Luke Evans on Dracula Untold, Vampire Mythology, and Discovering Hidden Strengths

Interview by KRISTINA MOSKALENKO

For his leading role in Dracula Untold, Welsh actor Luke Evans didn’t need prosthetic fangs — his natural charisma and intensity did the job. In this exclusive interview with Kristina Moskalenko, Evans opens up about reimagining Dracula, transforming physically for the role, and why he’s always game to do his own stunts.

MOSKALENKO: Hi, Luke! Shall we dive into the world of vampires?

EVANS: Absolutely. Just to start off — Dracula Untold, directed by Gary Shore, isn’t about the Dracula most people picture when they hear the name. It’s not the classic cape-and-fangs character. The story is rooted in history — we’re telling the origin of Vlad Tepes, the 15th-century Prince of Wallachia, also known as Dracula. He was a real person, caught between empires, and forced to make impossible choices to protect his people and family. That’s the heart of the film.

MOSKALENKO: But there are vampires in it, right? Don’t disappoint our readers.

EVANS: Yes, but they’re portrayed very differently here. Since Bela Lugosi’s performance in 1931, Dracula has often been romanticized — mysterious, seductive, even glamorous. But in Dracula Untold, we explore something much darker and more human. It’s about a man who chooses power, and then has to live with the consequences of that choice. There’s a depth to it I think audiences will really respond to.

MOSKALENKO: Did you uncover anything new in yourself while playing him?

EVANS: I found I had a lot more stamina than I thought. The role demanded a huge amount physically. We’d be on set for 15 or 16 hours, and I’d still make time to train — and on weekends, I worked with our stunt coordinator. I knew this had to be immersive and intense, and I wanted to be ready for every moment.

MOSKALENKO: I assumed after Fast & Furious you already had fight scenes covered?

EVANS: You always learn something new. For this film, we worked with Buster Reeves — he’s been choreographing action scenes in Hollywood for over two decades. There’s a particularly challenging sequence where my character fights through 80+ soldiers in a narrow corridor. I used everything — swords, flagpoles, anything within reach. I wanted to shoot the scene in long takes without relying on stunt doubles. It was exhausting, but incredibly rewarding. I like hard work. I come from a performing background — even did a bit of dance in my early days, although it wasn’t a huge success.

MOSKALENKO: You grew out your hair for this role. Are you planning to cut it for your next film, High-Rise?

EVANS: Possibly — though honestly, it’s the fangs people notice most! And they’re mine, by the way. No prosthetics. I suppose that helped with the part.

Originally published in the Interview Magazine Russia edition for September 2014