Tom Hiddleston was in Shanghai this past weekend as part of his work with BAFTA. He’s some sort of BAFTA ambassador to the youths, hopefully not the garbage youths. He was in Shanghai for the Shanghai International Film Festival, and to launch a new BAFTA Breakthrough China initiative, where BAFTA will support and mentor five Chinese artists (directors, writers, producers, actors and game developers) for one year. Tom chatted with various media outlets while he was there, and he spoke about his work with BAFTA and his work on the upcoming Disney+ streaming Loki series. Some highlights from this Hollywood Reporter piece:
Why he’s helping to launch this BAFTA program: “I really believe in it. Anyone at the beginning of their career can often feel quite isolated. Perhaps you had enough confidence to make one film or give one performance. But it’s hard sometimes to know how to keep going or to make that next step, and I think mentorship is so useful. It was useful to me. I do know that there is always a great power in connection and inspiration. At the beginning of a career it is enormous. I know at the beginning of a career to have the confidence to develop your own skills, to share your imagination, to share your belief can be a very profound thing and it can last for a very long time.”
Learning from Kenneth Branagh as Tom’s career began to take off: “Just from being able to watch him, closely. Then he would prepare to shoot, to execute, to perform. He always treated me as an equal. At the end of that experience I had learned so much from him. But then I realized that he used to look up to Derek Jacobi and Anthony Hopkins. And when I was playing Loki for the first time and Anthony Hopkins was playing my father, he told me he used to look up to Richard Burton. So I realized that the creative industries are in a constant feedback loop of re-inspiration and imagination.
What he’s hopes will come out of the BAFTA program: “There’s a lot for me to learn and I know a lot less about how new talent comes through here. In the U.K., certainly as an actor, I know that certain talent comes through drama school and perhaps they started in theater. It’s different in America, it’s different in Australia. But I am really excited to learn from the five Breakthrough winners how they feel about performance, how they feel about film. But for me also now the creative industries are global. The most exciting collaborations that I’ve had are international. I’ve made six films with an actor called Chris Hemsworth. He’s Australian, I’m British. We came from very different acting disciplines, but we played brothers for 10 years. I’ve learned so much from him, he’s learned so much from me. I hope we managed to pull off a convincing act as brothers!
What he gets asked about from young actors: “Sometimes actors ask me “how do you prepare for auditions,” or it can be the simple day-to-day practice of being an actor. “How do you restore yourself after a long shoot? Where do you get your inspiration from? How do you keep trying to get better?” Those are the things you need to know, actually.
Whether he still gets nervous on-stage: “I think the day you stop getting nervous is the day you should stop. But I try to convert my nerves into a positive.
The Loki series: “It is a constant source of surprise and delight that these films have connected with people. I knew he was a complex figure. Intelligent yet vulnerable. Angry and lost and broken and witty. I thought it was an amazing opportunity and it’s grown into this network of movies. I could never have expected it. I feel very fortunate that this character has connected with people….All I can tell you is that it is called Loki. It is a new departure … but I can’t explain why.
“I’ve made six films with an actor called Chris Hemsworth. He’s Australian, I’m British. We came from very different acting disciplines, but we played brothers for 10 years. I’ve learned so much from him, he’s learned so much from me.” ORLY? They don’t look like brothers, they don’t act like brothers, but they get along and have fun together, so I guess it’s all good.
As for this: “In the U.K., certainly as an actor, I know that certain talent comes through drama school and perhaps they started in theater.” He’s not making a judgment on that, he’s just making a neutral statement of fact: most British actors go to drama school and start in the theater, and that’s not the system in other countries. But it goes to the problem many have cited regarding the British acting community: they’re all posh white blokes who went to fancy private schools and then they went to fancy drama schools and they only play posh characters. Maybe that’s what this BAFTA program will try to help, in a small way: look, we’re recognizing emerging talent from a place other than a British drama school!
Photos courtesy of Instagram.
Im beyond excited for the Loki show. I want details on what the show is going to be about!
I wish they explored the gap between the end of Thor and the beggining of Avengers, when Loki met Thanos. In the end, I just hope they finally do justice to Loki’s powers instead of just giving him knives.
