Nine Perfect Strangers

Welsh actor Luke Evans has made a powerful impression in Hollywood solidifying his status as a leading man across all genres.

This August, Evans will appear in Hulu’s limited series “Nine Perfect Strangers” opposite Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy. The show is based on “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty’s book of the same name. David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Kidman’s Blossom Films and Endeavor Content are producing. The 8-episode series takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Evans will play ‘Lars,’ one of the nine “perfect” strangers. Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Michael Shannon, and Manny Jacinto also star.

Currently, Evans is in production on Apple’s action-thriller drama series, “Echo 3,” which is set to release in 2022. The 10-part series takes place in South America and follows Amber Chesborough, a brilliant young scientist, who is the emotional center of a small American family. When she goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother and her husband (Evans)— two men with deep military experience and complicated pasts — struggle to find her in a layered, personal drama, set against the explosive backdrop of a secret war. Mark Boal serves as the showrunner alongside co-showrunner and director Pablo Trapero. Michael Huisman, Elizabeth Anweis, and Jessica Ann Collins will also star.

Up next, Evans will play ‘The Coachman’ in Robert Zemeckis’ live-action retelling of “Pinocchio” for Disney+. Tom Hanks is set to star as ‘Geppetto.’ Evans will also reprise his role as ‘Gaston’ alongside Josh Gad’s ‘LeFou” for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series for the Disney + streaming service. The limited series will be a 6-episode musical event in which Evans is an executive producer.

In television, Evans most recently starred in “The Pembrokeshire Murders,” a three-part ITV drama series based on a true story. Evans portrayed Welsh police officer ‘Steve Wilkins,” who in 2006 reopened two unsolved double murders from the 1980s. He and his team must uncover justifiable forensic evidence before the perpetrator is released from prison.

Last summer, Evans reprised his role of ‘John Moore’ in “The Alienist: Angel of Darkness” the sequel series to TNT’s Emmy nominated drama series “The Alienist.” He starred alongside Daniel Brühl and Dakota Fanning. Based on the international best-selling novel by Caleb Carr, the show is set in the Gilded Age of New York City in 1896. “The Alienist” garnered an Emmy nomination in the category of “Outstanding Limited Series” as well a Golden Globe nomination in the category of “Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made For Television.”

In November 2019, Evans released his debut studio album “At Last.” Produced by Steve Anderson (Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys), the album “At Last” brings together an eclectic collection of modern and classic songs personally curated by Evans to highlight and complement his unique delivery and vocal style. The selection of songs that have been boldly reimagined by Evans include such modern classics as U2’s “With Or Without You,” Maria McKee’s 90’s power ballad “Show Me Heaven” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” along with the Etta James jazz standard “At Last” and “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack.

Later in 2020, Evans appeared in director Nicholas Jarecki’s “Dreamland.” The film followed three storylines centered within the world of opioids. Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly, and Lily-Rose Depp also star.

In November 2019, Evans was seen in Roland Emmerich’s “Midway” as ‘Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky.’ The film follows the story of US Navy sailors and aviators who persevered through the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Aaron Echkart, Nick Jonas, and Mandy Moore also star in the film, which was distributed by Lionsgate.

In Summer 2019, Evans was seen in Tate Taylor’s thriller “Ma” alongside Octavia Spencer and Juliette Lewis, as well as in Netflix’s “Murder Mystery” in June, co-starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, and earning the title of #1 on Netflix in the US in 2019, and in the thriller “Anna” alongside Sasha Luss, Cillian Murphy, and Helen Mirren. Evans was also seen in “State Like Sleep” starring alongside Kathryn Waterston and Michael Shannon. The drama revolves around the basic need for human connection and love. The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and was released on January 4, 2019.

Evans was also seen in “State Like Sleep” starring alongside Kathryn Waterston and Michael Shannon. The drama revolves around the basic need for human connection and love. The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and was released on January 4, 2019.

In Spring 2017, Evans starred as ‘Gaston’ in Disney’s highly successful, live-action adaptation of the animated classic, “Beauty and the Beast.” Directed by Academy Award winner Bill Condon, the film released in theaters on March 17, 2017 and has grossed over $1.2 million in the worldwide box office.

The same year, Evans was seen in Annapurna’s “Professor Marston & The Wonder Women.” The film chronicles the life of Harvard psychologist and inventor Dr. Marston (Evans) who created Wonder Woman and his relationship with his wife, fellow psychologist and inventor Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and their polyamorous relationship with Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote). The film premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival.

In 2016, Evans starred in Universal Pictures big screen adaptation of the highly successful book of the same name, “The Girl on The Train,” opposite Emily Blunt and Justin Theroux, directed by Tate Taylor.

Evans also starred in Ben Wheatley’s suspense noir film “High Rise,” for which he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the British Independent Film Awards and was named as one of the Best Performances of 2016 by The Hollywood Reporter.

In December 2015, Evans reprised his role as the iconic dragon slayer and archery expert, ‘Bard the Bowman’ in the final installment of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” Evans also appeared as ‘Bard’ in the third installment, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” The films were released in December 2014 and 2015 and co-starred Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage. Prior to this Evans was seen in the lead role of the heroic ruler Vlad in Gary Shore’s global success “Dracula Untold.” The role, which strengthened Evan’s global recognition saw him star alongside Charles Dance, Dominic Cooper, and Sarah Gadon.

In Summer 2013, Evans starred as the villain ‘Owen Shaw’ in the sixth installment of Universal’s “The Fast & Furious” franchise. Directed by Justin Lin, the film opened in May and has grossed over $700 million world-wide. He returned to “Fast Seven” and has also been immortalized in the new “Fast & Furious: Super Charged” attraction at Universal Studios amusement park.

For BBC, Evans starred in Chris Chibnall’s (“Broadchurch”) “The Great Train Robbery,” as the infamous, real-life train robber “Bruce Reynolds.” The special aired in December 2014 and detailed the great train robbery of 2.6 million pounds from a Royal Mail train from Glasgow in 1962 and the aftermath when Reynolds spent five years on the run before being jailed in 1978. The mini-series that garnered awards recognition from BAFTA TV committee as well as the Monte Carlo Television Festival.

Evans made his UK feature film debut in the role of ‘Clive’ in the 2009 British Independent Film Academy nominated feature “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,” Mat Whitecross’s biopic of the London punk-rock scene founder Ian Dury of “Ian Dury and the Blockheads.” It was Warner Brother’s action/fantasy/drama “Clash of the Titans,” however, that put Evans on the map, where he portrayed the charismatic god, ‘Apollo.’ Evans’ other film credits include Ridley Scott’s remake of “Robin Hood,” “Immortals,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Raven,” and “No One Lives,” and “Tamara Drewe.”

Prior to his film career, Evans had successfully carved out an enviable stage career starring in West End plays and musicals such as “La Cava,” Boy George’s “Taboo,” “Avenue Q,” “Dickens Unplugged,” “A Girl Called Dusty,” and, at the acclaimed Donmar Warehouse, “Small Change” and “Piaf.” His powerful, trained voice and engaging stage presence made him the perfect choice for leading roles such as ‘Chris’ in “Miss Saigon” and ‘Roger’ in “Rent.”

Evans currently resides in London.