Tom Hardyhas created his own impressive career in Hollywood, though he jokes that he actually “stole everything” from one of his frequent costars. Hardy started out his screen acting career in thecast ofBand of BrothersandBlack Hawk Down.It was not until hiselectrifying performance inBronsonthat he was recognized as an immense talent.
From there, Hardy has defined his career withhisVenommovies, his Oscar-nominated turn inThe Revenant, and his collaborations with Christopher Nolan. Even in his lesser-known roles, Hardy has become known for delivering unique and wild performances, something that he claims is heavily inspired by another acclaimed actor.
Tom Hardy Says He “Stole Everything” From Gary Oldman
Hardy Calls Oldman His “Hero”
As much as it can feel hard to compare Tom Hardy to any other actor,Hardy himself freely, and perhaps jokingly, suggests that many of his memorable performances were stolenfrom Gary Oldman. By the time Hardy was establishing himself in the early 2000s, Oldman was already a renowned actor and known for his chameleon-like talents.
The two actors had the chance to work together for the first time in theexcellent spy thriller movieTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. When asked about working with Oldman,Hardy admitted that “Gary Oldman is my hero, that’s it. He’s right up there.”He went on to explain that Oldman has inspired some of Hardy’s best performances (viaDigital Spy):
“To work three times with him, this is crazy; this is a man that I’ve stolen everything I’ve done from. FromBronson, Stuart: A Life Backwards, that’s me trying to emulate what Gary’s done. To work with him makes me feel like I don’t have any characters of my own.”
Hardy’s comments came earlier in his career, before he was a proven star. His suggestion that his entire career was stolen from Oldman, though humorous, may be some insecurity in still finding his identity as an actor. Of course,it is also not hard to see some similarities between these two actors and their performances.
Both Hardy and Oldman seem determined to move far away from conventional performances, seemingly being attracted to the wilder and odder characters that are out there.They give bold performances that can often steal the show, no matter how small the role. However, while Hardy might admire Oldman as an actor, there is no taking away from his own talents.
Tom Hardy & Gary Oldman’s Movies Together Explained
The Actors Have Appeared In Four Movies Together
Tom Hardy got the chance to work with his hero, Gary Oldman, inTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,but they would eventually work on four projects together.Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spyis aCold War thrillerwithOldman earning his first Oscar nomination as MI-6 agent George Smiley and Hardy playing rogue operative Ricki Tarr.
Oldman and Hardy would then team up on a much bigger movie, working together inChristopher Nolan’s final Batman movie,The Dark Knight Rises.Oldman made his third and final appearance in the franchise as Commissioner Jim Gordon, while Hardy gave an unforgettable performance as the main villain, Bane.
Every Movie With Tom Hardy And Gary Oldman
Leo Demidov
Mikhail Nesterov
While both Oldman and Hardy are frequent collaborators with Nolan,The Dark Knight Riseswas the only time they worked together in one of his movies. Their next film together was the Prohibition-era filmLawless, with Hardy playing a main role and Oldman making a small cameo. Their period thrillerChild 44was their overlooked final collaboration to date.
Even with four movies together, Hardy and Oldman haven’t had the chance to really act together in a substantial way. Their scenes together inTinker, Tailor, Soldier, SpyandThe Dark Knight Risesare brief, and they don’t even share a scene inLawless. They work more closely inChild 44,though the movie doesn’t match their talents.
After a decade since they last worked together, it would be a thrill to see them finally getting some great parts that allowTom Hardyto go head-to-head with his acting hero.
