Tom Hiddleston is a great actor who fits equally harmoniously into both the atmospheric films of cult directors and the colorful projects of Marvel. His unique dramatic talent is unanimously recognized on both sides of the Atlantic. However, in life he is a simple and cheerful guy who, without makeup, is completely different from his heroes. His fate and career will be discussed in our article.
Origin
Tom Hiddleston was born in 1981, on February 9, in London (Westminster). His dad, James Norman Hiddleston, holds a degree in physical chemistry. He ran a pharmaceutical company for a long time. The history of the family into which the future artist was born is generally very interesting. He has Scottish roots, which make themselves felt from time to time. In addition, Tom's great-great-great-grandfather on his mother's side, Edmund Hoyle Vestey, was given a baronetcy in 1921 for providing timely quality food to British soldiers during the First World War. Hiddleston's interest in acting began in his early years. He liked to act out situations that happened to other people. As a child, he could spend hours imitating actors from commercials. The head of the drama club saw something unique in the cheerful boy and invited him to join the school troupe.
Biography of Tom Hiddleston
1. Growing up in the very “heart” of England.
The future idol of millions was born on February 9, 1981 in the capital of Great Britain - London. His entire childhood was spent in the most prestigious part of the city called Westminster. The area, which is located on the left bank of the Thames, is one of the most expensive places to live in Europe. There are also several historical attractions located here. For example, the Palace of Westminster, the local abbey and the Royal Courts of Justice.
2. The guy's parents.
Tom's mom and dad were quite rich people. Father (James Norman Hiddleston), although born into a poor Scottish family, still managed to become the director of a large pharmaceutical company. Mom (Diana Patricia Serves) was a representative of an ancient English family of aristocrats. She worked in the field of art criticism for a long time, but still quit her favorite job because she was raising three children.
3. Happy childhood.
The parents tried to give the boy everything he needed. Although his father left the family when Tom was only twelve years old, the man continued to take care of the teenager and his two sisters. In any interview, the guy says that his childhood was ideal. He often spent time with his family and best friends. It was during his childhood that Hiddleston first showed great acting talent. He and his sisters and cousins showed various theatrical performances for their parents. It sometimes took several days to prepare for the performance!
4. Education.
The boy studied at the most prestigious educational institutions in the country. At first he lived in the closed boarding house “Dragon School” in the city of Oxford, and then entered the prestigious Eton College for boys, where the heir to the British throne, William, studied with him.
5. New hobby.
The guy loved to play various games with his friends. He liked to parody famous personalities and stage small dramatic plays. It is not at all surprising that he began performing in the school theater very early. While studying at the prestigious Cambridge University, the Englishman made his debut on the big stage in the play A Streetcar Named Desire.
The talent of the aspiring actor was noticed by agent Lorraine Hamilton, who proposed the idea of fruitful cooperation to the student. Thus, my favorite hobby turned into a real profession. After Cambridge, the young man entered London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he managed to hone all his skills.
Education
Tom Hiddleston is a highly intelligent man. He received a good education: first he graduated from Dragon School (Oxford), and then from the famous Eton College. Then the future actor studied at Cambridge, studied the culture of the Ancient World, learned to speak Latin fluently, and mastered ancient Greek. Tom also speaks modern foreign languages - French, Spanish, Greek. At one time he was in the same class as Prince William.
First film roles
Tom Hiddleston made his film debut in 2001. He played in the films “Conspiracy”, “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” and the television series “Armadillo”. Then the artist took part in the filming of the films “Churchill”, “The Mystery of Shakespeare’s Sonnets”, Victoria Cross Heroes, “Suburb on Fire”. After graduating from the Academy of Drama, Tom continued to actively act - he appeared in the film “Alien” and the TV series “Catastrophe”. Then the talented artist was invited to work for the BBC. He was involved in the historical film Jane Austen's Misfortunes in Love and the TV series Return to Cranford, where he played his first big roles.
Tom Hiddleston's career
6. Film debut.
The guy first appeared on the big screen in 2001 in the film “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,” where he played a cameo role. The young man could also be seen in the films “Conspiracy” and “Churchill”.
At the beginning of his career, Hiddleston tried to take part in every project that came his way and regularly attended various castings. In 2007, he and his younger sister Emma starred in the film Alien.
