Tom Hardy: ‘I’m just a frightened bloke. Everything scares me. Fear itself’

Tom Hardy

These are photos of Tom Hardy at the Sun Military Awards in London a few weeks ago. He’s such a good looking guy even though (physically) he’s not my type. Kaiser usually covers all of the Tom Hardy stories, but she was fine with lending him to me for this latest interview. I wanted to cover it because I have a soft spot for actors who get all neurotic about their careers. You know, the ones who freak the hell out about whether they’re good enough for Hollywood. One only needs to witness my obsessions with Chris Evans and Joaquin Phoenix to know that fact is true.

Anyway, Tom is kind of freaking out in this interview with the Mirror. He’s worried about his career and thinks every movie will be his last. He believes Hollywood will take everything away at a moment’s notice. I guess Tom should be a little worried because the weight of the Mad Max: Fury Road movie is on his shoulders. That movie is having difficulties and — by the time it will be released in summer 2015 — will have been 3 years in the making. That’s after shooting began and doesn’t include all the pre-production stuff. None of this is Tom’s fault of course, but he’s still talking about his career doomsday. A lot of it has to do with his history of addiction. He’s an alcoholic and used to dabble in heroin. Scary:

His alcoholism: “What I have is indiscriminate, like a bullet. If you are an alcoholic that is what you are. If I had four pints of lager and half a bottle of vodka I could turn this room into an absolute f—ing nightmare in about three minutes. I could destroy everything in my life I have worked so hard for.”

He woke in a pool of blood & vomit in 2003: “I went [into rehab] thinking I’d do it for a little bit until I can go out and drink and people forgive me. But I did my 28 days, and after listening to people who had been through similar circumstances I realised I did have a problem. I did something particularly heinous that allowed me to wake up. I had to lose something. Sometimes you have to lose something that is worth more to you than your drinking.”

On his career: “I’m just a frightened bloke. Everything scares me. Not being in control, not knowing, anticipation, waiting for something to go wrong. Fear itself. I’m in a really good space today, but I can always find something to moan about, even sitting on a pedestal. It’s never that far away for me.”

Why he started acting: “I wanted my dad to be proud of me, and I fell into acting because there wasn’t anything else I could do. I didn’t want anyone to know I was out of control, but I couldn’t hide it. Eventually, the body gives up. I was completely kaput. I was lucky I didn’t get hepatitis or AIDS.”

His work is his new addiction: “Sometimes it’s like drinking the next beer, I will do the next film and the next, keep going, keep going. If I stop working they might take it away from me. People will say ‘Tommy you’re doing well’ and I say ‘Am I?’ In my head I’m still the kid. Does that make sense? I love what I do, but it’s driven by a fear of not being able to do it. It’s the same with drinking – if I stop then who am I? What have I got? I have to watch that drive. It doesn’t matter how well I am doing, I’m only that far away from f—ing it all up.”

[From Mirror UK]

I think Tom will be just fine. Mad Max may deal him a few setbacks, but directors like Christopher Nolan will always hire him. He seems concerned enough to worry about his continued sobriety, which is a good sign. I like that Tom’s not all up in his ego. Plus he has that puppy movie coming out soon. Bright skies ahead!

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN

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43 Responses to “Tom Hardy: ‘I’m just a frightened bloke. Everything scares me. Fear itself’”

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  1. T.fanty says:

    God, he’s an adorably hot mess.

    • carol says:

      eh not for me – I am so over the Byronic Hero guys

    • Sixer says:

      Hey! That’s my bloke! Bloke, bloke, bloke, bloke, bloke. I love that word.

      Come to Sixer, Tommy. I will do some Bridge Over Troubled Water soothing and I’ll even keep the ball gag cupboard locked.

      • Marty says:

        Ha, Sixer! I don’t know why that made me laugh so much, but thank you all the same.

        I don’t know, Tom seems like the kind of guy that wouldn’t mind using ball gags, just not on himself. He is so so hot!

