Hollywood star Luke Evans opens up about 'terrible anxiety' over body image
Welsh performer, Luke Evans, has opened up about the "terrible anxiety" he suffers about his appearance. The actor and singer, who is originally from Aberbargoed, is a familiar face on our screens, having starred in hit Hollywood films such as The Hobbit franchise, Beauty and the Beast, and the Netflix series The Alienist.
However, the 45-year-old has admitted he struggles with body image issues and is plagued with self-doubt about the way he looks - admitting he often feels anxious when he's in the gym or looking in the mirror. During an appearance on the 'How To Fail With Elizabeth Day' podcast, which focuses on well known figures and their failures before reaching success, the actor explained that he still felt anxious when going to the gym at times.
The Aberbargoed-raised star, who appeared at a Q&A session in Cardiff's New Theatre this week, said: "I look at myself in the mirror and just go, 'you don’t look good enough' or you're letting it go'. I look at my face. The terrible part of my industry is that you're just reminded constantly of the decades of film you've done when you had not a crease on the face and not one grey stubble, whereas all my stubble is now grey."
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The performer then went on to admit he would consider "letting it all go" if he didn't have to prepare his body for movie roles. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
On the podcast, he told presenter Elizabeth Day: "If I didn’t have to go and take my top off on a movie set every now and again, I’d probably let it all go." He added of his struggles: "I’ve had to learn to be kinder to myself but I have terrible anxiety about feeling good enough physically.
"Part of that isn’t completely bad, I think it gives you a little something to fight for but it can be overwhelming. I’ve been on a beach just recently and I didn’t want to take my T-shirt off.
"I don’t want to be in that place. I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but you know we are sensitive creatures, we’re very delicate. As hard as I may look, I am quite delicate." Luke later admitted he also struggled with his confidence and felt jealous of other men who made it look so "effortless".
He said: "I walk down the street or in a bar or in the gym and look at some guy and he's like super confident and I'm just like wow and it just seems effortless. When I do, it’s a whole lot of work when I have to present that. I’m not massively confident about lots of things about me but I’ve learned to deal with it, not ignore it and understand why and process it but it doesn't go away."
