Exclusive Interview
Romance Rewind: Evan Williams Dives Into ‘The Way Home,’ ‘Versailles’ & More (VIDEO)
Evan Williams just wrapped his third season as Elliot Augustine in Hallmark’s hit The Way Home. The show will return for a fourth season, and Williams is having the time of his life playing your not-so-typical Hallmark hunk.
“I love being able to play Elliot Augustine as somebody who is happy to not be the square-jawed alpha,” Williams told Swooon during our latest Romance Rewind segment. “I’m trying to, in my performance, in my portrayal, trying to honor the ways that many men exist. There’s a whole spectrum of masculinity and the ways that we can show up.”
Obviously, The Way Home fans have rallied behind Kat (Chyler Leigh) and Elliot’s love story. Williams is excited to continue exploring the romance. “We’ll see if their love story really has what it takes to stand the test of time. I’m a fan.”
Michael Tompkins
While Kat and Elliot’s relationship in The Way Home is top of mind at the moment, Williams has been notable love interests in other beloved series.
His first romantic role was Kelly, Emma’s (Miriam McDonald) college boyfriend, in Degrassi: The Next Generation. “Growing up in Canada, everybody who’s in the industry has traveled through Degrassi. It’s like a rite of passage,” Williams noted.
When he got the audition, Williams was aware that he’d likely be romancing “Degrassi royalty.” He added, “They also hinted he was maybe musical, so I brought my guitar into the audition, and I played them a song. I think that was maybe part of why I got it.”
He went on to join the cast of MTV’s Awkward as Luke, a new love interest for Jenna (Ashley Rickards). Williams recalled a gnarly injury he sustained the day before his screen test for the role. The actor “accidentally dove into the bottom of a swimming pool and smoked my face.” He was left with two black eyes. “I looked terrible,” he said.
Williams got the role anyway. “I think the fact that was I all banged up was endearing to Ashley because she liked me, and we had good chemistry,” he said. The actor knew from the get-go that he was playing a rival for Matty (Beau Mirchoff) when it comes to Jenna’s heart. “On screen, I was the other guy. I was the threat, so it was fun to play that,” he noted.
Could we see his former Awkward costars and fellow Hallmark stars Nikki DeLoach and Mirchoff in The Way Home? “I would love them to be on The Way Home,” Williams said. Make it happen, Hallmark!
One of Williams’ most beloved romantic roles is Chevalier de Lorraine, the lover of Philippe, the Duke of Orléans (Alexander Vlahos), in Versailles. Williams called the project a “dream” role for him.
Francois Durand / Getty Images for Ovation TV
“I think I really opened up parts of myself that I kind of hadn’t known were lying dormant. I got to push past all the ways that I was afraid to be seen, and that was very empowering,” he told Swooon.
Williams opened up about his electric chemistry with Vlahos and how they dedicated themselves to elevating Chevalier and Philippe’s relationship. “I think neither of us had played same-sex relationship before, so we knew we had to lean into it,” Williams began. “We made a pact on the first day that we were both going to take care of each other and were going to lean in and not pull our punches and go all the way and we did.”
The actor is well aware of the profound impact that Chevalier and Philippe’s relationship has had on fans of Versailles. “I love the way the show treated the relationship,” Williams said. “We didn’t treat the relationship as something that was negative. It was a love story that happened to be between two men, and it was both historically accurate, and also I think beautifully crafted and wasn’t sort of one note.”
Williams is “honored to have been trusted” to play Chevalier. “I felt we were doing something that really mattered.”
Watch the full video above for Williams’ full Romance Rewind. Plus, chime in below about your favorite Evan Williams roles.
