Bard Peter Jackson
2015 Furious 7 Owen Shaw James Wan Cameo
High-Rise Richard Wilder Ben Wheatley
2016 Message from the King Dr. Paul Wentworth Fabrice Du Welz
The Girl on the Train Scott Hipwell Tate Taylor
2017 Beauty and the Beast Gaston Bill Condon
The Fate of the Furious Owen Shaw F. Gary Gray Cameo
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women William Moulton Marston Angela Robinson
2018 State Like Sleep Emile Meredith Danluck
10x10 Robert Lewis Suzi Ewing
2019 Ma Ben Hawkins Tate Taylor
Murder Mystery Charles Cavendish Kyle Newacheck
Anna Alex Tchenkov Luc Besson
StarDog and TurboCat Felix (voice) Ben Smith
Angel of Mine Mike Kim Farrant
Midway CommanderWade McClusky Roland Emmerich
2021 Crisis Bill Simmons Nicholas Jarecki
2022 Disney's Pinocchio The Coachman Robert Zemeckis
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge Stephen Donnelly Voice
2023 Our Son Nicky Bill Oliver
Good Grief Oliver Dan Levy
2024 Weekend in Taipei John Lawlor George Huang
5lbs of Pressure Adam Phil Allocco
TBA World Breaker TBA Brad Anderson Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2013 The Great Train Robbery Bruce Reynolds Miniseries
2016, 2018 Robot Chicken Various characters (voices) 2 episodes
2017 The Grand Tour Himself Episode: "Jaaaaaaaags"
2018–2020 The Alienist John Moore Main role
2020–2021 Crossing Swords King Merriman (voice) Main role; 20 episodes
2021 The Pembrokeshire Murders Steve Wilkins Miniseries; 3 episodes
Nine Perfect Strangers Lars Lee Main role; 8 episodes
2022–2023 Echo 3 Bambi Main role
2024 The Way Hogwood Miniseries (episodes unknown)
TBA Criminal Tracy Lawless [48]

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Voice role Notes
2013 Fast & Furious: Showdown Owen Shaw

