Tag Archives: Luke Evans

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Connecting the Dots: Actor Luke Evans Comes Full Circle

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

The often illogical way our minds evaluate and classify life’s events creates a funny albeit disorientating reflection on change over time. Moments, dreary to the point of annoyance, might jellify in one, all-too-present mental tissue, while other times, unquantifiably more or less significant, are haphazardly lost for minutes or even hours at a time. What’s her name, and so-and-so, and that place we went to that time. As if entering a pitch black room and only able to touch every ten steps forward, it’s an accordion effect of volumizing scales. For Luke Evans—who, since his transition from stage to film seven years ago, has seen such rampant growth—it’s a phenomenon he is all too familiar with. “What did I do last week? I don’t even remember!” the 37-year-old sharp-faced actor says from his home in London. “I don’t know what it is, I can remember a 130-page script, but I can’t remember what I did yesterday. Maybe I have no brain space left.”

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

Evans was raised in Aberbargoed, a tiny village in the valleys of south Wales—where, as it turns out, he was the days prior (“you have to make the effort to see your family and be a good grandson,” he recalls)—as an only child to a tight-knit family of Jehovah’s Witnesses, his father worked as a builder and his mother as a cleaner and seamstress. “Surrounded by the hills and mountains, I had a nice upbringing. I was very close to my family,” he says. “We had a good set of values and didn’t take anything for granted. My parents are still together and most of my friends’ are not—that’s not just the religion, but it has something to do with it. It has its flaws, I’m not going to say it doesn’t, but it gave me a good grounding and I kept a lot of that.”

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

In these adolescent years, the art of singing had been an ongoing passion for the young boy but it was never encouraged. “It was always a sideline activity,” he remembers, “something I did in my spare time when everything else was finished.” It wasn’t until Evans began applying to local competitions as a teenager that he started to imagine a future in the craft. Soon, vocal lessons led to acting classes, and, at the age of 16, he won a scholarship to the London Studio Centre that changed everything. “I went from working as a mailboy in a bank to going to college full time learning how to act, sing, and do all the rest,” he says. “I felt very much out of my comfort zone. I was coming from a very working class, normal background where I hadn’t had lessons all my life like everyone else. I was very wet behind the ears in that kind of way. The whole thing was quite…terrifying. I was like, ‘Holy shit, I’ve got to either get on board or get out.’ I threw myself into it and it sort of worked, eh? It was quite an amazing experience in the end.”

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

In the next near-decade, Evans rose through the city’s historic West End, starring in theatrical productions as wide-reaching as “Miss Saigon,” “Rent,” and “Avenue Q,” to smaller, artistic pieces such as “Small Change” by Peter Gill (perhaps his most applauded role on the stage). “Theater is such an exposing medium to work in. There’s no stopping to retake the scene. You can’t do that, so you just have to keep going,” he says. “It’s a way to learn your craft and understand an audience and comedic timing. That’s why I think it’s such a great thing for any actor to do—whether it’s plays or musicals, whatever—live theater teaches a lot. I have used a lot of the experiences I learned in theater for film.” In 2009, at the age of 30, the actor auditioned for his first feature movie. The following year alone, his quote-unquote Holly- wood breakthrough, “Clash of the Titans” would come out, along with “Tamara Drewe,” “Robin Hood,” and “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,” leading the way for a new era of Evans, in which he would eventually front the likes of “The Three Musketeers,” “The Hobbit” trilogy, and “Dracula Untold” afterward. The rise from exploratory to major motion picture was quick but not without his own efforts. “I was lucky enough to work on [“Clash of the Titans”] with Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson. I got to watch them act. I saw sometimes how quiet and how small and how intimate their performances were, and I was like, ‘Wow. That’s fine?’ I didn’t have any training for film and TV, and I wasn’t used to that,” he says. “I had to just pick it up as I went along. I’ve always been one of those people that could watch somebody take the wheel of a car and then drive it myself, or watch somebody go bake bread and then bake it on my own.”

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

This past fall the actor appeared in “The Girl on the Train,” a psychological thriller based on the novel of the same name by Paula Hawkins about three couples woven into a toxic plot of murder, doubt, and manipulation. “It’s a very real story about a lot of broken people—human life and human nature,” says Evans, who played Scott, the husband of the story’s missing character, opposite Justin Theroux and Emily Blunt. “It doesn’t matter if you’re the psychopath or the fairy godmother, you have to bring something of yourself to that character and I think that’s what I did with him. I saw Scott as a human in many ways; he was a man being suspected of something he absolutely wasn’t. We’ve all been in places in our lives when we felt we weren’t being heard or we had questions we couldn’t answer and we dealt with pain and heartbreak and loss and anger.” The project was an edgy precursor to the recently released “Beauty and the Beast,” a live-action remake of the acclaimed childhood tale directed by Bill Condon with Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, and Evans as Gaston, the story’s antagonist. The occasion marked the actor’s first musical on the silver screen: a new milestone yet also an exciting return to his original craft. “It was a really lovely feeling to merge two parts of my career, which have taken up most of my adult life, and put them together and do it in such a wonderful vehicle,” he says. “It was just one of those moments, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I hope it’s not the last time I’ll get to sing in a film, but it certainly was a nice way to start singing and make people realize that I can.”