7. First success.
Tom played a truly significant role in the film “Jane Austen's Misfortunes in Love”, thanks to which he became recognizable. The young man worked in parallel and very productively in the theater and was recognized as the best debutant according to the Laurence Olivier Awards. Theater critics highly praised his roles in the productions of Cymbilene and Othello. Tom also received an award for best performance in a supporting role.
8. The most striking roles.
Hiddleston woke up as a world celebrity thanks to a happy accident. Tom's contract with , which he signed in 2009 for 2 films, became fateful. The man was very lucky, as he had already worked with director Kenneth Branagh in the English series “Wallander” and several theatrical productions.
Tom perfectly played the role of the movie villain Loki and was remembered by many viewers. The most popular films in the Marvel universe with the actor's participation are Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War "(2018).
9. Filming in “Thor” and “The Avengers”.
On the set of these films, the actor worked with a number of famous actors. Starring with him were: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Marco Ruffalo (Hulk) and many other celebrities. Especially for filming the first film, Hiddleston studied capoeira and even went on a diet! Kent Brannagh wanted Tom to look fairly lean and lithe. Thus, the director sought to achieve maximum contrast between the two antagonists - the pumped-up Thor and the agile Loki.
10. Other projects.
After the success of the movie "Thor", agents began to offer various interesting offers to the promising actor. Several famous directors became interested in the man’s services. For example, Steven Spielberg himself invited Hiddleston to become part of the War Horse project, where the Englishman played the main role in this drama.
In 2013, the man became part of the drama “Only Lovers Left Alive” and played a vampire. Also, many viewers liked the British-American mini-series “The Night Manager.” The Briton fits perfectly into the role of a former English soldier who now works in intelligence. Most recently, the film “Kong: Skull Island” was released. In this reboot of the famous franchise, Tom was destined to take on the role of Captain James Conrad.
Theatrical achievements
Tom Hiddleston's roles are impressive not only in films, but also in the theater. In 2008, the artist was nominated twice for the Laurence Olivier Awards for best debut in a theatrical production. Moreover, in this category Tom competed with himself. He was nominated twice - for his roles in the plays Cymbilene and Othello. As a result, the guy received his first prestigious award for playing in Cymbilene. In addition, in the same 2008, he won the Theatergoers' Choice Awards as best supporting actor for his portrayal of Cassio (Othello) and Lvov (Ivanov).
How Tom Hiddleston went from stage to screen
The life of modest London stage actor Tom Hiddleston changed dramatically after a fateful meeting with Kenneth Branagh. First, the main multi-stage performer of Great Britain involved the young talent in the TV series “Wallander”, then shared the stage with him in the production of Chekhov’s “Ivanov”, and then invited him to play the role of the villain Loki in the film adaptation of “Thor”. And what do you think? The guy became a star.
If you need an illustration of Tom Hiddleston's meteoric rise, just compare his two appearances at San Diego Comic-Con, the premier convention for comic book and action movie fans. In 2010, Tom sat quietly next to director Branagh while the titan of the British stage talked about plans for the film and introduced the public to the future Thor-Hemsworth and Loki-Hiddleston. Then there was a short interview - Tom answered one question, and everyone left peacefully. Now we are transported to a summer day in 2013, in one of the halls of the Convention Center in San Diego. A fan army of 6,000 screams “Loki!” Hiddleston, in the image and full regalia of his hero, vilifies the audience in vain, angrily hissing: “Little men! How low have you fallen in a slavish fit of worship that you are ready to sweat in the sizzling heat, huddled in the darkness like animals.” By the time people are shown a preview of the new “Thor” (the scene in which Loki very naturally cuts off Thor’s hand), the audience is already ready to burst with delight.
The presentation took three weeks to prepare, and it all started with a call from producer Kevin Feige. (At that moment, Hiddleston was chilling in the stands at Wimbledon, watching the women's quarterfinal match.) The producer and actor exchanged ideas. Tom insisted that he would remain in character throughout the event and stay out of public view. He ended up arriving at the presentation dressed as Jango Fett from Star Wars. (Comic-Con is the only place on earth where such a disguise won't raise suspicion.) Around three in the afternoon, just as Feige was preparing to speak, Loki appeared on stage. “Everyone just went crazy,” Hiddleston recalls a month later over a pint of Amstel in a pub near his home in North London. — Formal doomsday. I talk nonsense in a suit - and people fall to their knees at my feet! Madness".