      • Sixer says:

        Ohmygollygosharoney. I had never even CONSIDERED the idea that a man on my list might want to put a ball gag on ME.

        Heresy!

      • T.fanty says:

        Heresy? I’m on board with a man who knows his way around a ball gag. I just don’t want him trying to rename me Chelsea (pronounced Chewwwws) and forcing me to wear velour sweat pants and false nails in an attempt to boost his chav-credentials.

      • Marty says:

        Don’t knock it til you try it, Sixer!

        @T.Fanty- Please! This man:

        http://incepship.tumblr.com/post/71930369979/so-mari-made-this-with-the-intention-of-killing-me

        ALL business T.Fanty.

      • Sixer says:

        I’m feeling quite faint at the mere thought. ME? Ball gag? Wearing?

        Time to reinstate PuddleTom as tray bearer. I shall call for sal volatile. What did I do with his page boy suit?

      • LadySlippers says:

        Sixer — should we get you some smelling salts dear? You are looking a bit woozy. But I can’t say I blame you. I do so think he likes a bit of rough play…

        Oops! Sixer!! Stay with us Deary.

        *grabs smelling salts*

      • T.Fanty says:

        My only problem would be that I’d need a margarita on the tray LittlePuddletom is bearing, and apparently that might be a problem. I don’t mind if Hardy goes all raging bear on me, but I’ve just redecorated and would worry about the walls.

    • CaribbeanLaura says:

      @Tfanty IKR, he just seems so GD fragile. My BFF is in LOVE with him by the way. She likes broody dudes.

  2. Aggie says:

    Souds like a decent bloke. Hope he’s around for a while!

  3. Here or there says:

    Love him with a beard. Otherwise pass.
    I always like anyone who is humble and acknowledges the privilege they have.

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      I’m not feeling the love for this one. He would be interesting to sit and chat next to on a plane for a few hours, but looks-wise, he confuses me by looking 12 and 45 at the same time.

      • Sullivan says:

        “…he confuses me by looking 12 and 45 at the same time.” Yes, you hilarious, secretive Squirrel! Not only his looks, his interviews sound like he’s 12 and 45 at the same time.

  4. God he’s so pretty….

    Meh on his career worries–even if Mad Max fails, he’ll always have a career in England, I think. He’s a good actor–and he doesn’t seem to be chasing after fame. So I think he’ll be fine. Just stay sober, Hardydong.

    Also—I forgot that he’s said that he reads about himself–how far up is Celebitchy on the google alert crap???? All I have to say about his career is, please, please please–don’t make sappy romcoms with Reese W. again. God.

    Did anyone on here see ‘The Take’? He was so good in that role…..his fiancee was in it too–she was really good, as well.

    • Sixer says:

      I re-watched The Take just the other day – he is very good in it.

      Really looking forward to Locke. That looks right up my alley and if the Tomster can get the same degree of intensity. Whoop! Bloke.

      • He was amazing in it–I remember settling down to watch it, and after five minutes was wondering if his character was in love with his wife’s sister–just like in ‘Eastern Promises’ I was wondering throughout the entire movie if Vincent Cassell’s character was gay–until you find out why he killed that ‘officer’ in the beginning of the film.

    • LadySlippers says:

      VG, Rom Coms aren’t bad per se. They just need a fantastic writer and good director. And his Rom Com had neither. Good premise though but poorly excucuted.

      • The trailer was f’ing ridiculous–okay, I’ll give the writers points for having her character date two guys at the same time (no Betty Sue-type character), but come on. Two guys in the CIA would actually fight each other–over her? I would’ve bought it–if the writing was good.

  5. Frida_K says:

    He is so yummy. I’d be more than happy to take him to my bosom and say, “things will be fine, sugar” and other such-like.

    I’d keep him so tired he wouldn’t have the energy to worry about anything, actually.

