Luke Evans recently opened up about how he almost didn’t have an acting career at all after the 2011 blockbuster Fast Five minimized his role for being openly gay. Evans refused to be typecast and went on to star in major franchises like The Hobbit, proving his versatility.
Welsh actor Luke Evans has risen to fame with roles in Dracula Untold, Beauty and the Beast, and The Hobbit trilogy. But Evans reveals he almost didn’t have a career at all after Fast and Furious relegated him to a minor role for being openly gay. Evans recently discussed overcoming typecasting and refusing to be defined by his sexuality.
Fast and Furious “Effectively Left Me Out”
In an interview with The Times, Evans explained how the 2011 blockbuster Fast and Furious stalled his career prospects after he came out as gay. “It became very apparent very quickly that I couldn’t play a gay character in a leading role in a movie, at that time,” Evans said.
The actor had been cast as a lead villain opposite Vin Diesel. But when producers realized Evans was gay, they drastically reduced his role. “They effectively left me out. It went from lead bad guy to one scene at the end with no dialogue,” Evans revealed.
Luke Evans Refuses to Be Pigeonholed as Gay
After Fast and Furious essentially punished Evans for being openly gay, he realized he needed to fight against typecasting. “I thought, I’m not going to let this define me,” Evans declared. “I’m not going to be put into a corner where I can only play gay roles.”
Evans was determined to prove his versatility as an actor who could convincingly play straight leading men. He broke out as the heroic Bard in The Hobbit films and the swaggering Dracula in Dracula Untold. Evans credits his tenacity for forging a mainstream career, saying “I wouldn’t be where I am now in my career without my determination.”
By boldly fighting against typecasting after Fast and Furious
Luke Evans overcame prejudiced assumptions about gay actors after Fast and Furious sidelined him to prove he could excel in diverse leading roles. Evans refused to let his sexuality define his career prospects and pigeonhole him. He believes that he proved through hit franchises like The Hobbit that gay actors can bring authenticity and versatility to any role. Evans’ perseverance sends an inspiring message to LGBTQ performers about overcoming barriers through determination.
Luke Evans’ career is proof that gay actors can achieve mainstream success without being limited to stereotypical roles. His story empowers LGBTQ artists to be true to themselves while breaking through outdated assumptions in the entertainment industry.
Source: people