Luke EvansImage: Zeb Daemen.

In spite of the speed of it all or the days that just slip into our own internal nebulosi, Evans is not without his own balance. There may be specifics in question or topics to return to at a later point, but the transience comes with the territory. From the larger-than-life Disney villain to a Tolkien hero, the roles range as much as they transport. Through everything, he remains constant in the ways he can. Evans is openly gay and encourages life’s happinesses in all its forms. His close group of friends have stayed the same (“the only difference,” he laughs, “is that sometimes they ask for selfies”). Though no longer tied to his childhood religion, a decision made early on, he remains close to his family. Mostly, for him at least, the magic just never seems to run out. Even now, at this pivotal arch in his career, Evans is able to indulge and then come up for air before submerging again, sinking further away than before. “I’m very good at decompressing very quickly,” he says of the emotional process. “My cousin just recently reminded me about when we were in Shanghai a few years ago doing press. We were in the car, I was in my suit, and we were about to arrive to a thousand people. He said, ‘You just closed your eyes and you went to sleep for about ten minutes. You opened your eyes, the door opened, the cameras started to flash, and you were on again.’”

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Weekly Instagram Roundup: Tom Ford, Kris Van Assche, and More

This week’s complete social snapshot, distilled for your pleasure.

From the hottest celebrity parties to the regretful morning-after shots, ESSENTIAL HOMME‘s Weekly Instagram Roundup brings all of the hottest designer, model, and trendsetting pics from the week directly to you. After all, no one has time to scroll through anything but the best.

Tom Ford

Though the designer/director missed out on gold, Tom Ford‘s supporting man, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, took home Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama for Nocturnal Animals at this year’s Golden Globe awards. Decked out in a look by the designer himself, the film marks the second project by Ford to hit the big screen and his first time being recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his work.

Christian Williams

Model Christian Williams captured the riotous energy that Sibling London brought to the London Fashion Week Men’s runway, the brand debuting a knitwear (what else?) line of deep navy and burning maroon. The collection itself is a fervent attempt to reclaim the union jack and reinvent a coveted English punk vibe through loud and unexpected detailing.

Ed Skrein

Unconcerned with his film Deadpool’s Golden Globes engagement in America, actor Ed Skrein returned to his homeland for London Collections Men’s and Belstaff‘s impressive Autumn/Winter 2017 showing. The brand, inspired by the British Navy for a dual offering of both men’s and women’s lines, debuted a ’60s-inspired collection with minor embellishments for a classic feel in execution and scope.

Kris Van Assche

Dior Creative Director Kris Van Assche saturated his Instagram feed with the French brand’s high-brow Summer 2017 campaign prints. Starring the likes of Rami Malek, Boy George, and A$AP Rocky, a recent favorite of the designer, the images were shot by photographer Willy Vanderperre and usher in a darker, austere vibe for the fashion house.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Don’t miss the latest look at ESSENTIAL HOMME October/November 2016 cover star Luke Evans’s villainous turn in the upcoming “Beauty and the Beast” from Disney. The previous trailer shattering viewing records, this sneak peek, debuting during the 2017 Golden Globes Award telecast, features a first listen of the film’s lead, Emma Watson, singing and the pitchfork wielding villagers that Evans leads with his staple collected control.

Follow ESSENTIAL HOMME on Instagram at @EssentialHomme.
instafeatured

Weekly Instagram Roundup: Luke Evans, Tom Ford, and More

This week’s complete social snapshot, distilled for your pleasure.

From the hottest celebrity parties to the regretful morning-after shots, ESSENTIAL HOMME‘s Weekly Instagram Roundup brings all of the hottest designer, model, and trendsetting pics from the week directly to you. After all, no one has time to scroll through anything but the best.

Luke Evans

ESSENTIAL HOMME October/November 2016 cover star Luke Evans shared a first look at his character, the self-obsessed Gaston, from Disney‘s upcoming “Beauty and the Beast” live action film. Not as conceited as the character he portrays, Evans was quick to shout out his trusty sidekick Le Fou as well, played by Josh Gad.

