Luke Evans opens up about homophobic bullying at school

Luke Evans has disclosed that he was “bullied for being gay before I even understood what it meant” in his new memoir, ‘Boy From the Valleys’, an excerpt of which appeared in The Guardian.

The actor, known for his roles in ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and ‘Fast and Furious’, reflects, “The first sense I had of being gay – or at least different – was at the age of eight, when our class got a substitute teacher. He played rugby for Llanelli and had a sharp haircut and a two-seater sports car. He was handsome and sharply dressed; all the girls fancied him, and all the boys wanted to be him. I remember staring at him, muscles busting out of his shirt, and thinking: wow. Even then, I knew I was looking at him in a different way from the other boys.”

From his modest roots in a charming Welsh mining village to the bright lights of Hollywood, ‘Boy From the Valleys’ takes readers on an emotional and inspiring journey with Luke.

Growing up in the small village of Rhymney Valley, south Wales, Luke’s upbringing was significantly influenced by his Jehovah’s Witness background. While other children his age spent Saturday mornings watching TV, young Luke dressed in a suit and tie to accompany his parents as they knocked on doors to share their faith. He felt different from a young age, and this sense of alienation extended beyond his religious upbringing as he began to reconcile his own sexuality, which presented its own challenges.

In his book, Luke recounts, “I was bullied for being gay before I even understood what it meant. The worst nickname was ‘Jovey Bender’, because it combined two aspects of my identity that could never be reconciled.”

As ‘G Scene’ writes, in ‘Boy From the Valleys’, Luke reveals his courageous choice to leave home and his religion at seventeen to move to London, where he fell in love with the vibrant Soho scene, which fueled his creative path as an actor and opened up new opportunities.

In December 2022, Luke confirmed his relationship with Spanish construction worker Fran Tomas.

In a 2024 interview, Luke remarked, “He’s a great human being. He’s the best part of me, for sure. He’s kind, calm. He’s happy. He’s positive. He’s a hard worker.”

“He literally makes me a better person. And has put up with my shit, which, I can’t imagine what that would be like.”