![An interview with Tom Hardy from Spanish Glamour, July 2012. Seems like it’s from around This Means War, rather than quite recent, though. Translated by google and me:
At 35 years, this Brit, looking rough and with a stormy past has become the go-to actor in Hollywood. His character as a villain in The Dark Knight, the third Batman directed by Christopher Nolan, coming in a few weeks to our cinemas shows Hardy as a true chameleon. Maybe that’s why, at the last Cannes Film Festival, more than one critic dared to compare him with another great actor, Marlon Brando, not only for his physical appearance but for the sighs he elicts from women. Aware of this great time in his life, we chat with Tom Hardy and find an actor and a man.
Batman is your second Nolan film. How was it working with him again?
I owe a lot to Chris Nolan because he gave me a great opportunity to include me in Inception and then hire me for Batman. He trusted me twice, so I am very grateful.
What motivates you when you work?
Nolan is a magician. As an actor, this year I had the opportunity to work with many directors, each from a different country. I like to compare the cinematic vision of British directors with the American, I think that versatility is important in life of any actor. Personally, I think there are two ways of acting. On the one hand is convincing acting, and on the other, non-convincing. If you are lucky and can be convincing, you will be successful.
I guess to give life to Bane, your character in Batman, you’ve had to prepare thoroughly.
I have never been as strong as for the filming of Batman, seeing how I had train for Warrior, but the amount of muscle that I had to develop to give life to Bane was enormous. I spent my time eating chicken and broccoli, and maintaining that structure required a lot of energy and tested me mentally.
It did?
Yes, I acknowledge that I was overwhelmed at first because I felt uncapable of doing my job well, but fortunately, both Chris and the team are so good that I was never aware of the magnitude of the film we were doing.
With the success you have achieved, have you thought about leaving your house in London and move to Los Angeles?
My son lives with his mother in London so I’ll never leave this city. I’m a Londoner at heart and I will never leave until my kid is old enough and can move with me.
Is Tom Hardy a romantic man? Got a favorite love movie?
I’m not very fond of romantic movies, really. I won’t lie, but I prefer a good afternoon of sex to a movie or read a book. (Laughs)
Do you feel that women in Hollywood are now in a position of greater power than a few years ago?
Women can always choose. They know what they want - and there’s nothing for us to decide, we place ourselves in her hands.
Where the appeal lies to you in a woman? What is a must?
I am a man of few scruples. If you want to be with someone I try to do it no matter what. That’s me. Sorry.
How would you describe this time in your life?
I’ve been incredibly lucky. This industry is different for men and women. With age we have more opportunities. As an actor looking for honesty I like the character Robert De Niro plays in The Mission: he makes the mistake of killing his brother and then is punished for it. I say it’s very human to hurt something and then try to fix it. I also say that I, like De Niro, seek interesting characters.
Success has come to you later than others, is not it?
Yes, keep in mind that I had to make a stop on the way to get into rehab. (Laughs) Ten years later here I am with my lesson well learned. Grateful and glad to be alive, which is something.
Your body is covered in tattoos. They represent something special?
One is dedicated to my girlfriend, who now lives in Hungary [back when Charlotte filmed World Without End, I reckon], another one is for my son Louie … I was fifteen when I got my first tattoo and since then I’ve been telling my life through them, I come from a middle class family, but my tattoos remind me where I’ve been.
Your father and your mother is a writer, artist. You could say that you have art in your veins?
I’ve always wanted my father to be proud of me, so I started to act. There was nothing I could do. Once I learned the discipline, I realized that this was my passion, I loved acting, I found my way, and that’s what I want to keep doing for the rest of my life. Now I’m getting ready for Mad Max with Charlize Theron, and I can not be more happy and motivated.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5yqvliwLr1qe5f96o1_500.jpg)
An interview with Tom Hardy from Spanish Glamour, July 2012. Seems like it’s from around This Means War, rather than quite recent, though. Translated by google and me:
At 35 years, this Brit, looking rough and with a stormy past has become the go-to actor in Hollywood. His character as a villain in The Dark Knight, the third Batman directed by Christopher Nolan, coming in a few weeks to our cinemas shows Hardy as a true chameleon. Maybe that’s why, at the last Cannes Film Festival, more than one critic dared to compare him with another great actor, Marlon Brando, not only for his physical appearance but for the sighs he elicts from women. Aware of this great time in his life, we chat with Tom Hardy and find an actor and a man.
Batman is your second Nolan film. How was it working with him again?
I owe a lot to Chris Nolan because he gave me a great opportunity to include me in Inception and then hire me for Batman. He trusted me twice, so I am very grateful.
What motivates you when you work?
Nolan is a magician. As an actor, this year I had the opportunity to work with many directors, each from a different country. I like to compare the cinematic vision of British directors with the American, I think that versatility is important in life of any actor. Personally, I think there are two ways of acting. On the one hand is convincing acting, and on the other, non-convincing. If you are lucky and can be convincing, you will be successful.
I guess to give life to Bane, your character in Batman, you’ve had to prepare thoroughly.
I have never been as strong as for the filming of Batman, seeing how I had train for Warrior, but the amount of muscle that I had to develop to give life to Bane was enormous. I spent my time eating chicken and broccoli, and maintaining that structure required a lot of energy and tested me mentally.
It did?
Yes, I acknowledge that I was overwhelmed at first because I felt uncapable of doing my job well, but fortunately, both Chris and the team are so good that I was never aware of the magnitude of the film we were doing.
With the success you have achieved, have you thought about leaving your house in London and move to Los Angeles?
My son lives with his mother in London so I’ll never leave this city. I’m a Londoner at heart and I will never leave until my kid is old enough and can move with me.
Is Tom Hardy a romantic man? Got a favorite love movie?
I’m not very fond of romantic movies, really. I won’t lie, but I prefer a good afternoon of sex to a movie or read a book. (Laughs)
Do you feel that women in Hollywood are now in a position of greater power than a few years ago?
Women can always choose. They know what they want - and there’s nothing for us to decide, we place ourselves in her hands.
Where the appeal lies to you in a woman? What is a must?
I am a man of few scruples. If you want to be with someone I try to do it no matter what. That’s me. Sorry.
How would you describe this time in your life?
I’ve been incredibly lucky. This industry is different for men and women. With age we have more opportunities. As an actor looking for honesty I like the character Robert De Niro plays in The Mission: he makes the mistake of killing his brother and then is punished for it. I say it’s very human to hurt something and then try to fix it. I also say that I, like De Niro, seek interesting characters.
Success has come to you later than others, is not it?
Yes, keep in mind that I had to make a stop on the way to get into rehab. (Laughs) Ten years later here I am with my lesson well learned. Grateful and glad to be alive, which is something.
Your body is covered in tattoos. They represent something special?
One is dedicated to my girlfriend, who now lives in Hungary [back when Charlotte filmed World Without End, I reckon], another one is for my son Louie … I was fifteen when I got my first tattoo and since then I’ve been telling my life through them, I come from a middle class family, but my tattoos remind me where I’ve been.
Your father and your mother is a writer, artist. You could say that you have art in your veins?
I’ve always wanted my father to be proud of me, so I started to act. There was nothing I could do. Once I learned the discipline, I realized that this was my passion, I loved acting, I found my way, and that’s what I want to keep doing for the rest of my life. Now I’m getting ready for Mad Max with Charlize Theron, and I can not be more happy and motivated.
