Christopher Evangelou has had anything but the typical career.
Originally from North London, he performing in church plays and community productions as a youth, dreaming of becoming an actor, before an altercation at the age 17 steered him into the world of boxing. His ambition, drive and talent took him far in the sport, and he became a pro boxer and International Welterweight Champion before a hand injury ended his boxing career. This disappointment wound up being a blessing, allowing him to revisit his love for the world of entertainment. He took acting classes, and in 2019 appeared in his breakthrough role in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.
Now, the former pro boxer is a Hollywood star rapidly on the rise who’s acted alongside the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Diego Luna and more, with an ever-growing resume of roles in both the U.K. and U.S. We got the chance to chat with Christopher about his experiences, what boxing and acting have in common and so much more as our Man Crush Monday. Read the full interview below.
(Photo credit: Arrun Dunworth)
Name: Christopher Evangelou
Hometown: London, England
Birthday: January 12
Fun Facts:
1. So far, Christopher says his most meaningful role was playing Prime Time in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.
Christopher Evangelou: It was my first breakout role and the first time I had made it into a feature film. It meant a lot that Guy Ritchie saw me and gave me that responsibility, especially knowing who else went up for the role. It was such an honor to be in one of my favourite films, and every time people hear I’m in The Gentlemen, they say it’s one of theirs too.
2. He says that a couple of things he learned as a boxer have carried over into his acting career.
Christopher: Being a boxer taught me discipline, devotion and a way of life that I’ve implemented into my acting career. I’m tenacious and willing to take risks to chase my dreams. The discipline of waking up early, making weight and fighting in front of thousands of people has given me the extra drive to never stop fighting for what I want.
(Photo credit: Arrun Dunworth)
3. If he could live any any decade, he’d like to relieve the ’80s and ’90s.
Christopher: I was born in 1986, so I saw a lot of both, but I would have loved to have been a teenager in the ’80s. It just looked so fun, there were no phones, people had to go out and meet in person and the movies and music from that era are very missed today.
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4. His favorite color has changed over the years.
Christopher: When I was boxing, it was white and gold, but now I love green, especially the darker khaki green. I find myself drawn to it subconsciously—it’s in my wardrobe and bedroom, and it speaks to new life, with the trees and nature.
5. His biggest heroes are his older brothers.
Christopher: They taught me how to be a man and have principles. They’re the two most honest people I know, they’ll never cheat anyone or take money that’s not theirs. They’re humble, good husbands and good fathers—two great role models.
6. His favorite song of all time is Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Christopher: I’ve always loved the story Freddie Mercury tells, the passion in it and his incredible voice. Queen was one of my favorite bands growing up, largely because my older brothers listened to them.
7. His favorite style trends are driven by his physique.
Christopher: Because I train a lot and my body doesn’t fit conventional shirts and suits, I like muscle-fit, tailored clothing. I’ve been buying a lot of quarter zips, fitted trousers and nice shoes recently—an Italian, European look that’s snug to my body so people can see that I train.
(Photo credit: Arrun Dunworth)
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8. He turns to his faith to pick him up when he’s feeling discouraged.
Christopher: As a Christian, I turn to the Bible. Scriptures like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, and Psalm 27, ”The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” get me through hard times. I also hold on to the belief that what is meant to be mine won’t pass me by, and that all things work for good for those who love the Lord. When I train hard, I’m reminded that life is tough but I never stop fighting, and I’m proud that I’ve never given up through the dark times in my life.
9. In three words, he’d describe himself a disciplined, devoted and kind.
(Photo credit: Arrun Dunworth)
10. He has some impressive titles on his resume, with some even more exciting (secret) projects on the way.
Christopher: I can’t say the projects I’m currently working on because they’re all under NDA, but you can catch me on Instagram where I’m always giving updates and have my showreel. You can see me in La Máquina on Disney+ and Hulu, The Gentlemen on Netflix in America or Amazon Prime in the U.K., and Mary on Netflix in the U.K. with Sir Anthony Hopkins. I’m still working on things and will be popping up on screens very soon.
11. Christopher says his persistence has been the core trait that’s defined his career and gotten him to where he is today.
Christopher: I’ve never given up on anything I’ve gone through in life. I wanted to be a boxer, became a champion, opened a successful gym with my brother during COVID despite the doubts, and pursued acting for 10 years in London and now L.A., despite people telling me it was too hard. I’ve got amazing credits, been in great movies, met some of the biggest actors in the world and been on cinema screens. I hope that inspires people to never give up because they saw that I did it.
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