Who is Tom Hardy? The Life and Career of Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy is an actor whose career has been defined by its diversity. From portraying iconic villains to playing romantic leading men, Hardy has created characters that are unforgettable and complex. His performances have earned him critical acclaim, but it is his ability to completely immerse himself into a role that has made him a fan favorite. From his breakout role in the British crime drama, The Take, to his award-winning portrayal of the villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, Hardy has taken on a wide range of roles that have showcased his considerable talents as a performer. His willingness to take on challenging roles has established him as one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, and his career is only just beginning.

Early Life and Career

Born on September 15, 1977 in London, England, Tom Hardy is the son of Edward Hardy, a successful novelist, and Anne Hardy. His parents divorced when he was 2-years-old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. His childhood was defined by travel and exploration as his mother would often move around the world for work. Hardy has said that this nomadic childhood helped shape him as both a person and an actor. His love for acting began when he was a child, and he would often participate in school plays. The first role that inspired him to pursue an acting career was the titular character from the popular film, The Wizard of Oz. Hardy would later attend the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where he studied acting. While he was studying at the school, he was discovered by a talent agent, who encouraged him to take professional acting classes. He would later earn his first professional acting role in the television series, The Virgin Queen, in 2002.

Breakout Role in The Take

After appearing in a number of notable television series, Hardy made his feature film debut in the crime drama, The Take in 2005. He played the role of Tommy Clegg, a small-time criminal who dreams of becoming a gangster. The Take was a critical and commercial success and helped to launch Hardy’s career as a leading man in the British film industry. His next role came the following year in the television miniseries, Stuart: A Life Backwards. He played Stuart Shorter, a man who had become a recluse after suffering brain damage as a result of a childhood accident. Stuart: A Life Backwards received critical acclaim and helped to further establish Hardy’s reputation as an actor. He followed these two roles with a starring performance in the biographical sports drama, Bronson, in 2008. In the film, he played Charles Bronson, a real-life prisoner who had spent decades behind bars for various violent crimes. Bronson received critical acclaim and helped to establish Hardy as a leading man in the British film industry.

Iconic Villain Roles

Hardy’s first venture into the world of villainous characters came in the 2009 action film, Inception. In the film, he played Eames, a member of a team that uses the dream world to commit crimes. Inception was a critical and commercial success and served as a showcase for Hardy’s talents as an actor. His next role came the following year when he appeared in the superhero film, The Dark Knight Rises. In the film, he played the role of Bane, a villain who had been created to be the perfect opponent for the Batman. The film received widespread critical acclaim, and many critics praised Hardy’s performance as Bane. He followed these two high-profile roles with a starring role in the thriller, Lawless, in 2012. In the film, he played Forrest Gump, a bootlegger during the Prohibition era. Hardy was praised for his performance, and many critics felt that he deserved an Oscar nomination for his work in the film.

Playing Romantic Lead

In 2012, Hardy ventured into the world of romantic leading men when he appeared in the romantic drama, The Girl. In the film, he played the role of a World War II pilot who meets a woman while on vacation in the 1940s. The film received mixed reviews but earned Hardy a number of award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Drama. His next role came in the 2014 biographical crime thriller, The Drop. In the film, Hardy played Bob, a bartender who becomes involved with criminals after one of his co-workers is murdered. The film earned a mixed reception from critics, but it did help to further establish Hardy as a romantic leading man on the big screen. His next role came in the 2015 biographical sports drama, Legend. In the film, he played the role of both George and Ronald Kray, imprisoned twin brothers who became notorious gangsters in London. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but it allowed Hardy to take on a more dramatic role.

Transition to Hollywood

In 2015, Hardy made his transition from the British film industry to the American film industry with a starring role in the action-thriller, The Revenant. He played the role of John Fitzgerald, a guide who assists a team of explorers in the 1820s. The Revenant received critical acclaim and earned a number of award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Hardy was praised for his performance in the film, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His next role came the following year in the science fiction film, The Martian. In the film, he played the role of both NASA astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars, and a computer system that Watney uses to communicate with NASA. The Martian received critical acclaim and earned Hardy a number of award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His next role came in the 2017 biographical war film, Dunkirk. In the film, he played the role of the commander of the British Expeditionary Force during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. Dunkirk received critical acclaim and earned Hardy a number of award nominations.

Award-Winning Performances

Hardy’s first role as a villain in a major blockbuster came in the 2012 superhero film, The Dark Knight Rises. In the film, he played the role of Bane, a criminal who wears a mask that contains a drug that can break the will of others. The Dark Knight Rises was a critical and commercial success, and Hardy’s performance as Bane was praised by critics. He followed this high-profile role with a starring performance in the crime drama, Lawless, in 2012. In the film, he played the role of Forrest Gump, a bootlegger during the Prohibition era. The film received mixed reviews, but it did allow Hardy to demonstrate his talents as an actor. Hardy’s next role came in the action-thriller, The Revenant, in 2015. In the film, he played the role of John Fitzgerald, a guide who assists a team of explorers in the 1820s. The Revenant received critical acclaim and earned Hardy a number of award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He followed this high-profile role with a starring performance in the biographical war film, Dunkirk, in 2017. In the film, he played the role of the commander of the British Expeditionary Force during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. Dunkirk received critical acclaim and earned Hardy a number of award nominations.

The Future of Tom Hardy’s Career

Following his acclaimed performances in The Revenant and Dunkirk, Hardy’s future projects appear to be heading in the same direction. Next up, he’ll be seen in the action-thriller, Venom, where he’ll play Eddie Brock, the character who will eventually become the alien symbiote known as Venom. The film also stars Riz Ahmed and Michelle Williams, and is slated for release in October. After that, he’ll reprise his role as the DC Comics villain, Bane, in the ninth installment of the DC Extended Universe, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The film also stars Margot Robbie, Rosie Carver, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and is slated for release in February 2020.

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