Tom Ford

Fashion icon turned in-demand Hollywood director, Tom Ford was honored this week at the 2016 Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, following in Angelina Jolie’s footsteps to receive the coveted Film Innovator Award. His latest motion picture endeavor, “Nocturnal Animals,” is gearing up for a cutthroat Oscar race when it premieres in theaters December 9, 2016.

Opening Ceremony

The Weeknd has certainly had a very busy week – from a new Puma collaboration to announcing a massive North American Starboy tour, it’s no surprise that Opening Ceremony, the cool kid’s fashion safe haven, announced that all Starboy tour merch is now available for the masses in-store and online.

Dover Street Market New York

Autumn is proving to be a busy time for Gosha Rubchinskiy – after announcing his upcoming campaign with Topman, the Moscow artist launched his new, self-titled Eau de Toilette and accompanying perfume book at Dover Street Market New York on Thursday.

i.am+

will.i.am urged fans to get #buttonedup with the recently released i.am+ BUTTONS bluetooth headphones. Guest starring fashion heavy-hitters like Kendall Jenner, Shaun Ross, and India Love, the metallic-dream video announces a candy-coated followup to the brand’s previous Farfetch collab.

Tommy Hilfiger

After launching the nostalgic Tommy Jeans 2.0 campaign last month, American fashion staple Tommy Hilfiger announced his new book, “American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business,” at a soiree of elbow-rubbing esteem. Cheesing with the one and only Naomi Campbell was only the start of the fun.

Follow ESSENTIAL HOMME on Instagram at @EssentialHomme.
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Luke Evans on ESSENTIAL HOMME October/November 2016

Image: Zeb Daemen for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

After a filmographic hot streak, actor Luke Evans comes full circle for the October/November 2016 edition of ESSENTIAL HOMME.

 

 

MOST WANTED (pg. 20) features the ten most desired items you must have this season, a series of bags, shoes, scents, and more, from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and Tom Ford.

Image: Nao Fujishiro for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

NEW ARRIVALS (pg. 42) details the latest collaborations and launches in fashion and art, including G-Star RAW’s Research’s first collection, DSQUARED2’s inaugural snow line, and Ermenegildo Zegna’s latest denim creation.

"Image: G-Star RAW.

Image: DSQUARED2.

Image: Ermenegildo Zegna.

SCENE (pg. 48) A mix of charisma and just the right dose of crazy, fall’s agenda proves that the big apple is still the place to be.

Image: BFANYC.COM.

Image: Baja East.

Selected features include:

  • SALT LICK (pg. 30) Nostalgia-revived Western wear takes over this season’s trends in full flush.

Image: Jack Waterlot for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • COLD CALLING (pg. 54) Shed over-worn layers from wardrobes past for this season’s most heated styles.

Image: A.P. Kim for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • COMMON GROUND (pg. 68) The elasticity of athleticwear enters a new realm with the rediscovered track jacket as a sudden star.

Image: Kevin Sinclair for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • SURPRISING SOURCES (pg. 84) Archival erotic art surfaces in Issey Miyake’s new spring series for Homme Plissé.

Image: A.P. Kim for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • MAN WITHOUT A PLAN (pg. 90) Industrial designer Tom Dixon seeks the unexpected in art as in life.

Image: Tom Dixon.

  • STYLES OF THE UNDERSTATED (pg. 96) Agnes Martin and the many other inspirations of COS’ Martin Andersson.

Image: A.P. Kim for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • CONNECTING THE DOTS (pg. 102) After a filmographic hot streak, actor Luke Evans comes full circle.

Image: Zeb Daemen for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

Image: Zeb Daemen for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • RETROGRADE (pg. 116) The rivalry of hard and soft is ignited like never before in down-filled armor that entrances.

Image: Jimi Urquiaga for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • FOOD RULES (pg. 128) Wellness expert Dr. Frank Lipman explains why you should consider adding superfoods to your skincare regimen.

Image: A.P. Kim for ESSENTIAL HOMME.

  • DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION (pg. 132) The Beekman, New York’s next great hotel, finally opens its doors.

Image: The Beekman

The October/November 2016 issue of ESSENTIAL HOMME magazine is available for purchase online today and on international newsstands as of November 8, 2016.

For further information please contact info@essentialhommemag.com.

 

 

About ESSENTIAL HOMME magazine:
ESSENTIAL HOMME is a US-based bi-monthly style source for affluent, successful, and fashion-forward men who are passionate about high quality, high-end luxury fashion. ESSENTIAL HOMME has been published since 2010, and past cover stars include the likes of Theo James, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, Adrian Grenier, Tinashe, Dean and Dan Caten, Daniel Radcliffe, Future, Hugh Dancy, Theophilus London, Sullivan Stapleton, Kellan Lutz, and Ian Somerhalder.

Media kit: http://essentialhommemediakit.com