‘Hobbit’ Star Luke Evans “Can’t Think Of Another Gay Actor Playing His Kind Of Roles”

Luke Evans is surprised there aren’t more gay actors performing the kind of macho screen roles that have made him a Hollywood star.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, the Welsh actor shared that he first realised he had broken through one of Hollywood’s glass ceilings when he was cast in macho roles including The Hobbit and the Fast & Furious franchise, and gay activist and actor Ian McKellen (Gandalf in Lord of the Rings) told him, “Ooh look at you, you’re going to be a big butch star!” 

Evans said of McKellen’s comment: “He was aware of the ground I was treading. I just hoped it would have moved further than it has.” 

Evans is currently filming a TV series called Criminal, in which he plays a tough, straight man, and he was asked if he could think of any other out gay actors who would be cast in the same part? He said not, and added in the same interview: 

He added: “I thought over a decade ago, you won’t be on your own for long. Of course there are lots of gay actors, but playing the roles I’m playing I don’t think there’s many.”