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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Actor Luke Evans on reaching 'dark place' and growing up gay as part of Jehovah's Witness community
Actor Luke Evans on reaching 'dark place' and growing up gay as part of Jehovah's Witness community 'Even at your darkest moments, there's still hope. You can still be okay' Welsh actor and singer Luke Evans opened up about his tough childhood in the BBC's Alison Hammond's Big Weekend (Image: BBC ) Hollywood actor Luke Evans has spoken about reaching a "dark place" during his teenage years when he was experiencing difficulties growing up as gay and being a member of the Jehovah's Witness community. In the third episode of the brand new BBC series, Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, the beloved presenter, Alison Hammond, got to spend some time with Luke, who has starred in a number of big Hollywood blockbusters such as The Hobbit franchise, The Girl on the Train, and the 2017 film adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. While on the programme, the Welsh actor and singer opened up about his tough childhood. He candidly spoke about his experience of bullying and conflict between his homosexuality and religion, to the extent where he reached a "dark place" and contemplated suicide. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . With each episode, Alison spends a weekend with various stars, including Little Mix's Perrie Edwards and comedian Jimmy Carr. This week, the Great British Bake Off presenter was spending the weekend with Luke Evans in his hometown of Aberbargoed. Throughout the episode, the actor had spoken candidly about his upbringing, including when he had gone through a very difficult time. While travelling in the car, Alison wanted to delve deeper into Luke's upbringing, and the two spoke about the actor being brought up as a Jehovah's Witness. Jehovah's Witnesses reject homosexuality. The actor explained that he understood he would be expelled from the community if he came out, which would also have implications on his family. Alison Hammond met up with Luke's parents, Yvonne and David, at their home in Aberbargoed (Image: BBC ) "I knew I was different, I didn't know I was gay," he explained. "I just knew I was different from the ages of 7, 8, 9, you know, very young." He continued: "I also didn't have anyone outside the religion to be able to confide in or ask what was wrong. "I've been baptised in the religion and that meant if I chose to be openly gay, I would be cut-off from everyone and everything I knew." Luke admitted that the experience was "very complicated" and "very confusing". He said: "I felt very, very isolated." Luke Evans was raised as an only child but wished he had siblings (Image: BBC ) Alison then asked if he had reached a "dark place", to which Luke replied with: "Oh god, yeah. My teenage years, when it was clear in my mind who I was, and I was just… I had no-one to talk to. "It was a very difficult position, place to be. Yeah, I contemplated suicide for sure." He continued: "It was not a nice place to be, especially at that young age. But something stopped me." "What do you think stopped you?" Alison asked. "Well," he began. "I think because I thought, what am I missing out on if I do this? "What life have I got that I haven't discovered yet that I have to live? And I think it was, like, needing to know what my life would be like once all of this was over." Where to get mental health help and support Below are some of the helplines and websites that can help you: Samaritans operates a free 24-hour phone service every day of the year. Just call 116 123 to speak to someone if you need help. Alternatively, if you prefer to write down how you're feeling or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans: jo@ PAPYRUS offers trained advisers to provide support to young people experiencing thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned for a young person. Call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Text: 07860 039 967 or Email: pat@ Mind is a mental health charity that provides advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Among its useful support and information pages, mind shares 'ways to help yourself cope in a crisis' here In another part of the episode, the actor also spoke of the bullying he faced as a child. While making their way to his hometown, Luke explained that he was an only child but that he always wanted a sibling. He said: "I did want to have a sibling because I was bullied really badly, so I always see my friends who had big brothers and big sisters in school, and they'd always look out for them, and I didn't have anyone like that.' Luke then described the bullying as "horrible". He added: 'But I knew it would be over at some point because I was going to leave school. "I had absolutely no intention of staying on. "So yeah, I left home at 16." Luke spoke candidly about his childhood, specifically the bullying he faced and the difficulties of growing up as gay and being a member of the Jehovah's Witness community (Image: BBC ) When asked if he hadn't been bullied, would he have been a different person, he replied: "I probably would have been a different child. "I would have done A-Levels and possibly have had better grades, but by the time I was like 14, 15, I was just like get me out, get me out". He continued: "All I wanted to do was get a job." As they made their way through Aberbargoed, the actor agreed that it was a "nice" feeling returning to his beloved hometown in Caerphilly borough. "I'm not somebody to hang on to the negative things that have happened to me in life," he said. "Good memories make you feel way better than bad ones." A bit later, the two met up with Luke's parents, Yvonne and David, who offered Alison some Welsh cakes. When asked what he was like as a young boy, his mum Yvonne explained he was a "full house". She continued: "The minute he was born, and came home from the hospital, it was like 'oh!'