Luke Evans: ‘As I child I was in love with Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones’

Born in south Wales, Luke Evans, 47, left school at 16 and trained at London Studio Centre before appearing in various West End shows. His films include Clash of the Titans, the Fast & Furious franchise, The Hobbit trilogy and Beauty and the Beast. He has released two albums and a memoir, was Tony-nominated for his role in The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, and stars in The Party, an ITV adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s novel. He lives in Lisbon with his partner.

When were you happiest?
I’m always happy.

What is your greatest fear?
Being old and lonely.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Being hard on myself, saying negative things in my head that are not helpful.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Arrogance.

Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
My business. BDXY is a clothing brand I started with my partner three years ago with no investment.

Describe yourself in three words
Kind, inclusive and empathetic.

What makes you unhappy?
Arguments.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The wrinkles.

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
My great-aunt Lala, who I named my dog after. Lala was 94 when she died and I was seven. We saw her every Saturday and I’ve got tape recordings of me and her singing. I was the apple of her eye and she would have been thrilled being part of my journey.

Who would play you in the film of your life?
Joe Locke.

Who is your celebrity crush?
As a child, Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones. I was in love with him.

Which book are you ashamed not to have read?
The Hobbit!

What was the last lie you told?
That I had a meeting to go to so that I could leave another meeting.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Strawberry laces.

What does love feel like?
It’s like a blanket I wrap around myself knowing that every mountain I have to climb, every problem I have to deal with, I will share with someone who will help me, and vice versa.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Babe.

What is the worst job you’ve done?
Packing chocolate bars and cans of Stella and Foster’s into Christmas bumper packs in a factory in the valleys of south Wales when I was 16.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Not liking myself earlier in my life. Always questioning how I looked and how people felt about me, and worrying about the wrong things.

How often do you have sex?
Weekly.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Working less.