    🙂

  6. Mab says:

    I like him. I understand him. Ever since I lost practically everyone in my family, I live in fear. Losing my husband. My kids. My friends. People walking out my door scare me to death, I’m afraid I’ll never see them again. lol It’s quite the life when everything scares ya. :p

    • Oh geez, I’m sorry. I hope I never have to go through any of that, to the extent you have. I sort of know how you feel though–the feeling of just waiting for something to happen to someone you love. My grandma is an alcoholic, who refuses to even think about going to rehab. And she’s getting to be a really mean drunk–and just a really mean, bitter person all together. And it’s to the point that I don’t want to spend time with her anymore, but–at any time she could be dead. She recently almost died–she left the local bar at 2:30 in the morning, and a friend of hers, at six in the morning, found her passed out on a snowmobile trail at 6 in the morning. By the time she got to the hospital, her body temperature was 80 degrees F. The doctors think she had a stroke between those times–but it’s hard. Because she’s become this really nasty person, who is all about ME ME ME, and so I don’t want to see her–but I do live in fear that it’ll be the last time I see her. Because when she passed out on the snowmobile trail, I had been over her house, all day, baking cookies with her, the day before that happened. I was there on a Friday morning–we got the call Saturday morning.

    • Nicolette says:

      I have no idea who he is, but I sure can relate to the anxiety he describes. I’m a worrier too, and it sucks, it robs you of so much of your life. Too much time spent on the ‘what ifs’ instead of just living. It’s horrible. I envy people that don’t have anxiety issues, it must be nice to just relax and not over think and second guess everything. Don’t even get me started about the worrying that goes on for my kids, my husband and especially my aging mom. Several people I know suffer from it as well, and it’s nice to be able to talk to people that can understand and relate.

  7. Celeste says:

    I like him. I like that he can be honest about his imperfections. I’ll cuddle up to im and tell him that eveything’s going to be ok…

  8. Tig says:

    Any word yet as to when Child 44 is coming out? Can’t wait to see him as Leo!

  9. TheOriginalKitten says:

    So hot and so likable. Love my Tommy!

  10. GeeMoney says:

    I just watched Stuart: A Life Backwards with him and Cumby this past week… he was really good in it. He’s a great actor, and I don’t think that he should be worried about not working or getting other acting roles. He’ll be just fine.

    PS – He’s also insanely hot. *drooling into carpet as we speak*

  11. Jen says:

    it was crack, not heroin. He has always spoken very openly about his struggles of the past as well as his anxiety.
    He’s adorable AND hot! Can’t wait for his new movies.

  12. umyeah says:

    I like that he’s aware that everything can be gone in a second. Makes him work hard. So many actors in Hollywood don’t realize that one day you can be the hottest thing and then gone the next. He’s a hot mess, but I still love him!

  13. Ann Valor says:

    Poor guy, he sounds like he could use some extra help working through this shit. It’s good to stay grounded, but he’s got impostor syndrome. 🙁

  14. rosely says:

    I love him for being so honest about his fears and i think it needs a lot of guts to show your vulnerability.
    I respect this guy so much and he’s all the more hot for me. Don’t be afraid Tommy; a man with that much talent will always stay around somewhere. LOVE YOU!!!

  15. rosely says:

    I love him for being so honest about his fears and i think it needs a lot of guts to show your vulnerability.
    I respect this guy so much and he’s all the more hot for me. Don’t be afraid Tommy; a man with that much talent will always stay around somewhere. LOVE YOU!!!

  16. Jenna says:

    *sigh* Not even the slightest tingle for him. Oh, Tom…what happened?

    • Marty says:

      Really?! Did you not see the gif I posted above? Ah well, more for me! But I can understand, your husband has been holding it down very well on his show. 😉

  17. NobleExperiments says:

    Ever see “Bronson”? Definitely something different, but Mr. Hardy in the all-together…. *swoon*

  18. dread pirate cuervo says:

    I never really liked him as I find his lips off-putting for some reason. But then I saw him in Warrior, where he plays a Marine who enters an MMA competition & he was amazing, amazing, amazing. He does fragile so well.

  19. Ted says:

    top bloke and a superior actor!

  20. Blackbetty says:

    Love him! He is hot and talented.