Tom Hiddleston
About
Biography
Biography
British actor Tom Hiddleston rose from an acclaimed stage career to international prominence with major supporting roles in a string of hit films in 2011, including "Thor," Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" and Steven Spielberg's "War Horse." His extensive theatrical training proved essential for these larger-than-life roles, which ranged from a vengeful Norse god and a legendary novelist to a courageous but doomed World War I officer. Prior to his emergence on the international scene, Hiddleston was featured largely in supporting roles on U.K. television, but in the wake of "Thor," he became an in-demand player on both sides of the Atlantic. The following year proved an even bigger jackpot, with a reprisal of his villainous "Thor" role in "The Avengers" (2012) and a starring turn as Prince Hal in PBS productions of "Henry IV" and "Henry V." More than anything else, it was his versatility and cheeky charm that minted Tom Hiddleston as certified scene stealer on the verge of worldwide stardom.
Born Feb. 9, 1981 in Westminster, London, Thomas William Hiddleston was the second of three children by Scottish physicist James Norman Hiddleston, and his British wife, Diana, an arts administrator. A movie fan from an early age, Hiddleston's was introduced to the theatre and more refined film efforts by his mother, who was also a former stage manager. The lessons had a lasting effect on young Hiddleston, who began acting while attending Eton College. Study of the classics at Cambridge University's Pembroke College came next, during which he was seen in a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by agent Lorraine Hamilton. Hiddleston's small-screen debut came shortly thereafter, with a minor role in a 2001 TV adaptation of Charles Dickens' "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" (Channel 4). He soon landed appearances in high-profile television features, including "Conspiracy" (BBC/HBO, 2001) and "The Gathering Storm" (BBC/HBO, 2002) as Winston Churchill's black sheep son, Randolph, but he remained off the screen for the next few years so as to complete his studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Following his graduation in 2005, Hiddleston landed his first feature role in Joanna Hogg's award-winning "Unrelated," as a young man who becomes involved with an older family guest while on vacation in Italy.
However, Hiddleston would subsequently devote more of his time to stage work than roles in film or on television. He would enjoy a remarkable period of success between 2007 and 2008, reaping the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for Cheek by Jowl's 2007 production of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" and a Whatsonstage.com Theatergoers' Choice Awards for both a 2008 production of "Othello" opposite Ewan McGregor and Chiwetel Ejiofor and a West End revival that same year of "Ivanov," opposite Kenneth Branagh. He maintained a sporadic schedule of television appearances during this time, most notably in the "Wallander" (BBC One, 2008- ) detective series opposite Branagh, and as the voice of Charles Darwin in the nature documentary series "Galapagos" (BBC Two, 2006).
By 2011, Hiddleston was beginning to make his mark as an international star. He auditioned for the iconic lead in Branagh's big screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics hero "Thor" (2011), adding some 20 pounds of muscle to his lean frame, but was eventually cast as the Norse hero's scheming brother, Loki. The runaway success of the special effects extravaganza introduced Hiddleston to a global audience. He soon followed that hit with a turn as author F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Oscar-winning "Midnight in Paris" (2011), writer-director Woody Allen's highest-grossing film then to date. Hiddleston then scored a third hit with "War Horse" (2011), director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Tony-winning play about a heroic boy and the touching, loyal relationship with his horse during World War I. His turn as a British cavalry officer earned him the 2012 Rising Star accolade from The Richard Attenborough Regional Film Critics Awards.
The following year, Hiddleston returned to quieter fare with "The Deep Blue Sea" (2012), Terence Davies' adaptation of the Terrence Rattigan play, with Rachel Weisz as a married woman who entered into a highly sexualized but passionless affair with a callow RAF pilot (Hiddleston). He was soon back in the epic business, reprising Loki for director Joss Whedon's all-star superhero rally "The Avengers" (2012), which featured Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans reprising their roles as "Iron Man" (2008), Thor and "Captain America" (2011), respectively. He also returned to his theatrical roots for a three-part TV production of Shakespeare's "Henry IV" and "Henry V" (PBS, 2012), playing the lead role of Prince Hal opposite a who's who of British acting legends, including Jeremy Irons, John Hurt and his "Deep Blue Sea" co-star, Simon Russell Beale. Hiddleston was slated to reprise Loki for a third time in 2013's "Thor 2."
By Paul Gaita
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
2001
Television acting debut in the British production of "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" (Channel 4 International)
2002
Portrayed Randolph Churchill opposite Albert Finney as Winston Churchill in HBO TV-film "The Gathering Storm"
2005
Landed a featured role in the BBC production "A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets"
2006
Joined the cast of British crime comedy series "Suburban Shootout" (Five)
2009
Acted in the BBC/Masterpiece Theatre miniseries "Cranford"
2011
Breakthrough film role as the title character's (Chris Hemsworth) adoptive brother and archenemy Loki in the Kenneth Branagh directed action feature "Thor"
2011
Co-starred with Rachel Weisz in "The Deep Blue Sea," a romantic drama directed by Terence Davies and adapted from Terence Rattigan's play
2011
Portrayed F. Scott Fitzgerald in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris"
2011
Co-starred in the WWI-set drama "War Horse," directed by Steven Spielberg; film was based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and the 2007 stage adaptation of the same name
2012
Reprised Loki role in the Marvel superhero ensemble feature "The Avengers"
2013
Played Loki once again in "Thor: The Dark World"
2013
Appeared in the vampire drama "Only Lovers Left Alive"
2015
Nabbed a supporting role in the horror film "Crimson Peak"
2016
Starred in the AMC mini-series "The Night Manager"
2017
Played Captain James Conrad in the blockbuster adventure movie "Kong: Skull Island"
2017
Reprised role of Loki in "Thor: Ragnarok"
2018
Voiced Lord Nooth in "Early Man"
2018
Had a minor but memorable role in "Avengers: Infinity War"