This is an expansion into China of the BAFTA British program that helped Letitia Wright and Tom Holland with an aim to bring more diversity, including economic diversity, behind and in front of the cameras. Tom has spent a lot of time over the past two years working on this and on fundraising for student housing at RADA to make that more affordable.
Any way, the tuxedo pictures from Shanghai are lovely. The veranda is open for breakfast.
Thanks Lightpurple, I didn’t know he had put in so much time and work into this thing (I thought BAFTA just approached him recently and he said yes).
I haven’t been on the veranda yet, but I’d be happy to attend if you’ll have me. Are you serving mimosas today?
Mimosas are always available. Yours is on the way
Thought I might see you here LP. I hope you are well and mine’s a rhubarb gin with ginger ale please.
But don’t type my name anyone. 😎
Cr-p. My apologies to the original poster didn’t mean to screw things up for you. Am trying to edit original post, but not having luck. Will see myself out, but a good day to everyone all the same.
Mark keeps rhubarb gin in store just for you
@Tulip, no worries, love. Enjoy your mimosa and lunch will be served soon
(peeks back in)
Many thanks. Would love to take you up on the lunch invitation, I’ve heard nice things. And the mimosa is a perfect blend! My compliments to you;)
Re the HiddlesTux pics – and most others from Shanghai: I really enjoy looking at photos from Tom wearing suits that are from his collaboration with Ralph Lauren. Not only is it eye candy because things are so well-tailored and fit him, but it also seems he feels more comfortable in those, compared to some of the over-the-top stuff, e.g. from Gucci, that his $ciento stylist picked out for him. Hopefully he has since moved on and developed an eye for things beyond blue jumper, grey jeans, grey boots, Reiss pea coat.
And while you lot over there are probably thinking of brunch or a light lunch, I’m getting the grown-up drinks ready for after dinner. Santé!
Yeah — Tom seems more at home with Ralph Lauren’s “classic gentleman” look rather than the patterns of Gucci. He wore the most conservative choices of suits available from Gucci, but even so they never seemed quite his “style”. But in his personal life, it seems the “uniform” – as apparently he himself calls the blue jumper, grey jeans etc. – rules supreme.
It is great to see him out there and getting good (and non Swift-connected) press. Now a new project in addition to Loki – and maybe an award nomination for Betrayal is needed!
My Hiddles crush lives on. I just find him so utterly charming & adorable. I love what he had to say about mentoring and the constant flow of inspiration from one generation to the next. I’m definitely looking forward to the Loki series, he’s really made Loki into such an iconic character.
My cup of sugar just overflowed !
Was hoping to see a Tommy post!!!
Yea!!!
I know, it’s been awhile! When he goes quiet, it’s seriously quiet, lol.
@Tulip, can’t believe the glorious summer was 2016!
Hoping to see more work from Tommy sooner than Loki.
2016 was insane!
If he does something other than Loki,like theatre, I hope it’s theatre that also gets broadcast in the movie theatre chains, because otherwise I’ll never see it:(
As it is, I don’t really like Disney but I’ll still be getting the Disney+ streaming when it comes out with the Loki series.
Who are the garbage youth?
Still needs a shave and hair cut. But ALWAYS rocks a suit like a boss.
Wonder what he will be working on before the Loki show.
Me too. he made a hint that there will be something between Betrayal play and Loki series. I think they will start with Loki series at the ned 2019-early 2020? So he had some time for new project.
Josh Wilson of Wilson Worldwide tweeted back in September that they were developing a series together but that they couldn’t announce it yet. Wilson has tweeted several reminder hints that he’ll have an announcement soon.
Forgot about Josh Wilson colaboration. Can’t wait what it is. Maybe they will produce something together.
It is strange that people are seeing Hiddleston as a posh actor, when his family isn’t so posh. His father is from Scottish rural and was first who had university diploma. His mother is from posh,
wealthy family, but she isn’t in a “part of a family” which has all titles and fortune. It is her far far cousins. So his family isn’t so wealthy as people want to think. I have a cousin who is almost a milionare, but I is such a far part of my family that you can’t said I’m a very wealthy person. She won’t give me a penny 🙂
There are so many actors who are posh, but people don’t want to see it. Tom Hardy finish all posh school, has a big connection in industry thanks to his dad, but he is a cool guy.Olivia Colman finish also all posh private schools and isn’t from poor family. I love how she was saying that she needed to work as cleaner. She was painting herself as a poor struggling student and it isn’t a true.
