After production on Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Avengers: Endgame” wrapped, where he played the beloved Captain America, actor Chris Evans also reached an endpoint in his relationship with Los Angeles. The actor said he equates Los Angeles to “Pavlovian anxiety,” which is why he sought refuge and settled in New England, where he lived as a child.
Evans told GQ Magazine, “It takes me back to a place when life was not just simpler – that’s too reductive – but to a time where I was more pure, I guess; where my ego and my insecurities weren’t such a dominant force that I had to push against.” Evans added that anxiety almost altered his career trajectory and role as Captain America. The 42-year-old actor was “apprehensive about taking the role initially,” sharing that he said no before saying yes.
He said, “I remember in my late 20s having a real shift in how I felt on set, how I felt promoting films: a little more anxiety, a little more uncertainty. You always end up questioning, ‘Is this what I should be doing?’ I just wasn’t sure if I was moving closer to myself or further away. And something inside me kept saying that I was getting further away— that something about this industry wasn’t healthy.” The Sudbury, Massachusetts native has spoken openly about his willingness to leave the acting world.
He admitted, “I could just make furniture for nobody and be happy. I don’t want to—I’ve got to frame this the right way. I was going to say I don’t want to waste too much time in this industry, but that doesn’t really feel…. That doesn’t sound correct. I don’t want to occupy too much space in an industry I’ve already poured 20 years into. Sometimes I wonder if I’m lacking some sort of—like, I think I’m a very driven person. I have a lot of energy. I wake up early, I get a lot done in a day, but it’s not always focused on acting. Sometimes, reading a script is the last thing I want to do.”
Still, when it comes to revisiting the Marvel Universe, Evans said he isn’t sure. He said, “Yeah, maybe. I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And, like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab, or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon.”
Evans and his longtime girlfriend, Alba Baptista, recently got married during a ceremony at a private estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The guest list included some of the actor’s Marvel co-stars, including Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner. Perhaps Evans is more motivated to leave Hollywood now that he’s married, but the actor is ready to accept his new quiet life in Massachusetts.