From Eastenders to X-Men: Ben Hardy is Attitude’s new cover guy!

From the streets of Walford to Hollywood star, Ben Hardy has joined the X-Men universe as conflicted billionaire playboy Angel.

Returning to Attitude two years after the scorching cover shoot which helped propel his rising star into the spotlight, the 25-year-old discusses his burgeoning Stateside career and why he’s proud to star in a franchise which has for so long been associated with the gay community’s own struggle for acceptance.

“I remember [director Bryan Singer] saying that was one of the attractions of doing the first X-Men film,” Ben tells us across an exclusive 10-page spread.

“He felt it was something that could relate to those movement and to that kid at school who deosn’t feel like he belongs, doesn’t feel like a part of society, feels like an outcast, or feeling like they’re not a part of society.

“In terms of my character, Angel is quite angry and I put that down to him being an outsider. People who don’t get looked after enough can end up being very angry and I feel like this is where Angel’s anger comes from and maybe that gives him the potential to transform and become one of the villains.”

You can read the Ben’s full interview and check out his stunning new shoot in the new issue of Attitude, available to download a digital download from pocketmags.com/attitude.

It’s in shops next Wednesday (April 27), and print copies are available to order from newsstand.co.uk.

Also in Attitude’s Summer Issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fitness & travel:

• In a special feature we examine the issue of race, the LGBT community and the media, to see what’s working and what’s not.
• Nathan Sykes talks life after The Wanted, touring with the Little Mix ladies and his ever-growing gay fanbase.
• Welsh actor Alexander Vlahos gives us the scoop on BBC2’s new graphic, gay sex-filled French period drama Versailles.
• We catch up with star of The Voice and Kinky Boots Matt Henry, fresh off his ‘Best Actor’ victory at last month’s Olivier Awards.
• As Meryl Streep returns to the screen as Florence Foster Jenkins, we look back at the career of this modern Hollywood icon.
• We put drag in focus with an exclusive look as the stunning images of Magnus Hastings’ new photo book Why Drag?
• Bryan Sipe, wirter of Jake Gyllenhaal’s new film Demolition, tells Attitude about overcoming loss, personal identity, and why a gay teen was central to the film’s plot.
• Former Dragon’s Den star and interior designer Kelly Hoppen sees whether she can pass for a homo in How Gay Are You?

Photography by Jenny Brough Fashion by Joseph Kocharian Hair By Tom Berry Make-up by Sandra HadiMore stories: Debra Messing slipped adorable message from flight attendant ‘Will & Grace’ helped to come out ‘Prince dared to see sexuality and gender for the kaleidoscopic spectrum we not know it to be’