Despite having a privileged and peaceful childhood in south-west London, during his teenage years, Tom Hardy turned to drugs and crime. Although Hardy eventually got his big break with Steven Spielberg’s Band Of Brothers and would become a prominent figure following 2010’s Inception, the actor almost lost himself to his dark past in his initial Hollywood years.
Reflecting on his addiction, which still haunts the actor to this day, he explained that it wasn’t until he had a near-death experience before the Venom Star eventually decided to change his ways.
![Tom Hardy in Stuart: A Life Backwards](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/14095201/tyh5-1024x576.jpg)
Waking up in a Pool of Blood and Vomit Pushed Tom Hardy to Reform Himself
Although Tom Hardy landed quite a few prominent roles in his early Hollywood days, including 2001’s Star Trek, he was still battling with crippling drug and alcohol addiction behind closed doors. But the Oscar-nominated Star eventually decided to reform himself after waking up in a pool of blood and vomit following a crack binge in 2003, which was a wake-up call for the actor. Per The Guardian, the Star Trek Star said,
“That was a lesson to me, I was fed to the Kraken and popped out the other side. In death I was reborn, just like in the film. Because I’d always been this adrenal kid and then I became a little shit. I’m not now.”
Even though there were times when the Legend Star considered leaving the rehab, hearing other people’s stories, who shared similar issues changed his mind, as he decided to acknowledge his problem.
![Tom Hardy in The Revenant](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/15024332/tom-hardy1.webp)
Tom Hardy Expressed He Is Lucky for Not Ending Up With AIDS or Hepatitis
Reflecting on his dark past, the actor got candid about some of his most troublesome acts as a teen, which got him arrested at the age of 17. The actor further expressed that he is grateful that he didn’t end up getting AIDS or hepatitis, following his hard drug use at the time. In an interview with former addict and Hollywood Star Kenny Ross (via Mirror), he said,
“I didn’t want anyone to know I was out of control, but I couldn’t hide it. Eventually, the body gives up. I was completely kaput. I was lucky I didn’t get hepatitis or AIDS.”
![Kenny Ross and Tom Hardy](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/09125740/Tom-Hardy.jpg)
Thankfully, the actor has been clean for the better part of two decades and his ascend in Hollywood has kept on skyrocketing, and fans can’t wait to witness how Hardy’s next chapter unfolds.