Luke Evans 'wouldn't have a career if gay people played gay roles'

‘I wouldn’t have a career if gay people only played gay roles’: Luke Evans weighs in on Hollywood casting row and insists ‘the right person gets the job’

Luke Evans has weighed in on the argument of whether only gay actors should play gay roles, saying he ‘wouldn’t have a career’ if that rule was applied across the board.

The actor, 43, who is known for roles in The Hobbit, Beauty and the Beast and Nine Perfect Strangers, said talent should be the top consideration for casting. 

Luke, who is gay, said he has only played gay characters twice in his career so far and would have hardly worked if actors were cast based on their sexual orientation.

Interview: Luke Evans has weighed in on the argument of whether only gay actors should play gay roles, saying he ‘wouldn’t have a career’ if that rule was applied across the board

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the film star was asked about his thoughts on Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies saying only gay people should play gay parts.

Luke replied: ‘I’m not sure about that. Gay people have definitely missed out on gay roles, for sure. Russell spoke very powerfully, passionately, about this point. I get it, and I totally think 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. I’d have played two roles out of the 36 projects I’ve worked on, or whatever [the number] is.’ 

Expanding on his view, Luke said it should be that ‘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.’

Candid: The actor, 43, who is known for roles in The Hobbit, Beauty and the Beast and Nine Perfect Strangers, said talent should be the top consideration for casting

Luke recently told he is planning to have children within the next five years by the age of 48 – after revealing his romance with graphic designer Fran Tomas this summer. 

He told The Times: ‘I’d love to have my own kids in the next five years, but if that happens I must accept that I wouldn’t be a young dad. 

‘I want to be an active dad, one that really gets involved and isn’t limited in what they can do.’ 

The star, who came out publicly as gay in 2002, went on to say he was scared to tell his Jehovah’s Witnesses parents Yvonne and David of his sexuality during his teens. 

He said: ‘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’

He explained: ‘I was scared about telling my parents I was gay when I was a teenager. Times were different then, especially coming from a religious background. 

‘It can be lonely and confusing not being able to speak up during such formative years.

‘I take my hat off to parents like mine who accept and love their kids unconditionally. You can get through the challenges you face if you’re happy with yourself.’

In May it was reported that Luke had found love with Spanish graphic designer Fran after the pair met a year earlier while he was working in Australia. 

Relationship: Luke recently told he is planning to have children within the next five years by the age of 48 – after revealing his romance with graphic designer Fran Tomas this summer

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