Maybe Hiddles should act like a cool jerk. It works for Hardy. 🙂
He is mostly considered posh because of his school background. He went to Eton College. Now I don’t know a ton about British class politics but I know enough to know that average families aren’t sending their kids to boarding schools where heirs to the British throne also attend.
I’ve been inside his mum’s house in Aldeburgh (she’s patron of a theatre festival I performed at, and she throws a huge summer party the last Sunday of the festival for everyone involved). The family are definitely wealthy and his mother is part of the elite of the theatre world.
His education alone puts him easily in the 1% (I haven’t seen anything to suggest he received scholarships and thus had reduced fees).
Not shading him bc I love some Hiddles, but the idea that he’s not posh is crazy.
Just as an aside – I always wondered who the top 1% are. Apparently they include anyone earning/with an income of over £150,000 a year.
Wow. Tax cash being spent on the nascent entertainment superclass of the richest nation on the planet. Awesome!
Have you ever been in China? There are only a group of people who are rich. Most people are poor. I was there and I never seen such a bad life condiction here in Europe.
You can also say about helping people in the US because they are a rich country, so people are rich too.
Also it is a good move by BAFTA. Brexit will be hard for entertaining industry. Making connections with chinese investors is a good think. They invest millions in HW, why not in UK?
And in Uk thi mentoring program really work and help a lot of students from different background. Hiddles is working on program for student for years, but yeah he is a posh guy so hate him and all work he is doing.
Have YOU ever been to China? I lived there for a few years. “Most people” are not poor. There is a wealth distribution issue, yes, the same as there is in the US, the UK, and yes, even many nation in your precious Europe. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, the same as…literally every other country in the world? But to say that “most people” are poor makes you sound quite ignorant.
I’m in Higher Ed and there is a SHEDLOAD of money that gets made made from Chinese students coming west to study. Moreover, Lainey Gossip talks all the time about the money to be made from the Chinese market. This is not an BAFTA being altruistic in any way, shape, or form.
Getting money from foreign Asian students is a growth industry for American colleges and universities. Those students aren’t getting in because they’re smarter than the average American, although that’s the line especially if that average American is Black or Latino. They’re getting in because their parents will pay a fortune. I guess Britain is looking for post-Brexit sources of income. In this case, Hiddleston is less of an actor and more of a salesman.
I really like Tom. He’s sweet and genuine and earnest, and goes out of his way to say kind things about other people. Maybe the puppy-dog aspect rubs people the wrong way, but there are a lot worse things he could be.
I love me some Tom. But now it’s been awhile and…I really want him to shave and get a haircut. I miss The Night Manager Tom Hiddleston. All clean-shaven and tanned…yum.
The beard will go when he starts filming Loki.
Of course. But I would still like to see clean shaven Tom as Tom. Hopefully a haircut will happen as well but he wears a wig for the role so who knows.
Few weeks ago I saw him in Betrayal. Didn’t planned because all shows was sold out. I found a girl on Twitter, who wanted to sold one ticket. Thank God UK is so close 🙂
Hiddleston was phenomenal. I saw him first time live. I think theater is his natural environment.
He is good in TV and movies, but in theater. Wow. Very charismatic, full of passion. I saw close enough to see his tears in one scene (dude can cry. WOnder if he use Joey Tribbiani method :). He loves theater and you can see it. I became a bigger fan of his.
Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox was great too. Very minimalistic production, but I would recomended it to everyone. And Hiddles looks so hot in person. This photos are maybe 60% corect 🙂
There is a rumor about Broadway transfer, so maybe US audience will have chance to see it.
And last word about Tom’s popularity. After the show I went to theater bar. Maybe hour later I went outside I saw a big long queue. About 100 people was still waiting for Tom’s autograph. And other big group was observed it from other side of the road. A lot of Asian people,. Big group from China.
I think this is a reason Hiddleston was choose to do this project with BAFTA – he is one of the most popular british actors in China. Maybe Benedick is on his level.
Always thought he was harmless and nice but according to my friend who works backstage at a theatre here in London the staff there didn’t like him. Very “ up himself” apparently.