That could easily describe the last three years of Hiddleston's life, during which he transformed, like a comic book superhero, from a respected stage actor with a meager filmography to the captain leading the charge of the cavalry in Spielberg's "War Horse" to Loki, the star of " The Avengers" is number three on the list of the highest-grossing films of all time. Finally, to a man whom Woody Allen knows, who cast Tom in the role of Francis Scott Fitzgerald in his Midnight in Paris. How did the actor come to this life?
“Probably just grown up,” replies the thirty-two-year-old Westminster native. “There comes a moment in life when you feel with all your might that everything that happens to you is no longer a dress rehearsal, but the performance itself. A neon sign overhead suddenly lights up: “You Don’t Have Much Time Left.” To realize this, you need to be beaten, because in your youth you consider yourself immortal. Although the point is most likely that I’m abnormal.” To avoid repetition, during our conversation Tom prefaces only one of his stories with this phrase, although, strictly speaking, it applies to many others. Nevertheless, purely outwardly, Hiddleston is far from his images. When he shows up in splendid isolation at the pub, the barmaid barely recognizes the actor, not being completely sure who entered the establishment. I wonder if he goes out with Loki's hairstyle to speed up the recognition process. I get a negative answer.
“It smells too much like the seventies,” Tom says. “If we decide to do Loki’s backstory, we’ll have to make him a nightclub manager from the seventies.” The first scene will look like this: I, in a tight-fitting suit with a floral print, rush into the front entrance under Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil, quickly say hello to the girls, stand at the turntable, play a couple of tracks; the hair is slicked back and looks intimidating. By the way, mom doesn’t like Loki’s hairstyle. She went to the Avengers premiere and after watching the movie she said, “Honey, this is too extreme.”
Hiddleston's Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson warned me: "Tom has a secret sweet tooth, I've never seen anyone gobble up sweets so fast." Nevertheless, this passion did not affect the actor’s figure: in life he, like most movie stars, looks even slimmer than on the screen. Can you call him handsome? This is a question that hordes of internet-dwelling hiddlestoners—the mortal enemies of the related subspecies cumberbitches—are ready to answer positively to the point of gnashing their teeth. Yes, Tom is damn attractive, but - given his Celtic features - he's more of an old Hollywood kind of guy. Spielberg compared him to Errol Flynn; I can't think of a more accurate comparison. He's also quite affable: Hiddleston is the only actor in my journalistic career who has worried that crunching chips might leave undecipherable noise in the recorder.
Scarlett Johansson: “Tom has a secret sweet tooth, I’ve never seen anyone gobble up sweets so quickly.”
All articles about Hiddleston invariably mention that the actor was educated at Eton. While he was studying there, his parents—a hard-working Scot, James, who made his fortune in the nineties on the biotechnology boom, and a theatergoer from a wealthy family, Diana—divorced. Despite the fact that Prince William was a grade below (“I always thought he was fine, even though I was as close to him as, for example, you”), Tom’s school stories sound too general: “Radiohead, Oasis , Blur, girls, sports. School friends are with me forever; only the people you grew up with really know you.” Tom promised to come to the wedding of one of these friends, “even if Spielberg calls.” Spielberg actually called. Tom didn't come to the wedding. His friend was offended by him. “We made peace,” the actor justifies.
At first, rugby attracted Tom to a much greater extent than theater. But his peer Eddie Redmayne recalls that Hiddleston played “fantastically” in Stoppard’s Arcadia. They crossed paths on stage only once - Tom was the front leg of the elephant on which Redmayne's character rode onto the stage in the production of A Passage to India. “My finest hour,” jokes Hiddleston. With A's in Latin, Greek, English and drama, he entered Cambridge to study classical languages. But before continuing his studies, Tom received glowing reviews for his role in the Edinburgh production of Robert Cedric Sherriff's Journey's End. “My father, mother and sisters, after watching the performance, without saying a word, said that I had reached a completely new level.”