Theme park rides

[edit]
Year Title Voice role Notes
2015 Fast & Furious: Supercharged Owen Shaw

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee / work Result
2014 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series The Great Train Robbery Nominated
Acapulco Black Film Festival Best Ensemble Cast Fast & Furious 6 Nominated
2015 British Independent Film Awards Best Supporting Actor High Rise Nominated
2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Duo(withJosh Gad) Beauty and the Beast Nominated
Teen Choice Awards[49] Choice Movie: Villain Won
Choice Hissy Fit Nominated
2020 Virgin AtlanticAttitudeAwards The Man of the Year Himself Won[31]
2023 BAFTA CymruAwards Entertainment Programme Luke Evans: Showtime! Won[50]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Evans finds himself among the stars".walesonline.8 September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2012.Retrieved1 March2015.
  2. ^abFleming, Mike (16 June 2011)."Luke Evans To Play Bard in 'The Hobbit'".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2011.Retrieved16 June2011.
  3. ^Justin Vactor."Luke".Screen Rant.Archivedfrom the original on 6 July 2015.Retrieved1 March2015.
  4. ^"Pontypool-born Luke Evans hopes to be new Bourne star".walesonline.9 April 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 6 October 2014.Retrieved1 March2015.
  5. ^"Aberbargoed actor Luke Evans' success in Hollywood".Wales Online. 3 June 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 19 November 2020.Retrieved25 July2013.
  6. ^Rachel Mainwaring (30 May 2010)."Welsh actor Luke Evans is hot Hollywood property".Wales Online.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2012.Retrieved25 July2013.
  7. ^"Hobbit star Luke Evans swaps the valleys for the Shire".The Guardian.7 December 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 10 December 2013.Retrieved11 December2013.
  8. ^"Luke Evans Interview TAMARA DREWE".Collider.Archivedfrom the original on 14 December 2013.Retrieved1 March2015.
  9. ^"Welsh actor Luke Evans is hot Hollywood property".walesonline.29 May 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2012.Retrieved1 March2015.
  10. ^Mo-Net s.r.l. Milano-Firenze."Luke Evans".mymovies.it.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2015.Retrieved1 March2015.
  11. ^Leins, Jeff."Luke Evans, Alice Eve Join 'The Raven'".News in Film.Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2011.Retrieved13 October2010.
  12. ^Mike Fleming Jr (4 May 2013)."'The Crow' Reboot Flies With Luke Evans – Deadline ".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2014.Retrieved1 March2015.
  13. ^The Deadline Team (25 April 2013)."Universal Dates 'Dracula' Origin Pic For August 8, 2014 – Deadline".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 19 June 2014.Retrieved1 March2015.
  14. ^Pamela McClintock (11 September 2013)."Title Change: 'Dracula' Renamed 'Dracula Untold'".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2013.Retrieved10 February2022.
  15. ^Oliver Lyttelton (13 June 2014)."'The Hobbit' Star Luke Evans Joins Tom Hiddleston in Ben Wheatley's 'High Rise'".Indie Wire. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2014.Retrieved10 February2022.
  16. ^"Luke Evans Officially Exits 'The Crow' Reboot; Relativity Seeking New Star".TheWrap.24 January 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 11 March 2015.Retrieved1 March2015.
  17. ^"50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015".GQ.5 January 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 7 January 2015.
  18. ^"Luke Evans in The Girl on the Train".Rotten Tomatoes.12 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 9 October 2016.Retrieved12 October2016.
  19. ^"Luke Evans To Star Opposite Emma Watson In Disney's Beauty And The Beast".4 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2019.Retrieved19 February2020.
  20. ^Goldberg, Lesley (6 March 2020)."'Beauty and the Beast' Prequel Series in the Works at Disney+ (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2020.Retrieved7 March2020.
  21. ^"It's time to light a fire under sleepy 'Alienist'".20 February 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 21 February 2018.Retrieved24 February2018.
  22. ^Dommu, Rose (9 October 2019)."Luke Evans to Cover Cher's 'If I Could Turn Back Time' on Debut Album".Out.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2019.Retrieved13 October2019.
  23. ^Donnelly, Matt (31 October 2019)."Roland Emmerich Just Made a $100 Million Indie Film. Will It Work?".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 31 October 2019.Retrieved31 October2019.
  24. ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (23 May 2017)."Bona Film Group Stakes $80M On Roland Emmerich/Mark Gordon WWII Battle Pic 'Midway:' Cannes".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2020.Retrieved24 May2017.
  25. ^Wiseman, Andreas (2 May 2018)."Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' Sets Sail With Woody Harrelson, Mandy Moore & AGC Studios — Cannes Hot Pic".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2020.Retrieved4 May2018.
  26. ^Kit, Borys (3 July 2018)."Luke Evans Joins Roland Emmerich's Naval Action Movie 'Midway' (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2019.Retrieved10 February2022.
  27. ^Marc, Christopher (24 July 2018)."Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' Adds 'The Guest' Cinematographer".thegww.com.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2018.Retrieved24 July2018.
  28. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (5 September 2018)."Roland Emmerich's WWII Epic 'Midway' To Open Veterans Day Weekend 2019".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 31 March 2020.Retrieved6 September2018.
  29. ^Andreeva, Nellie (26 June 2020)."Luke Evans Joins 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Hulu Limited Series".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2020.Retrieved26 June2020.
  30. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 January 2021)."'Beauty And The Beast' Star Luke Evans Joins Disney's Tom Hanks 'Pinocchio' Movie ".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2021.Retrieved26 January2021.
  31. ^ab"2020 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards: From Taylor Swift to Luke Evans".Attitude.Stream Publishing Limited. 1 December 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2020.Retrieved2 December2020.
  32. ^Barclay 2002,p. 55.
  33. ^abcSwithinbank 2017.
  34. ^"Luke Evans splits from Jon Kortajarena".The Times of India.29 January 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2019.Retrieved7 December2018.
  35. ^Phillips, Hedy (9 January 2023)."Luke Evans and Boyfriend Fran Tomas Hit the Miami Shore in Speedos After Red Carpet Debut as Couple".People.Archivedfrom the original on 19 July 2023.Retrieved24 October2023.
  36. ^"Luke Evans | full Official Chart history".Official Charts Company.Archivedfrom the original on 28 January 2020.Retrieved30 November2019.
  37. ^"ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.2 December 2019.Archived(PDF)from the original on 30 November 2019.Retrieved30 November2019.
  38. ^"Irish Albums Chart: 29 November 2019".Irish Recorded Music Association.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2017.Retrieved30 November2019.
  39. ^"Luke Evans".Genius.Archivedfrom the original on 19 November 2020.Retrieved20 November2019.
  40. ^"British certifications – Luke Evans".British Phonographic Industry.Retrieved17 December2022.TypeLuke Evansin the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  41. ^ab"Horizons Blue, my new single, is out now! Horizons Blue is taken from my new album A Song For You".Facebook.23 September 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2022.Retrieved10 October2022.
  42. ^"Love Is A Battlefield was released #onthisday in 2019 and it was the first single to be taken from my debut album!".Twitter.October 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2022.Retrieved10 October2022.
  43. ^"Luke Evans Changing".Facebook.23 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 10 October 2022.Retrieved10 October2022.
  44. ^"Luke Evans Teams Up with Charlotte Church".Entertainment Focus.14 October 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2022.Retrieved14 October2022.
  45. ^"Listen to Luke Evans and Nicole Kidman become musical icons on new duet 'Say Something'".EW.26 October 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 28 October 2022.Retrieved28 October2022.
  46. ^@thereallukevans (7 April 2020)."Hey guys, I'm really happy to announce that my postponed tour dates have now been rescheduled!!..."(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on 20 June 2020.Retrieved18 June2020– viaTwitter.
  47. ^"Luke Evans Joins Sixth 'Fast & Furious' Film".The Hollywood Reporter. 9 May 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2012.Retrieved10 February2022.
  48. ^Otterson, Joe (11 July 2024)."Luke Evans Joins Crime Drama SeriesCriminalat Amazon in Lead Role (Exclusive) ".Variety.Penske Media Corporation.Archivedfrom the original on 11 July 2024.
  49. ^Ramos, Dino-Ray (13 August 2017)."Teen Choice Awards 2017 Winners: 'Wonder Woman', 'Beauty And The Beast', 'Riverdale' Among Honorees".Deadline.enske Business Media, LLC.Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2017.Retrieved14 August2017.
  50. ^"2023 BAFTA Cymru Awards: The Nominations".BAFTA. 6 September 2023.

Sources

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