All I heard or read from people who worked with him backstage, is that he is a great guy. He is had working and take his work serious – it can be hard for some people to work with him. MAybe for them it is “up himself”.It can be difficult when something is passion for you and for others t is only a job 9-5. I know it on my example.
And London theater sociaty is so toxic (like most artistic). And it is funny that I always read it here, how Hiddles is not likeable in industry. only here.
After one of previous plays he bought a day in SPA for all crew. After Betrayal finished this month, he gave personal thank you card to stuff (one guy post it on his IG and was very emotional about it).
And isn’t it funny that the last worked in theater in 2013-2014, but there are so many new reports how bad it is to work with him. So all this people work on one play few years ago? Apparently it was a big crew 🙂
I agree about the passion. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at writing a song but was too embarrassed. After hearing TH interviews about doing what your passionate about no matter others opinions, I wrote a song. I can’t play an instrument so only have it sung, of course no one to give it to so it will never see the light of day. But I think it’s good, and I got over my embarrassment and sang it to my teenage daughter. It’s hard to do something that others can easily make fun of & I give him a lot of credit for being himself and instead of some fake guy that others want him to be. And I have a lot of respect that you are the same.
I am not denying that he puts his best foot forward in public, but one can only be fake for so long before their true self emerges, yet his kindness never falters, & his fans & coworkers have recounted his acts of kindness many times over. So I think he is a kind person. My guess is his seriousness and passion is not everyone’s cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean he’s not nice.
To so cool SAYS: I wrote something so similar to you, never seeing your post, as we must have been responding at the same time lol. Like minds.
Virginfangirls – It is scary 🙂 Maybe we know Hiddles too well 🙂
He said many times (even recently) that being passionate about something isn’t easy. People don’t understand it and make fun of you. I would rather be passionate and let “cool” people made fun of me, than be someone who is afraid to show who he really is and what he really loves, because he is afraid he won’t be cool anymore. I hate this kind of people.
Hiddle ssaid he isn’t cool. Me either. This is why I like him 🙂 And I know that some od my coworkers hate that I’m passion about my work.
I have told this story on here before, on another Hiddles post but a friend of mine happened to be having a meeting in one of the RADA meeting rooms. The room had a piano in and halfway through that meeting, Tom knocked on the door, stuck his head round and very politely asked if he could come in during their lunch break to practice something on the piano in the room. My friend said he was incredibly polite and very nice and, since they were nothing to do with the theatre world and just a bunch of people having a meeting, there would have been no need for him to be trying to impress them. I’d like to think that, if he was an arrogant ar*e, he wouldn’t behave as nicely as that away from the cameras and in front of a bunch of normals.
I know people in the industry and have only heard good things about him, the only negative I heard was that he was/is super keen to make it in HW and to have A-List status/fame. It wasn’t meant meanly but I was told the same about Bendy C, thirsty for HW fame and fortune.
Always got the impression he was a super nice guy, genuinely so, but also very savvy about “360 degree” opinions of him, such as random stuff from production staff etc, and how that would affect his career. I don’t think he’d be snobby or up himself on purpose and instead would be working hard 24/7 to project a great personality. There’s a bit of vanity and narcissism to my eyes and a kind of Eton-Cambridge-british-upper-class manner of privilege and a lot of thirst for sure though. However, I like him as an actor and I think the niceness is genuine and very deliberate at the same time. Also get the impression the friendship between Hiddles and Hems is genuinely brotherly and friendly, not amplified for show. Incidentally found him SO hot as Loki in the first Thor film but never since then. Very good actor though. Last point in this long essay of a post is really didn’t like the cynics attacking him for his earnestness. We’re too cynical these days and I remember reading a tweet by that Downton Abbey main actor kind of questioning Hiddleston’s earnestness. Yes, he’s thirsty and can be extra sometimes but his earnestness is a good thing.
Which theatre was this? Going by where he’s worked, Donmar or Pinter (maybe RADA)? You certainly hear more negative stories about him these days than you used to. Whether that because people care less about spilling, or he’s become worse, idk.
Betrayal is hitting Broadway.
He looked so much better when he was with Taylor. They need to get back together.
The above person is an imposter. Anyone who has seen my posts over the years, particularly during THAT time period, knows that I would NEVER say such a thing.
Broadway run just announced for 17 weeks beginning in late August.
I’m going to get to see TH on stage!