Gay soap star Scott Evans talks to The Advocate

The Advocate has posted a chat with actor Scott Evans whose policeman character on ABC’s One Life to Live will be involved in a gay storyline. The openly gay brother of actor Chris Evans has been playing officer Oliver Fish on the soap for more than a year but obviously has his best material coming up.

Here are some excerpts:

Did you know from the onset that this was going to be the direction that Officer Oliver Fish would eventually go down?
This came up much later. This role started off a small thing. I got the role in November of 2007. I did a few episodes the beginning of 2008, and then this year is when I started coming back to the show more regularly. The new story line is all news to me, which is exciting.

How is working with your soon-to-be love interest, Brett Claywell [Kyle]?
He is awesome, and is so great. Kyle is so much fun on-set and always joking around. He is fantastic!

Their backstory seemed to revolve around being in the KAD fraternity house in college. We saw Fish mention this to him during the recent serial killer story line. What is their background?
The background between us is there was some sort of relationship that happened between us when we were in college together. We were frat brothers and something happened. We were separate for a while, and now he is back in town. He has completely thrown me off, and messing with my head.

Any mixed emotions about letting people in the industry know you are gay?
It was something I thought about. Maybe I should have thought about it more, but it was like I wanted to put myself first before my career. I did not want to go through life having to deal with extra issues when I am dealing with trying to get a job. So I went, “OK, this is me. Either you like or you don’t. Hopefully you can accept it, and if you can’t, bummer. If you can hire me, great.” It was that sort of thing.

In our Advocate.com interview with your fantastic brother Chris Evans [known for his role in Fantastic Four], he said that you invited him to gay bars, and has hung out with you and friends. Is that true?
He does not come to the gay bars. We definitely all hang out and go out with him, but it’s more me not wanting him to hang out in gay bars than him. I don’t want to have to have him deal with some things and rumors. I mean, someone getting or snapping the wrong picture of Chris Evans at a gay bar is going to end up in places nobody wants to see. People have trouble minding their own business when it comes to that sort of thing.

Your brother Chris is a very sexy guy and probably a fantasy for men and women alike. For you, as his younger brother, is there competitiveness in any department: acting, career, looks?
We are very different. He went straight from high school to L.A. to pursue acting. I wanted to do the whole college route. I am about four or five years behind where he is. He has had incredible success, and everyone always asks, “Are you competitive with your brother?” And the answer is, “No, not at all”. I am proud of him, and he is 110% behind me. And it’s incredible!

In the Advocate.com interview your brother said his publicist — in reference to taking his shirt off for photo-shoots and what not — told him, “When you’re promoting yourself, being you, there’s a way to keep it as classy as possible. Greasing yourself up and stripping down may not be the best way to do it.” Do you agree with that? Do you have a problem going shirtless when called upon for your career?
Chris did a lot of taking his shirt off in the early parts of his career, and now his publicist has advised him to not do it as much, which is fine. I have already had a couple of times on One Life to Live where I have been shirtless, but nothing too crazy… not like the stuff Chris has done in the past. But it’s all for publicity, I suppose. But I am fine and comfortable about taking my shirt off.