Luke Evans Reflects on Being an Openly Gay Star and Playing Straight

Luke Evans has long been out of the closet and on the screen. In advance of his new memoir, "Boy From The Valleys: My Unexpected Journey," the Welsh actor reflected on being gay and playing straight: "I am somebody who is definitely visible."

In an interview with Red Magazine, the 45-year-old actor mused, "'Openly gay' feels like you're waving a flag and you're screaming it from the rooftops. And, by the way, if anybody wants to do that, good on them, just be careful on the roof."

But he didn't feel a need to scream anything, and he suggested that his fans didn't need him to.

"'I don't think they care any more," Evans told the publication. "It has given me a sort of a virtual tap on the back.... like, 'Keep going because we like what you do, and we don't care.'"

Still, the "Beauty and the Beast" star said, "I am somebody who is definitely visible. I am not going to be dictated to by anyone as to how I live my life. I dictate that, and my only objective is that I'm happy and that there's nothing that's being compromised for my happiness, my partner's happiness, my family's happiness and anyone that I affect in my life. That's all that matters to me."

Reflecting on the vagaries of his career – and its many successes – Evans dispensed a bit of advice, saying, "[D]on't sit on an idea. Don't sit on something you want to change. Change it. If you think it's going to make something better, or it's going to help you or other people, do it. Life's too short."

Evans is set to appear in the upcoming "Weekend In Taipei," a George Huang-directed film in which Evans "plays an American DEA agent who becomes entangled in a love affair with a mercenary driver, Joey Kwang (played by Gwei Lun-Mei)."

Perhaps more exciting is the news that Evans has at least one "project... in development that he describes as 'not quintessentially about, 'this is a gay story,'" Red Magazine relayed. "It just happens to be, 'there are gay people in this story.'"

Adding to his busy screen schedule is Evans' singing career and "his fashion brand, BDXY, which he runs with his partner of three years, Spanish architect and project manager, Fran Tomas," and it seems that the hunky Welshman – and newly-minted memoirist – has a range of talents on display.

Serendipitously, his memoir drops today [Nov. 7], just after an election that many queer Americans find disheartening.

"I hope it makes people realize you can find hope even when you think nothing is going your way," Evans told Red Magazine.

For more inspiration from the handsome out actor, have a look at some of his thirsty Instagram pics: