Tom Hiddleston

Actor

• Born: February 9, 1981
• Place of Birth: London, England

Contribution: Tom Hiddleston is a British actor best known for his portrayal of the comic-book villain Loki in Marvel's Thor and The Avengers films.

Background

Thomas William Hiddleston was born February 9, 1981, in Westminster, London, England. He is the second child of Diana and James Hiddleston, who divorced when he was twelve years old, and has two sisters, Sara and Emma. Hiddleston attended Eton College, a preparatory boarding school, from age thirteen and then studied classics at Cambridge University. Having developed an interest in acting, Hiddleston went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), completing his training in 2005.

Career

An accomplished stage actor, Hiddleston appeared in major roles in many theatrical productions before becoming involved in film and television. He made his first television appearance in the British television film The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) and obtained follow-up roles in a number of additional television productions. Hiddleston made his film debut in the 2007 drama Unrelated, directed by emerging director Joanna Hogg, which also features Hiddleston’s sister Emma in a supporting role. Unrelated was a critical success and won the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize at the London Film Festival.

Hiddleston continued his television work during this period, appearing in the comedy series Suburban Shootout in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Hiddleston took on the role of Magnus Martinsson in the award-winning detective series Wallander. Based on a series of detective novels by Swedish writer Henning Mankell, the series stars noted actor and director Kenneth Branagh, with whom Hiddleston would work on several occasions. Hiddleston returned to the show for a second season in 2010.

In the fall of 2008, Hiddleston starred alongside Branagh in a production of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's Ivanov at the Donmar Warehouse theater in London. During the play’s run, Branagh learned that he had been chosen to direct Thor, an upcoming film based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name. Hiddleston later auditioned for the part of Thor, reportedly gaining nearly twenty pounds in preparation for the audition, and was one of the final five contenders for the role. The part of Thor ultimately went to Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, but Branagh later met with Hiddleston and asked him to play Thor’s brother, Loki. Hiddleston enjoyed playing the villainous Loki, a manipulative trickster who seizes the throne of the divine realm of Asgard. He noted in interviews that he felt the film’s viewers could identify with Loki despite his actions, as his motivations, including his conflicted relationships with his brother and father, are easily understandable from a human perspective.

The success of Thor, which premiered in the spring of 2011, introduced Hiddleston to a wider audience, and the actor was soon offered numerous roles in major films. Later in 2011, he played legendary author F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris (2011) and also starred in director Terence Davies’s drama The Deep Blue Sea (2011). He also appeared in a supporting role in the World War I drama War Horse, directed by Steven Spielberg. Hiddleston told the press that he has been a fan of Spielberg’s films since he was a child and was honored to have the opportunity to work with the director. In 2012, Hiddleston starred as Prince Hal (Henry V) in the BBC miniseries The Hollow Crown, screen adaptations of William Shakespeare’s dramas Richard II; Henry IV, Part One; Henry IV, Part Two; and Henry V. The actor has starred in several stage productions of Shakespearean plays as well, including Cymbeline (2007), Othello (2008), and Coriolanus (2013).

Hiddleston reprised the role of Loki in the 2012 film The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon. In the film, Loki seeks revenge after the events of Thor and launches an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth, where a team of superheroes assembles to defeat him. The Avengers was a critical and box-office success and was only the first in a planned series of films focusing on the exploits of the superhero group.

Following the success of Thor and The Avengers, Hiddleston was slated to play Loki once again in the film Thor: The Dark World, directed by Alan Taylor and released in late 2013. Hiddleston also reunited with director Joanna Hogg, who had cast him in his first film role, for her 2013 film Exhibition. After appearing in the Guillermo del Toro horror film Crimson Peak in 2015, he moved back to television to star in the BBC crime drama The Night Manager alongside veteran actor Hugh Laurie in 2016. He received an Emmy Award nomination for the role. The following year, he played Loki in the third installment of the Thor franchise, Thor: Ragnarok, before appearing in the role again for 2018's The Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame. In the meantime, he also had a starring role in the film Kong: Skull Island (2017), a new take on the story of the giant gorilla Kong, and lent his voice to the animated comedy Early Man (2018).

Hiddleston returned to the stage in 2019, with a starring role in both the West End and Broadway revivals of playwright Harold Pinter's Betrayal. Hiddleston reprised the role of Loki again to film the Disney+ original series Loki, which premiered on the streaming service in June 2021. Loki was renewed for a second season. This season premiered in 2023.

He also starred in the Apple TV+ British Gothic romance miniseries The Essex Serpent in 2023, which is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Perry. Hiddleston portrayed Reverend Will Ransom, starring alongside Claire Danes. In 2024, Hiddleston starred in an adaptation of Stephen King's novella The Life of Chuck. Also in 2024, it was announced that there would be two new seasons of The Night Manager, with Hiddleston once again playing Jonathan Pine. The new seasons unfold eight years after the conclusion of the first season.

Impact

As a member of the group of actors who portray iconic comic book characters in the cinematic universe of Marvel films, Hiddleston has gained instant fame and a devoted fan base. His widespread exposure and crossover appeal have enabled him to take on numerous other roles, showcasing his talents in a wide variety of films.

Personal Life

Hiddleston lives in London. He enjoys playing rugby and considered pursuing a career in the sport before becoming an actor. He is a UK ambassador for UNICEF. He is engaged to English actress Zawe Ashon, with whom he has one child.

Bibliography

Buchanan, Kyle. “Thor’s Tom Hiddleston on Drag-Queen Eyebrows and Terrorizing The Avengers.” Vulture, 2 May 2011, www.vulture.com/2011/05/thors‗tom‗hiddleston‗on‗drag‗q.html. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

Franklin-Wallis, Oliver. “Tom Hiddleston on Thor 2, Style Essentials, and the Theoretical Soundtrack to His Life.” British GQ, 14 Nov. 2012, www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/tom-hiddleston-interview-style-thor-2. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

Mottram, James. “Soldier of Fortune: Tom Hiddleston Is Set to Become 2012’s Hottest New Star.” Independent, 8 Jan. 2012, www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/soldier-of-fortune-tom-hiddleston-is-set-to-become-2012s-hottest-new-star-6284844.html. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

Raphael, Amy. “Tom Hiddleston: From Theatre to Thor.” Guardian, 24 Apr. 2011, www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/apr/24/tom-hiddleston-thor. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

Shafer, Ellise. "Tom Hiddleston’s ‘The Night Manager’ to Return With Two New Seasons From BBC and Prime Video." Variety, 11 Apr. 2024, variety.com/2024/tv/global/tom-hiddleston-the-night-manager-return-two-seasons-bbc-prime-video-1235967820/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.

"Tom Hiddleston." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm1089991. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.