Sometimes, when an actor is asked how much they relate to the character they’re playing, the question gets lip service. Not so Luke Evans and Martin Gilmour, the character he plays in The Party.
It is small wonder that, when he read Elizabeth Day’s source novel – “I read to find roles for myself,” he laughs, “and if, by page 10, there isn’t an interesting charismatic male lead, the book goes to Oxfam” – the actor and executive producer instantly saw the potential of both character and story.
The series will hold surprises aplenty even for fans of the book – not least in the recalibration of Martin and Ben Fitzmaurice (Tom Cullen), the aristocratic scion with whom Martin has a seemingly unrequited, toxic obsession. They have been transposed from arts critic to political hack and hopeful MP to aspiring leader of the Conservative Party, respectively. The stakes have been raised.
Although he’ll admit to liking Andy Burnham’s energy (“He seems to come over as a sincere fellow”), Evans is political with a small “p”, preferring to use his profile to promote good causes and otherwise send a message by simply living his life as an out, gay man; he lives between London, Lisbon and Ibiza with his partner, architect Fran Tomas.
He then won a bursary to musical theatre school in London. “I got in on my voice,” he says. “I had no idea about acting or dancing. The first six months were hard. I didn’t fit in as I felt so behind. But I threw myself into it and that’s how I’ve taken on every challenge since. Through time and routine and regular visits to a therapist, you work through things.”
View oEmbed on the source websiteFilm stardom, top 20 albums and a menswear brand have followed, but it could have been very different: Evans auditioned for two boy bands and applied for Pop Idol, all in vain. “It was a bit like the lottery,” he guffaws. “More fun dreaming about what it would have been like than the reality of winning it.”
Stardom with the imprimatur of Simon Cowell would have been exposing at best, and Evans has a sneaking admiration for “these famous people that have their success and then just disappear. They’re probably living the most authentic lives they can, just living for themselves.”
Fat chance. While the romantic leads and action heroes may not be behind him, the parts are getting richer and more interesting. Having just completed seven months as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the 47-year-old couldn’t be happier.
The Party begins on Sunday 11 October at 9pm on ITV1.
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