After Cambridge there was the inevitable Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where Tom was a fellow student of the “chameleon” Andrea Riseborough and two years younger than the “amazing” Ben Whishaw. Hiddleston liked everything, but after graduating, he quickly realized that theatrical success does not immediately translate into stable earnings in films and TV. This was especially true for cinema, where Tom was initially able to interest only one employer - Joanna Hogg, who involved Hiddleston in her first two films - “Unrelated” and “Archipelago”. At the same time, the actor was cast in the role of policeman Martinsson in the British remake of the Swedish television series Wallander. Kenneth Branagh played the title role. Branagh Hiddleston liked it; their paths crossed again in the production of “Ivanov,” where Branagh again appeared in the title role, and Tom played the zemstvo doctor Lvov.
“Suddenly we were faced with the prospect of spending a whole year together,” Branagh chuckles. “I remember seeing him at the fitting and saying: my personal Hiddleston year begins!” Considering that the road from Ystad and the Ivanov estate led straight to Asgard (Loki’s heavenly homeland - GQ note), the relationship with Branagh can be considered the main one in Hiddleston’s professional life. The actor pays tribute to Branagh's intelligence and hard work, his passionate dedication to his work. Hiddleston is also no stranger to linguistic dexterity, and even their Shakespearean resumes overlap; this is why many call Tom Kenneth's successor.
I demand that Tom imitate Branagh's colorful style of presentation. For example, if Kenneth happened to answer the question “What will you have for breakfast?” - how will he answer? “Well, if we are lucky enough to rise to the occasion and have a decent choice of what the Gauls call “petit dégene”,” Hiddleston dives headlong into the hilarious mix of Belfast “brogue” and high theatrical calm, “then I would probably , deigned, according to the time of day, to start with a cup of coffee with a strawberry-raspberry accompaniment and, since we were lucky enough to be rewarded with a change of dishes, to continue with scrambled eggs, prepared according to the will of each of those present ... "
Hiddleston initially auditioned for the role of Thor, for which he had to gain nine kilograms of muscle mass in a month and a half. And although Thor went to the square jaw of Chris Hemsworth, Tom's determination impressed the producers: he was approved for the role of Loki. “The experience turned out to be very useful. When you risk failure, you can succeed at the same time.” Scarlett Johansson won't let you lie: “Tom Hiddleston is my hero. He is full of clinical enthusiasm. Playing a scene with him is like playing tennis with Venus Williams: he will hit the ball no matter which side it comes from. He has a powerful serve!”
We pause to order burgers, chips and another beer. A lone hint of Tom's passion for healthy eating: a side dish of fresh vegetables. Good manners are always with him: after the interview, he sent me an email with a quote that he could not remember during the conversation, and at the same time thanked me for lunch. Well, the burgers were good, for twenty-five pounds. Much later, I managed to find out the truth from the highest authority on the issue of burgers - Samuel L. Jackson, Tom's partner in the Avengers. “Tom is always ready for the role, and that’s the most important thing for me,” Jackson said. “Many actors are like a blank sheet of paper: you write on it and nothing happens. Tom is sensitive."
Hiddleston's next three post-Torah projects are the animated film "Fairies: The Mystery of the Pirate Island" (from February 13), Jarmusch's vampire drama "Only Lovers Left Alive" with Tilda Swinton (from April 3) and "The Muppets 2" (from June 10), where he will dance - or, in his own words, “organizedly jerk” - in the company of Tina Fey and Ricky Gervase.
For Jarmusch, Tom starred as a character named Adam, “who is remarkably reminiscent of Hamlet if played by Syd Barrett”; Hiddleston calls the film itself “the most sophisticated film I’ve ever worked in.” In order not to relax, Hiddleston is simultaneously rehearsing at the Coriolanus Theater.
It is not surprising that the actor finally became confident that his time had come. “I feel like I’ve just started. Men are lucky in this business: between the ages of thirty and fifty you get the best roles. I’m thirty-two (at the time the interview took place - GQ note): I’m at a good point.”
“Men are lucky in this business: between the ages of thirty and fifty you get the best roles.”
