STAR REVEALS 'DARK' TIMES AS TEENAGER

HOLLYWOOD actor Luke Evans has spoken about reaching a “dark place” during his teenage years when he was experiencing difficulties growing up as gay and being a member of the Jehovah's Witness community.

- BRANWEN JONES

In the third episode of the new BBC series, Alison Hammond's Big Weekend, presenter Alison Hammond got to spend some time with Luke, who has starred in a number of Hollywood blockbusters such as The Hobbit franchise, The Girl on the Train and the 2017 film adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.

While on the programme, the Welsh actor and singer opened up about his tough childhood.

He candidly spoke about his experience of bullying and conflict between his homosexuality and religion, to the extent where he reached a “dark place” and contemplated suicide.

With each episode, Alison spends a weekend with various stars, including Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards and comedian Jimmy Carr.

This week, the Great British Bake Off presenter was spending the weekend with Luke Evans in his home town of Aberbargoed, in south Wales.

Throughout the episode, the actor spoke candidly about his upbringing, including when he had gone through a very difficult time.

While travelling in the car, Alison wanted to delve deeper into Luke's upbringing, and the two spoke about the actor being brought up as a Jehovah's Witness.

Jehovah's Witnesses reject homosexuality. The actor explained that he understood he would be expelled from the community if he came out, which would also have implications for his family.

“I knew I was different. I didn’t know I was gay,” he explained.

“I just knew I was different from the ages of seven, eight, nine, you know, very young.”

He continued: “I also didn’t have anyone outside the religion to be able to confide in or ask what was wrong.

“I've been baptised in the religion, and that meant if I chose to be openly gay I would be cut off from everyone and everything I knew.”