KING Charles told Gwent actor Luke Evans that he is related to the historical royal leader Vlad Dracula.
Mr Evans, who is from Pontypool, had just finished the 2014 film Dracula Untold when he first met His Majesty, the then-Prince of Wales.
The 43-year-old actor played a fictional version of the 15th century Romanian ruler Vlad Tepes, who gets turned into a vampire in the movie.
Speaking to The Jonathan Ross Show, he said: “I remember the first time I spoke to (Charles), I was super nervous.
“He came up to me and said, ‘What are you working on at the moment?’ and I said, ‘I’ve just finished a movie about Vlad Tepes who turns into Dracula.’ “And he went ‘Funnily enough, I’m related to Vlad Tepes.’ “I thought he was joking! He went through his lineage to Vlad.”
Vlad III, commonly known also as Vlad the Impaler, ruled the former territory of Wallachia and killed thousands of people – mainly through impalement – in his lifetime.
Irish author Bram Stoker then took his title of Dracula, son of the dragon, for the title of his famous novel in the 19th Century.
Mr Evans was also asked by Jonathan Ross, 61, about whether he is up for the part of James Bond after Daniel Craig ended his run with No Time To Die in 2021.
Evans said: “It’s probably the best kept secret in the industry.
“Maybe. I don’t know. Who knows?
“What is lovely is that 15 years ago I was on the West End stage, and no one knew who I was.
“Fifteen years later I’m in the small group of actors from the British industry and one of those that they talk about!
“If that’s all it is, I’ve had a wonderful journey.”
Mr Evans, who is also a singer and is preparing to release his new album A Song For You, also recalled when he first got to know Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church.
He said: “I’ve known that (voice of an angel) girl since she was 10 years old and I was 16.
“I used to pay for my own singing lessons and I used to go to this little terraced house.
“I’d walk up this street and here this sound and this voice and this tiny thing would walk out and it was Charlotte Church.”
The Hobbit and Fast And Furious 6 actor will star in the upcoming action thriller series Echo 3 in which he plays a delta force special operative in the US army.
Mr Ross is also joined on his show by singer-songwriter Rita Ora, former football manager Harry Redknapp, former footballer Jamie Redknapp, comedian Sindhu Vee and musical guest Ellie Goulding.
The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 10.10pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
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