." She then added: "But you were full of fun because the house was always full of friends. "And the front room was sort of separate, and the laughter that used to come out of that room. It was wonderful, wasn't it?" Luke then showed Alison where his old room used to be, which was now the spare bedroom. As the two sat on the bed and looked out through the window to the valley, Luke discussed his childhood even further. "Were you quite an awkward kid?" Alison asked him. "Yes, I don't think I was very comfortable in my own skin," he replied. "I was a skinny little kid too". He continued: "I think because I was bullied, you can start thinking you are the problem. "And I think I definitely went through that. You know, I wasn't very confident as a kid "The confidence came as a teenager. As soon as I left school, actually. But school was not a pleasant place". The actor also agreed that he faced a challenging time due to not being able to talk about the fact that he was gay. "I didn't speak to anyone until I was 14 and I went to a psychologist because I wanted to ask them what was… - because I had no-one to talk to. "And she offered me a 14-week course at £200 a session, at like 14. And I went, 'no, no, no, I need help today'. And she said, 'well, I can't help you'." Following the candid conversation with Luke, in which he spoke about contemplating suicide, Alison said: "It was definitely an emotional moment." She continued: "Even at your darkest moments, there's still hope. You can still be okay. "I mean, thank God that he held on, because he has brought so many people so much joy purely by just being himself." Article continues below You can watch Alison Hammond's Big Weekend at 8.20pm on Friday evenings on BBC One or all episodes are now available on BBC iPlayer.
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Luke Evans' life off-screen from private relationship to childhood
Luke Evans, a well-known figure in the film industry, has graced many hit films, from Fast and Furious to The Hobbit. The 46-year-old Welsh actor and singer is no stranger to the stage, having launched his career in the West End, and he's also appeared in several TV series, including Nine Perfect Strangers. His latest television appearance offers something different, as Luke is set to appear on Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, where viewers will have the opportunity to see him spend some time with the TV presenter. Let's delve into Luke's life off-camera, from his family to his current partner.... Luke's early years Luke was born on 15 April 1979 in Pontypool. He was raised in Aberbargoed by his parents, Yvonne and David Evans. Luke was brought up as a Jehovah's Witness. However, he chose to leave the religion when he was 16 years old and left school, reports Wales Online. At the age of 17, he moved to Cardiff and began studying with singing coach Louise Ryan. Eventually, he secured a scholarship to London Studio Centre and graduated in 2000. What has Luke starred in? After graduation, Luke started starring in West End productions. His appearances include La Cava, Taboo, Rent, Avenue Q, and Miss Saigon. Luke's career began with appearances in numerous fringe shows in London and Edinburgh, before he secured his breakout role in the play Small Change in 2008. His performance caught the eye of film casting directors and talent agencies, leading to his first film audition at the ripe age of 30. His first film role was in 2009, when he portrayed Apollo in Clash of the Titans. This marked the beginning of his film career, and he has since starred in films such as Fast and Furious 6, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Girl on the Train, Pinocchio, and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. He has also appeared on the small screen in TV series such as Nine Perfect Strangers, The Alienist, The Way, and Echo 3. Luke's dating life As for his personal life, Luke is openly gay and has spoken candidly about coming out to his parents, who are practising Jehovah's Witnesses, when he was 19. "We've been through a lot together. What we've done is we've come through two very different journeys in life where love has risen above everything," he shared in a previous interview with BBC Radio Wales. "Respect, love, and understanding, and that's what we have had to have with each other, because we've all chosen different paths, but it doesn't mean we can't love each other and be in each other's lives. I respect them. They respect me." While he generally keeps his personal life under wraps, it is known that Luke previously dated model and actor Jon Kortajarena, although they parted ways in 2016. Who is Luke's partner? Luke has been in a relationship with Fran Tomas since 2021, and they took their romance public in 2022. Fran, who has a background in project management for both residential and commercial projects, is currently the Chief Financial Officer of BDXY Studio. According to his LinkedIn profile, this fashion and lifestyle brand was co-founded alongside Luke and Christopher Brown. In an interview with Out Magazine, Luke previously spoke glowingly of his partner: "We're best friends. We travel together. We work together, we work on the brand together. And we're building a life together. We're happy, and I'm very grateful that I've met that person."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Luke Evans' life from private relationship to childhood
