Luke Evans on growing up gay as Jehovah’s Witness

Hollywood actor Luke Evans has opened up about the challenges he faced growing up as a gay Jehovah’s Witness, reflecting on the intense personal conflict between his sexuality and his religious upbringing. In a candid interview, the Welsh actor, best known for roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Hobbit, and the Fast & Furious series, shared how he hid his true self, not just for fear of rejection, but to protect his parents from the potential fallout within their religious community.

Evans, now 44, explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses strictly oppose homosexuality, and he was aware that being openly gay would lead to his expulsion from the faith — with consequences not just for him, but for his parents as well. “I just knew that because of the religion it would pose a very difficult situation for us, because the religion would not accept it,” he said.

Growing up as an only child in the small town of Aberbargoed in South Wales, Evans enjoyed a close and loving relationship with his parents, David and Yvonne. But his struggle with his sexuality was a painful secret he kept locked away. In a recent interview with BBC Radio Wales, he recalled feeling trapped by his circumstances. “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 have left, they’d have dragged me back.”

Evans described his teenage years as a period of intense inner conflict. “I didn’t want to put my mum and dad through that. I had to try and make the best of a situation,” he added. He was often bullied at school, a victim of both his religion and his sexuality. In his memoir, Boy from the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey, Evans paints a picture of a lonely childhood, often being the target of cruel remarks and physical bullying.

“I was the perfect target. I was a Jehovah’s Witness, I was a very quiet kid, I was an only child. I didn’t have the ability to fight back,” he writes. “When you’re that young, you start to wonder why they’re calling you names… a kid should never have to think, ‘what’s wrong with me? Why is it me they’re picking on?’”

Evans explains that Jehovah’s Witnesses are pacifists, meaning he was unprepared for the bullying he endured at school. “They don’t fight, they don’t argue, so I wasn’t really prepared for these big bullies in school,” he said, but added, “I just got through it.”

The strict doctrines of his faith also meant Evans had to forgo many of the activities that other children enjoyed. For years, he couldn’t take part in school performances, choir, or even celebrate holidays like Christmas. “For many years, I wasn’t allowed to be in the choir because they sang religious songs. I couldn’t be in any Christmas shows because we didn’t celebrate Christmas,” he recalled.

Despite the oppressive nature of his upbringing, Evans began to explore his passion for performance when he was 14. His school staged a non-religious show, which was his first chance to perform. He went on to move to Cardiff at 16, where he started taking singing lessons. He worked various jobs, including as a mail boy at a bank, before securing a spot at a theatre college in London.

At 19, Evans came out to his parents, who remain practicing Jehovah’s Witnesses. His coming out was a pivotal moment in their relationship, one marked by mutual respect and love despite their differences. “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,” Evans said. “Respect, love, and understanding — that’s what we have had to have with each other.”

He expressed gratitude that he and his parents had managed to navigate the difficult situation. “I know a lot of ex-Witnesses don’t have any relationship with their parents or families. They’ve cut them off completely,” Evans said.

Despite the hardships of his early life, including losing many friends from his childhood, Evans has found success and happiness in his career. He is one of the few openly gay actors who have played leading roles in mainstream Hollywood films, often portraying straight action heroes. Reflecting on his career, Evans admitted that when he first took on such roles, there were few role models he could look to for guidance.

“When I was doing these macho, straight roles, there was no one to compare myself to,” he explained. “It was quite difficult to navigate that and understand what I should do and how I should do it.”

Today, Evans says that despite the difficulties of growing up as a gay boy in the South Wales valleys, he is proud of the journey he has taken. “I may have started as a bullied kid in a small village, but I’ve really fought for what I wanted and for who I am,” he said. “This is a story of hope. This is a story of love. This is a story of overcoming obstacles.”

Evans hopes that by sharing his story, he can offer support to others who are struggling with similar challenges, showing them that it is possible to overcome adversity and find happiness. “Just keep going, knowing that there’s something better ahead,” he concluded.