Luke Evans has shown off his gym-honed physique on a new cover for Attitude magazine, where he discussed finding body confidence.
The 47-year-old Welsh actor posed in white briefs for the publication's September/October issue, which is out now. He also wore thigh-grazing sports shorts with socks and trainers to keep his buff frame on display.
Evans credited his recent Broadway role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show with boosting his self-esteem, describing the six months on stage in fishnets, a jockstrap and heels as liberating and like therapy.
"That feels such a strange thing to say when I'm talking about a character that wears fishnet stockings, heels, a thong, a jockstrap, a corset, a harness, a wig and drag makeup," Evans told the magazine.
"But doing this in front of over a thousand people every night, so that's a few hundred thousand people now, has been such a self-asserting, amazing thing for my sense of confidence."
Broadway performance
Evans earned his first Tony Award nomination for his eccentric performance in the stage musical, which is now coming to an end. He said taking on the part meant a lot to him personally.
"As an actor who's mostly known for playing these very masc-presenting action roles, and also being a gay man to come and do this role, it really meant quite a lot to me personally," he said.
"I think it also was a really strong message we were sending to the audience: this is a person who's comfortable with who he is and has just loved spreading his wings and doing something really outside of his comfort zone that I've lived in and thoroughly enjoyed."
Upcoming ITV drama
Evans will next appear on television this autumn in the ITV drama The Party. Based on Elizabeth Day's 2017 novel, the series follows Martin Gilmour, a respected political journalist invited to the 40th birthday party of his best friend, Conservative politician and aristocrat Ben Fitzmaurice.
Evans plays Gilmour, a weary anti-hero who is covered in blood and being interrogated by police when the audience first meets him. Flashbacks slowly reveal how the titular fete unraveled a lifetime of lies, gossip and repressed emotions into one disastrous event.
"It's all wrapped up in politics, class, the British hierarchy, old money, new money, social climbing, lies, sexuality, death, deceit, corruption and finding your authentic self," Evans said of the show. "I mean, seriously, how often do you find all that within one story?"
Co-star Tom Cullen
Actor Tom Cullen plays Fitzmaurice in the series. Evans said their existing friendship helped them film their scenes together.
"Tom is straight and I'm gay, but there was no discomfort that [our characters] could fall in love, because that story is really the thing that should break everyone's hearts," Evans said.
"We both knew that we wanted this to feel beautiful and passionate and tragic and real. We were also just really good friends, which I think helped a lot."