Inside Luke Evans' life from private relationship to childhood Actor Luke Evans has been a regular on our screens for several years, but what do we know about him away from the cameras? Take a look... Luke Evans is a familiar face to many, having starred in numerous hit films throughout the course of his career, from Fast & Furious to The Hobbit. The Welsh actor and singer, 46, is no stranger to the stage, having kicked off his career in the West End, and he's also starred in several TV series, including Nine Perfect Strangers. His latest TV appearance offers something different however, as Luke's set to appear on Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, where viewers will get to see him spend some time with the TV presenter. Here, we take a look into Luke's life away from the cameras, from his family to his current partner... Luke Evans pictured in 2024 (Image: Getty ) Luke's early years Luke was born on 15 April 1979 in Pontypool. He grew up in Aberbargoed with his parents, Yvonne and David Evans. Luke was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. However, he opted to leave the religion when he was 16 years old and left school. He moved to Cardiff when he was 17 years old and began studying with singing coach Louise Ryan. Eventually, he landed a scholarship to London Studio Centre, going on to graduate in 2000. What has Luke starred in? After graduating, Luke began starring in West End productions. He appeared in shows such as La Cava, Taboo, Rent, Avenue Q and Miss Saigon. He also appeared in numerous fringe shows in London and Edinburgh, before landing his breakout role in the play Small Change in 2008. Luke's performance in the play saw him catch the attention of film casting directors and talent agencies, leading to his first film audition at the age of 30. Luke's first film role came in 2009, when he landed the part of Apollo in Clash of the Titans. This kickstarted his film career and he's since starred in titles including Fast & Furious 6, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Girl on the Train, Pinocchio and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. He has appeared in TV shows such as Nine Perfect Strangers, The Alienist, The Way and Echo 3. Luke's dating life Luke is gay and has spoken openly about coming out to his parents, who are practising Jehovah's Witnesses, at age 19. "We've been through a lot together. What we've done is we've come through two very different journeys in life where love has risen above everything," he previously said in an interview with BBC Radio Wales. "Respect, love and understanding, and that's what we have had to have with each other, because we've all chosen different paths, but it doesn't mean we can't love each other and be in each other's lives. I respect them. They respect me." While he tends to keep his personal life private, Luke did previously date model and actor Jon Kortajarena. The pair split in 2016. Who is Luke's partner? Luke is in a relationship with Fran Tomas. The couple have been together since 2021, going public with their romance in 2022. Fran is a project manager who has worked on residential and commercial projects. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the Chief Financial Officer of BDXY Studio, a clothing and lifestyle brand he co-founded with Luke and Christopher Brown. Article continues below Luke with partner Fran Tomas (Image: Getty ) Luke previously praised his partner in an interview with Out Magazine, saying: 'We're best friends. We travel together. We work together, we work on the brand together. And we're building a life together. We're happy and I'm very grateful that I've met that person.' Alison Hammond's Big Weekend airs on Friday, 30 May at 8pm on ITV1
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Stars of the golden age of Hollywood recreated by Wicklow artist for stunning exhibition
The exhibition, by local artist Shane McCormack, features pencil portraits from that golden age and will appeal to both art collectors and admirers, and of course fans of a time when real movie legends were created – Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford and Judy Garland. Shane McCormack was born in Dublin in 1970. After many years working in both animation and photography he went back to study visual art at Bray Institute of Further Education and graduated from IADT, in 2014. As a freelance illustrator specialising in portraits from film and TV, Shane has worked on licensed subjects like Star Wars, Star Trek, The Walking Dead and The Hobbit. His short film, The Hotel, which was screened as part of Culture Night last September, is a fascinating piece of social history focusing on the former Bray Head Hotel – a favourite of the stars when filming at Ardmore, and where scenes from Frank, Breakfast on Pluto and The Commitments were also shot. The notes for Shane's new exhibition offer a glimpse into the world of the Hollywood greats and a window into the creation of these fabulous pieces of art. 'Hollywood, the power of the image transcended mere representation; it became a force that defined and redefined cultural ideals, personal identity, and collective memory. Hollywood's golden age, with its meticulously crafted visuals, created a landscape where image was not just an aesthetic choice but a carefully constructed narrative. "The glitzy, glamorous depictions of stars on screen, as well as the staged publicity photos, offered an idealized version of life, full of elegance, strength, and romance. Yet, these images also served as a mirror to society, reflecting and shaping the norms and desires of the time. 