Luke Evans (left) and Tim Curry (right) both played Dr Frank-N-Furter (Image: Getty Images)
Luke Evans has shared a tribute to Tim Curry, posting a letter he wrote to the Rocky Horror star near the end of his Broadway run as Dr Frank-N-Furter, weeks before Curry died aged 80.
In an Instagram post sharing the letter, Evans, who recently reflected on his time in Rocky Horror, wrote: “There will only be one Tim Curry.”
Evans described Curry as “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm and that rich vocal tone”, adding: “He was an inspiration to me and so many people for the roles he played and the effect he had on so many of us.”
In the letter, Evans reflected on the pressure and privilege of stepping into a role so closely associated with Curry’s performance. “With only three weeks left, before I finally hang up the fishnets and heels, I wanted to send you a note,” he wrote. “Although we’ve never met, you’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning. Every actor who puts on Frank inevitably walks into a conversation that started with you, and I’ve felt that every single night.”
Frank-N-Furter’s lasting legacy
Curry is most associated with playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Evans addressed that legacy directly in his letter: “Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to. There is, and always will be, only one Tim Curry.”
Luke Evans’ goodbye letter
Evans stressed he was not trying to imitate Curry’s performance. “I’ve never tried to recreate what you did. That would be impossible. I simply hoped to honour the extraordinary character you brought to life, while finding my own way through him.”
He also thanked Curry for “inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be,” before closing: “I hope, wherever you are, you’d approve of one more Frank having the time of his life in those heels.”
Evans, who made his Broadway debut as Dr Frank-N-Furter, is a Welsh actor known for roles including Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit trilogy, and appearances in Fast & Furious 6 and Beauty and the Beast (2017).
The out gay actor has spoken publicly about navigating sexuality in the entertainment industry, as Curry – who did not speak of his sexuality or love life publicly – did too.
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