Out actor Luke Evans got emotional recalling the positive reception from his parents after he revealed to them he was gay.
The 45-year-old Welsh actor is famous for playing several major roles, including Bard the Bowman in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit trilogy and Gaston in the live-action remake of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
While his sexual identity was known, Evans had largely kept his personal life private and shielded his family from the public.
Until now.
The Hollywood star penned a memoir, titled Boy From the Valleys: My unexpected journey, chronicling his young life in Wales and growing up with a Jehovah's Witness upbringing, which informed his personal struggles coming to terms with his sexuality.
After donning a suit and tie to go knocking on doors with his parents to spread the religion, 17-year-old Evans left the religion, his home, and school for London to pursue a career in acting.
Evans shared his coming out journey on two separate occasions promoting the upcoming book, which will be released in February 2025.
Gay Star News shared his interview on the Queerphoria podcast, during which Evans read a passage from his book detailing the moment he came out to his religious parents.
With the hardcover edition of his book in hand, Evans read aloud:
“Mum took me in her arms and I felt so much love and acceptance in that hug, I started to cry. ‘Get some sleep, love,’ she said. ‘We’ll talk more in the morning.’”
His eyes were welling with tears as he continued:
“Lying in bed that night, my overwhelming emotion was one of relief. Finally, one of the two people I love most in the world…”
After taking a moment to compose himself, Evans finished with:
“Finally, one of the two people I love most in the world knew the real me.”
Evans also appeared at the prestigious Hay Festival in England on Friday, where he opened up about the time his mother urged his father to assure their son they still loved him when they were visiting him in London.
"My dad was upset, I had to leave the room as this is too upsetting," recalled Evans of the difficult conversation they had.
His mother, who sat next to her husband, told him they could go home and deal with it together.
Before he continued, Evans started getting choked up, reliving the memory that he said was upsetting but "quite beautiful."
According to Evans, his mother told her husband, "Dave, we can go…We can go home, and we can deal with this together. But he's on his own here and he has to know that…he has to know that we love him."
Evans continued:
“My mum told me this many years later, and the strength of these two people, the love that they have for each other, but also they have for me, and their religion, and they’ve made it all work.”
“I just hope I find a relationship like they have because it’s amazing.”
"I just thought, 'God, that's teamwork for you.'" he said.
"We are solid. And we still have our lives. They're very different, but they work because we let each other live our lives, you know?"
You can watch the poignant interview here.
People were moved by the interview and commented on Evans' example of pure unconditional love.
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Boy From the Valleys: My unexpected journey will released on February 7, 2025.
The biography is described as "a powerful tale of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and identity, but mostly (and hopefully) a story of inspiration."
We'll have our tissues ready.
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