Tom Hardy belongs to a rare breed of actors. To put it simply, he is the best of both worlds: He has the handsome star quality that makes him ideal for giant blockbusters, magazine covers, and merchandising opportunities galore, and the theatrical eccentricity and acting chops for arthouse and prestige cinema. Hardy may be the only actor that can seamlessly fit into a gritty Nicolas Winding Refn film as well as a giant action franchise.
Whether playing a crazed prisoner parading around in nothing but body paint, or a masked super-villain breaking Batman’s back, Hardy is simply in his element at all times. This combination of “movie star” and “serious actor” has helped Hardy develop one of the most unique bodies of work in today’s industry. From fictional icons like Bane, Venom, and Max Rockatansky to notorious real-life figures like Charles Bronson and Al Capone, Hardy has a knack for playing intimidating tough guys. But despite being known and loved for these brooding antihero or antagonist roles, Hardy is certainly no one-trick pony. Yes, he can pull off powerful, menacing characters better than anyone, but Hardy has proven time and time again that at the end of the day, he can take on anything thrown his way. And that’s why he is one of the most brilliant actors of our time.
