10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tom Hardy

Even though Tom Hardy has been on the movie scene for a while, he has only recently started amassing stardom and we couldn’t possibly fathom why the world waited so long to take note of not only his extraordinary acting talent but also his exceptional style – both in fashion and in his personal life. Tom has not only managed to make women swoon over him all across the planet but he has also inspired guys to get into shape – we’ll see his radical transformation from ordinary dude to ripped beast in one of the points. However, as much as there is that we know about him, we have found these things that you didn’t know about the famed Tom Hardy.

1 – Tom and Michael Fassbender have been friends since the beginning of his acting career

Two actors are friends from the same drama class.

Tom was in the same drama class as Michael Fassbender at Drama Center London and has even stated in an interview with GQ Magazine that he has “mad respect for him (for Fassbender).” That drama class really gave rise to two excellent actors!

2 – His filming debut was in Band of Brothers (Mini-series) and Black Hawk Down (Film)

Tom Hardy in Band of Brothers and Black Hawk Down.

Back in 2001 Tom made his name as an actor when he played in the HBO mini-series called Band of Brothers (which also happens to be one of our favorite mini-series’ ever). Coincidentally, he acted alongside Michael Fassbender as well. This was an excellent start for Hardy and it’s easy to see why he was quickly drafted to act in his first movie Black Hawk Down later in 2001.

3 – He’s a fan of Martial Arts

Tom Hardy in Warrior.

This wasn’t always the case, according to Hardy. However, when he got the role as U.S. Marine Tommy Riordan in the 2011 movie Warrior, he found his love for Mixed Martial Arts. Not only did he take part in an extreme workout but he also trained in kickboxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, boxing and other fighting styles. As can be seen in the pictures, Tom had a radical body transformation which just goes to show how much effort he put in for the role.

4 – He didn’t just play ‘good guy’ roles

Tom played Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

When we think of Hardy, we usually envision the tough but good-hearted Forrest Durant in Lawless or the mild-mannered Eames in Inception. Although, this isn’t always the case since he acted as a villain called Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002 and, little known to most people, he even acted as Bane in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. Personally, Bane was probably one of the meanest roles we had ever seen Tom act as and he certainly did not disappoint. Besides, few can take the glory of truly kicking Batman’s ass in a one on one fight.

5 – He had a dog named “Mad Max”

He got a chance to play in a movie he adores.

Strangely enough, Tom only watched the original 1979 classic Mad Max when he got the lead role in it but he loved it from the get-go. Coincidentally, he was given a dog as a gift when he was 17 years old that was already named “Mad Max“. Little known to Tom, more than two decades later he would be playing the role of Max himself in the 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road. Unfortunately Tom’s furry friend, Max, passed away the year that he got the role so he decided to make Mad Max: Fury Road his tribute to his companion.

6 – His acting hero is Gary Oldman

He also got a chance to act with Gary Oldman a couple of times.

Speaking of coincidences, apart from getting the role as Mad Max, Hardy’s acting hero is Gary Oldman and he once even said in the beginning of his career that he’d love to work with him. Well, as the fates would have it, he did end up working with Gary Oldman not only once but on four separate occasions. He first acted alongside Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in 2011 and then went on to collaborate with him again in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises and Lawless in 2012 and, most recently, acted against him in the 2015 Child 44. In an interview with Total Film regarding Gary he even said, “Gary Oldman is one of my heroes, I did nothing but glean from him.”

7 – He struggled with addiction in the past

He used to be a crack cocaine addict.

There was someone that once said that extraordinary people usually have difficult lives and it couldn’t have been more true in the case of Tom Hardy. When he was 11, a policeman came to the school to warn them about the dangers of sniffing glue and instead of shying away, Hardy instantly knew where he could get some. By the age of 13, he was already taking Hallucinogens and a couple of years later, by the age of 16, he was not only an alcoholic but also a full-fledged crack cocaine addict. At one point it got so bad that Hardy even said, “I would have sold my mother for a rock of crack”. In 2003, the height of his addiction had hit its peak and he was found passed out in Soho, London covered in his own vomit and blood. It was that year that he decided to clean up his act which could have destroyed his life and his career. Tom has been clean for over 10 years now.

8 – He likes helping people

Tom Hardy with Kenny Ross.

With his understanding and own experience as an addict, Tom decided to help others that are struggling with similar problems by becoming an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust Youth Charity where he helps the youth in London to overcome some of their difficulties and helps guide them to better lives. He is also a patron for a homeless charity in Cambridge, England. You can watch a video here where Tom catches up with one of the first ‘Celebrate Success’ winners, Kenny Ross, as the Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, where they discuss addiction and never giving up on your dreams.

9 – He’s a family man

With his wife, Charlotte Riley.

Apart from being a good guy, Tom is also a family man. He got married to Sarah Ward in 1999 but got divorced from her in 2004. He blames the divorce largely on his drug and alcohol use. After the divorce he started dating Rachel Speed between 2004 and 2009 with whom he had his first child, Louis Thomas, who was born in 2008. Unfortunately, the relationship didn’t last. He then met Charlotte Riley in 2009 on the set of Wuthering Heights, they started dating, got engaged in 2010 and then finally married in 2014. In October 2015, the couple celebrated the birth of their first child together – Hardy’s second. In a commendable fashion, the couple has decided to keep their second child out of the limelight and the baby’s name and gender is unknown.

10 – Tom comes from a talented family

Tom with his parents and wife Charlotte Riley.

Perhaps greatness is bred in the genetic code; it certainly could be with Tom since he comes from talented parents. Tom’s mother, Anne (nee Barrett), is an artist and a painter while his dad, Edward “Chips” Hardy, is an author and comedy writer. It’s easy to see where Tom got his talents from. However, as many of you probably don’t know, Tom is also multi-talented. Apart from being an actor, he is also a screenwriter and a producer. Tom and his father Edward collaborated together to write and produce a mini-series called Taboo that Tom acts in as well. Taboo should be released later this year.

 *Bonus Points

Now that our top 10 list has been concluded, here are some bonus trivia points that we thought you’d enjoy.

Tom loves dogs

He adopted two dogs and worked with PETA on an ad about rescuing dogs.

Tom and wife, Charlotte, own two dogs. Both dogs are rescues and Tom feels so strongly about it that he once acted in an advertisement for PETA where he encouraged the adoption of rescued dogs.

Tom played two different characters in one movie

Tom Hardy as Kray Twins in Legend.

In the 2015 movie Legend, Tom portrays both roles of the Kray Twins – namely, Ronald “Ronnie” Kray and Reginald “Reggie” Kray. These two roles are another one of his darker roles since the movie follows the life of the Kray Twins who terrorized London in the 1950s and 60s.

Tom was a model

Early model photos.

Before his acting career took off, Tom won a modeling competition when he was 21 years old. He was then briefly signed on with Models One. In 2015 he was also named as one of the top 50 best dressed British men by GQ which is in stark contrast to him hilariously winning The Big Breakfast’s Search for A Supermodel competition in 1998 wearing an Alice Band.

Bonus Interview About “The Revenant”