Tom Hardy is one of the most charismatic actors of his generation, and his performances on the big screen have won over many fans. Hardy’s acting skills are limitless, as evidenced by his ability to make a 90-minute car ride in Locke as compelling as his performance as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
But behind the scenes of Hollywood’s glamour are real people with real problems, real enemies, and real fights on the set. Come with us as we take a look at Tom Hardy, and what lies beyond the surface, to learn about the obstacles he has overcome to scale the heights of success.
Tom Hardy: A Youth Marred by Troubles
Hardy’s defiant spirit surfaced at an early age, setting him on a path littered with run-ins with the law. His time at boarding school was anything but routine, and he was eventually expelled for stealing sports uniforms.
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Episodes of disorderly conduct also marked his adolescence, but he narrowly avoided serious consequences when he and a friend were stopped in a stolen car, and a gun was discovered in it. Fortunately for Hardy, his accomplice was the son of a diplomat, so the situation could be resolved quickly and quietly.
Hardy, in retrospect, admits that he had a troubled childhood and that his self-loathing drove his acts of defiance. Hardy’s fight against drug addiction was one of the most difficult things he ever did. His alcoholism began at a young age and only got worse from there.
But his role as the villain Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis pushed him over the edge and into a life of substance abuse. His first marriage ended in divorce, and his life quickly spiraled downward as he became increasingly dependent on crack and cocaine.
Hardy frequently experienced waking up in strange locations with various degrees of injury and disorientation. He believes it’s a miracle he didn’t get HIV during those low points, comparing his addiction to a “400lb orang-utan” out to kill him.
“I went entirely off the rails and I’m lucky I didn’t have some terrible accident or end up in prison or dead – because that’s where I was going. Now I know my beast and I know how to manage it. It’s like living with a 400lb orang-utan that wants to kill me. It’s much more powerful than me, doesn’t speak the same language and it runs around the darkness of my soul. I would sell my mother for a rock of crack.”
When Hardy awoke in the street in 2003, he was covered in blood and vomit. He finally decided to get sober with the encouragement of his parents and enrolled in a treatment program. The actor believes his passion for acting gave him purpose and allowed him to escape his inner demons during those trying times.
On-Set Altercations and Tensions
Tom Hardy is so dedicated to his work that his passion often leads to heated arguments on set. Tensions flared up on the set of The Revenant, which is notorious for its difficult production. To break the tension, Hardy joked that he and Alejandro Iárritu should wrestle, and the two got into a chokehold and rolled around in the snow.
Hardy, ever the comedian, made T-shirts depicting the fake MMA fight and gave them out to the crew as a way to lighten the mood. Not every disagreement on set was a funny one, though. On the set of Lawless, tensions between Hardy and Shia LaBeouf boiled over, necessitating the intervention of set security.
Both parties have given conflicting versions of what led to the incident. However, it can’t be denied that tempers were raised during filming. Hardy and Charlize Theron’s chemistry on screen captivated the audience for Mad Max: Fury Road.
Hardy and Theron’s relationship progressed despite early difficulties. Even with initial hostility, the two actors eventually came to respect one another. Whether personally or on set, the Venom actor faced adversity from a young age and emerged stronger. Tom Hardy’s acting skills stand out, and he continues to captivate his fans and audiences everywhere.
Source: The Guardian
