How Ben Platt Became Evan Hansen for Dear Evan Hansen , Rotten Tomatoes

Actor and musician Ben Platt is so closely associated with the role of awkward and anxious teenager Evan Hansen he came onto the musical Dear Evan Hansen during workshops and originated the role on Broadway that its sometimes hard, especially among musical theater lovers, to remember theyre two separate people. Its not just that Platt has been with Evan for so long, but that he has portrayed him with such unforgettable power and raw emotion enough, it turns out, to nab him a Tony. In September, after a few years away from the role, he steps back into Hansens scruffy joggers for the film adaptation of the beloved musical, something that both excited and terrified him and which may not help with that confusion. Ahead of the movies release in theaters, Platt sat down with Rotten Tomatoes for an exclusive, extended talk about how he initially developed the character of Evan, how hes evolved his performance for the screen, and what it means to him to play someone whos inspired so many. Watc