Before he was Sergeant Liam Robert Sullivan in Boots, English actor Max Parker was heating things up in another uniform — or lack thereof — as part of the 2023 Red Hot calendar. Now, photos from that steamy shoot have resurfaced, reminding fans just how ‘red hot’ Parker really is.
The calendar, a celebrated project by photographer Thomas Knights, is known for showcasing the beauty of red-haired men while supporting LGBTQ+ and anti-bullying charities. In Parker’s case, the calendar shoot wasn’t just about striking visuals — it also came during a turning point in his personal journey.
Parker, now 33, opened up in his Red Hot interview about the internal struggles he faced before coming out — and how freeing that process turned out to be.
“It took me so long to come out because I didn’t want to prove myself wrong. I’ve always told myself that, ‘No, you’re not.’ And so coming out to myself was probably the hardest thing,” he said.
The actor publicly came out in a 2020 Attitude magazine interview, confirming his relationship with Emmerdale co-star Kris Mochrie, whom he later married. Parker’s previous credits include roles on BBC’s Casualty, ITV’s Emmerdale, and Peacock’s Vampire Academy, but he says the fear of being pigeonholed as a gay actor held him back.
“Being a gay actor was scary. I didn’t want to be pigeonholed, but I also didn’t wanna lose out on opportunities because people maybe wouldn’t cast you as a lead, a straight lead, because people wouldn’t believe it after they know you’re gay,” he admitted.
Fortunately, Parker says coming out hasn’t hurt his career — quite the opposite.
“Honestly, I’ve had the best experience. I’ve had roles playing romantic leads and, honestly, I feel like it’s just another string to my bow,” he shared. “Just being yourself opens so many more doors than you think. When I came out, it was probably the last door that needed to be opened for me to get on with my life and to get on with my career. That was literally the only thing holding me back.”
“Being you, authentically you, is the most freeing thing you can do. And the quicker you do it, the quicker you can live.”
As Parker continues to win hearts in Boots, fans are celebrating not just his on-screen presence — but the confidence and authenticity that continue to define his career.
Photographer / Director @thomasknights
Produced by @redhot100 for the ‘Own It’ series
