Tom Hardy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Hardy
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Hardy at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
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Edward Thomas Hardy
15 September 1977 London, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
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| Children | 3 |
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| Awards | Full list |
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Edward Thomas Hardy (born 15 September 1977) is a famous English actor. He has starred in many popular movies and TV shows. Tom Hardy is known for playing a wide range of characters, from action heroes to complex historical figures.
He started his acting journey after studying at the Drama Centre London. His first movie role was in Black Hawk Down in 2001. Since then, he has appeared in big films like Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). He also plays the main character in the Venom movies.
On TV, Tom Hardy has been in mini-series like Band of Brothers (2001) and The Virgin Queen (2005). He also played Alfie Solomons in the popular series Peaky Blinders. Besides acting, he has helped create and produce TV shows like Taboo. Tom Hardy also supports charities, especially the Prince's Trust, which helps young people.
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Early Life and Training
Edward Thomas Hardy was born in Hammersmith, London, England, on 15 September 1977. He is the only child of Anne, an artist, and Edward "Chips" Hardy, a writer. His family background includes Irish heritage from his mother's side. He grew up in the East Sheen area of London.
Tom Hardy went to several schools, including Tower House School and Reed's School. He later studied acting at Richmond Drama School and the Drama Centre London. He has said that actor Gary Oldman was a big inspiration for him. He even practiced scenes from Oldman's movies while in drama school.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Roles and First Big Successes
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In 1998, when he was 21, Tom Hardy won a modeling competition called Find Me a Supermodel. This led to a short contract with a modeling agency. He joined Drama Centre London in September 1998. He left early after getting a role in the TV mini-series Band of Brothers. This was a war drama where he played US Army Private John Janovec.
His first major movie role was in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down in 2001. In 2002, he appeared in Star Trek: Nemesis as Shinzon, a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He also acted in the film Dot the i and the horror film LD 50 Lethal Dose in 2003.
Tom Hardy received an award in 2003 for his performances in plays like Blood and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings. He was also nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 2004 for his role in In Arabia We'd All Be Kings. In 2005, he played Robert Dudley in the BBC mini-series The Virgin Queen. This show was about the life of Queen Elizabeth I.
In 2007, he starred in the BBC Two drama Stuart: A Life Backwards. He played Stuart Shorter, a homeless man. The same year, he played Bill Sikes in the BBC mini-series Oliver Twist. This was an adaptation of Charles Dickens's famous novel. In 2008, he appeared in Guy Ritchie's action film RocknRolla. He also starred in Bronson, where he played a real-life English prisoner. For this role, he gained a lot of weight to look like the character.
In 2009, Tom Hardy played a tough character named Freddie in the TV drama The Take. He was nominated for a Best Actor award for this role. In August 2009, he played Heathcliff in ITV's Wuthering Heights. In 2010, he starred in the play The Long Red Road in Chicago. Later that year, he gained international fame as Eames in Christopher Nolan's science fiction thriller Inception. For this role, he won a BAFTA Rising Star award.
Becoming a Hollywood Star
In 2011, Tom Hardy starred in the film Warrior. He played Tommy Riordan, a fighter trained by his father. His performance received strong praise from critics. He also appeared in the romantic comedy This Means War (2012).
One of his most famous roles was playing the villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). This was the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. He also played a tough character in the drama Lawless (2012). In 2013, he starred in the drama film Locke, where he was the only actor on screen for most of the movie.
In 2014, Tom Hardy joined the cast of the BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders. He played Alfie Solomons, the leader of a Jewish gang. His character was very popular with viewers.
In 2015, Tom Hardy had a very busy year, starring in five films. He played the main character, Max Rockatansky, in the action film Mad Max: Fury Road. This movie was a huge success and received great reviews. He also played both Reggie and Ronnie Kray, famous London figures, in the film Legend. For his roles as the Kray twins, he won the Best Actor award at the British Independent Film Awards.
Later in 2015, he starred in The Revenant alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. For his performance in The Revenant, Tom Hardy received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 2017, he played a Royal Air Force pilot in Christopher Nolan's action-thriller Dunkirk. This film was based on the real-life evacuation of soldiers during World War II. He also co-produced and starred in the TV series Taboo.
Venom Films and Recent Work
In 2018, Tom Hardy starred as Eddie Brock and the alien Venom in the superhero film Venom. This movie was based on the Marvel character. He returned as Eddie Brock and Venom in the sequels Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Venom: The Last Dance (2024). He also helped write the story for these sequels.
In 2020, he starred as Al Capone in the film Capone. Tom Hardy has several upcoming projects. He is set to play British war photographer Don McCullin in a film based on his life. He is also expected to star as the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in a movie about his incredible survival story. In 2025, he stars in Guy Ritchie's MobLand and the Netflix film Havoc.
Charity Work
Tom Hardy is very involved in charity work. In 2010, he became an ambassador for the Prince's Trust. This charity helps young people in the UK by offering training, support, and advice to help them start businesses or develop new skills. In 2012, he and his wife, Charlotte Riley, became supporters of Bowel Cancer UK. He also participated in a promotional video for the Invictus Games in 2014, reading the poem "Invictus".
Personal Life
Tom Hardy was married to producer Sarah Ward from 1999 to 2004. He later had a son with assistant director Rachael Speed. In 2009, he started a relationship with actress Charlotte Riley, whom he met while working on Wuthering Heights. They got married in July 2014 and have two children together.
Tom Hardy is a big fan of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has won several jiu-jitsu competitions, including the UMAC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open Championships in September 2022. He is also the main ambassador for the REORG Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Foundation. This charity helps military personnel learn jiu-jitsu to help with their recovery from physical and mental challenges. He was promoted to a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in June 2023.
Awards and Recognition
Tom Hardy won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2011. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, a British Academy Television Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award. He has won two British Independent Film Awards and a Critics' Choice Movie Award. In 2016, he was listed as one of the most influential people in the United Kingdom by Debrett's. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for his contributions to drama.
Images for kids
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Tom Hardy's signature
See also
In Spanish: Tom Hardy para niños
