Welsh actor Luke Evans has spoken about his upbringing in the Welsh village of Aberbargoed, saying his sexuality was an issue and he was bullied at school. The 47-year-old stars in ITV's new thriller The Party, which begins this Sunday, October 11, at 9pm.
A difficult childhood
Evans, who has appeared in blockbusters such as The Hobbit, Dracula Untold and Beauty and the Beast, said his upbringing was far from the glitz of showbiz. He told RadioTimes that his character Martin Gilmour has much in common with his own experiences.
"There's a lot in the script that was informed by me and my upbringing as an only child in a small Welsh village, wanting to do grand things but having a religion that suppressed all of that, my sexuality being an issue, going to London and having the blinkers torn off," he said.
"Martin has so much of that going on, I could bring an authenticity because I've been through similar things."
Bullying and therapy
Evans confessed to hating his school life, explaining: "As a Jehovah's Witness, a closeted gay kid, I had no friends, couldn't talk to anybody and was bullied really badly."
However, he said filming the five-part series was not a cathartic process, as he had already unpacked things through therapy and his 2024 memoir.
About The Party
The Party follows journalist Martin and his lifelong friendship with wealthy politician Ben Fitzmaurice (Tom Cullen), who first met at an exclusive boarding school after Martin won a scholarship. Three decades later, Martin is invited to Ben's lavish birthday party, but news of the Conservative leader's resignation threatens to derail the event as Ben considers announcing his intention to stand.
A synopsis reads: "Martin fears the publicity that Ben's bid would bring, dredging up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences."
"The drama moves between the shocking events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin and Ben's life is at school, university and London party days. What unfolds is a gripping exploration of identity, privilege and devotion, combined with a tender ode to anyone who has fought to live authentically."