As for his free time from work, the actor now listens to The National albums, despite the fact that he “has been at the forefront of the Daft Punk fan base since time immemorial,” and prefers not to discuss his personal life, despite rumors that stubbornly bring him together with a music producer Jane Artie. “I understand everyone’s curiosity. When I have something to talk about, I’ll definitely do it.”
Moreover, at the moment the actor is obsessed not with his life, but with the personality of the French yachtsman Bernard Moitessier, a participant in the legendary round-the-world race of 1968–1969. The Frenchman had an excellent chance of winning the competition and winning a cash prize - he had very little left before the victory parade. But Moitessier wrote a note and passed it on board a passing liner. Hiddleston picks up the plot thread. “The note said: “I am a representative of the greatest nation on earth, the nation of sea and sky. The idea of records seems absurd to me, and I’m leaving the race.” Then he traveled around the Earth again and settled in Tahiti, being in complete harmony with the universe. His story is the Odyssey of our days. He faced great fear, navigated dangerous seas, and saw more beauty during his journey than we would ever see in a lifetime. I thought: this man lived a real life, and I want the same. Surrender to fears and winds. I can go on and on about this forever!”
So what is Tom Hiddleston afraid of? “I’m afraid of wasting time,” the actor says, before thinking hard. “Although who knows, maybe it’s time to relax.” Maybe too much work is a waste of time. I have a fear of regret. I’m not afraid of death, although I understand that it will sound strange.”
It's time, however, to know the honor. Before parting, we discuss scenes from the film Withnail and I, a cult film of bohemian Britain. Hiddleston remembers how he had the opportunity to play in a play with Richard Griffiths, Uncle Monty from Withnail. Rounding out the conversation, Tom quotes the late Griffiths, while paying tribute to Withnail and his maritime interests: “He used to shout at the whole dressing room half an hour before the start of the performance: “We are all sailing in the same boat towards the lighthouse, and none of us is coming home.” for tea. Enjoy the journey while you can."
Photo: Dylan Don
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Breakthrough
In 2011, Tom Hiddleston gained worldwide fame. Marvel Studios films made him famous. Kenneth Bran became interested in the intelligent, flexible and talented actor. The director initially planned to cast Hiddleston as the mighty Thor. However, the artist was let down by the texture - it turned out to be too thin for the powerful Scandinavian god. But the role of the cunning and sneaky Loki was a perfect success for him. The artist managed to revive a character from a children's comic book - giving his character paradox and depth. Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth worked well together on the sets of Thor and The Avengers. Fans are looking forward to the next films with the participation of their favorite actors.
Creative role
Tom Hiddleston is a versatile artist who has not yet fully defined the scope of his creative role. In addition to the image of Loki, he brought to the screen characters from the films “War Horse” and “Midnight in Paris”, in which the action takes place at the beginning of the last century. In addition, the actor received the main role in the film “Deep Blue Sea” and is still actively collaborating with the BBC - starring in the series about Henry V.
Hiddleston’s role in the film “Only Lovers Left Alive” deserves a separate discussion. In it, the artist portrayed the world-weary vampire Adam. The atmospheric film by Jim Jarmusch earned the most flattering reviews from critics. Many of them noted the excellent performance of the young Briton.
Personal life
Tom Hiddleston does not like to talk about his relationships with women. The personal life of this artist is practically unknown to the general public. However, in 2011, rumors leaked to the media that he was going to throw in his lot with artist Suzanne Fielding. The information was not confirmed, since the couple was indeed in a relationship, but did not tie the knot. After that, Tom was credited with having affairs with Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Chastain.
Personal life of Tom Hiddleston
11. Family, children.
At the moment, the actor is not married, he has no officially recognized children. Although Hiddleston does not like to talk much about his personal life, journalists are still trying to find out as much information as possible about the Hollywood star’s lovers. Tom dated popular actresses and models for a long time. The actor playing Loki had a very long relationship with the Englishwoman Suzanne Fielding, whom he met on the set of an episode of the TV series “Wallander” in 2008. Although the lovers did not hide their relationship, it never came to a real wedding.
In 2020, the man began dating the popular American singer Taylor Swift. I especially remember the grandiose beach party thrown by a guy and a girl. The relationship ended with the woman deleting her ex-boyfriend from all social networks.