'The manipulation of light, costume, and framing in early cinema served not only to enhance the storytelling but to elevate the star persona to almost mythical proportions. In an era before social media, these images were some of the few ways that audiences could form a relationship with the stars, and thus, their images became inseparable from their real lives. The image was both a mask and a truth, a carefully curated persona that could command admiration or critique. 'In examining vintage Hollywood, Shane is fascinated by how the photograph or film frame captures a fleeting moment, one that is forever frozen in time yet continues to evolve in its significance. What remains poignant is how these images continue to resonate today as artefacts of both escapism and aspiration, as well as reminders of the complexities behind the facade. The power of image in vintage Hollywood lies not just in its glamour, but in its ability to shape memory and influence culture long after the original light has faded. Through this exploration, Shane seeks to uncover the layers of artifice and authenticity that intersect in the history of cinema and visual culture.' Hollywoodland runs at Signal Arts Centre, Bray, from Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 22.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Global Creatives To Guide UC's Digital Screen Programme
UC's new Industry Advisory Board brings global expertise to guide the University's Digital Screen programme and strengthen industry partnerships. The new Digital Screen Kōawa Studios Industry Advisory Board will provide strategic insight into Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC)'s programme development, student recruitment and industry collaboration. Chaired by Ingrid Taylor, a Christchurch-based commercial property lawyer with extensive governance experience, the Advisory Board also boasts award-winning film director Michelle Walshe, Whitebait Media founder Janine Morrell-Gunn ONZM, media-tech entrepreneur and Emmy judge Catherine Warren, creative technologist Nikora Ngaropo – whose past work at Wētā Digital included major productions such as Avatar, The Hobbit trilogy, and Iron Man 3 - among leaders from ChristchurchNZ, and the global screen and technology sectors. The Advisory Board's role will be pivotal in ensuring UC's offerings are future focused, industry-connected, and globally relevant, as well as supporting the growth of the University's Kōawa Studios, a purpose-built creative production hub. 'The fabulous UC Kōawa Studios are the springboard and perfect pipeline for the convergence of world class education, technology and creativity right here in Waitaha - where Aotearoa's talented young people get to collaborate to create screen magic and take their stories to the world,' says board member Janine Morrell-Gunn. Vice-Chancellor Professor De la Rey believes the calibre of board members reflects UC's growing reputation as a university that blends academic excellence with real-world impact. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'With the guidance of this new board, we're strengthening our ties with industry and supporting innovation that benefits our students, our city, and New Zealand as a whole.' Kōawa Studios was established to position UC and Ōtautahi Christchurch as a centre of excellence for digital screen production and creative technology education. With state-of-the-art facilities and co-location opportunities, it's already attracting industry engagement - including recent work on feature film Holy Days and children's clay animation series Kiri and Lou, as well as a renewed partnership with UK-based Aardman Animations. Director of Kōawa Studios Sam Witters says the board builds on real momentum. 'We've brought together some of the best minds in screen and creative tech. With partners like Aardman Academy and feature film Holy Days, things are already humming at Kōawa Studios — and this Advisory Board takes it to the next level.' UC's Digital Screen programme, including the Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours, prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving global industry that fuses creativity and technology. Students have access to world-class facilities, including a virtual production stage, motion capture studio, green screen room, and post-production suites. Learning alongside industry professionals and globally renowned academics, students develop the skills and experience needed to succeed in a competitive, collaborative sector. 'We've designed a programme that covers the full spectrum of digital screen — from animation and game design to virtual production,' Professor Kevin Watson, Executive Dean of the University's Faculty of Arts, says. 'This Advisory Board will help us strengthen industry ties, bring global perspectives into the classroom, and continue developing Kōawa Studios as a hub for learning, collaboration, and creativity.' The Advisory Board came together in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the first time earlier this week, kicking off an exciting new chapter of collaboration between UC and creative tech leaders. Chair Ingrid Taylor says she joined the board because of the potential she sees in both the programme and the people behind it. 'There's something incredibly energising about what UC is building. I'm excited to contribute to an environment that empowers young people, connects sectors, and creates space for innovation and growth.'
