“Captain America” star Chris Evans covers the April 2017 issue of Esquire magazine photographed by Mark Segal.

On making political statements and engaging in public exchanges, including a recent heated Twitter debate with former KKK leader David Duke: “Look, I’m in a business where you’ve got to sell tickets. But, my God, I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror if I felt strongly about something and I didn’t speak up. I think it’s about how you speak up. We’re allowed to disagree. If I state my case and people don’t want to go see my movies as a result, I’m okay with that.”

Comparing his Captain America hero Steve Rogers with Gifted’s Frank Adler: “With Steve Rogers, even though you’re on a giant movie with a huge budget and strange costumes, you’re still on a hunt for the truth of the character. With Adler, it’s nice to play someone relatable. I think Julianne Moore said, ‘The audience doesn’t come to see you; they come to see themselves.’ Adler is someone you can hold up as a mirror for someone in the audience. They’ll be able to far more easily identify with Frank Adler than Steve Rogers.”

On family [and his parents’ divorce] and love and the struggles therein: “In my own life, I have a deep connection with my family and the value of those bonds. I’ve always loved stories about people who put their families before themselves. It’s such a noble endeavor. You can’t choose your family, as opposed to friends. Especially in L.A. You really get to see how friendships are put to the test; it stirs everyone’s egos. But if something goes south with a friend, you have the option to say we’re not friends anymore. Your family—that’s your family. Trying to make that system work and trying to make it not just functional but actually enjoyable is a really challenging endeavor, and that’s certainly how it is with my family.”

[Photo Credit: Mark Segal/Courtesy of Esquire Magazine]