Being A Leading Man Was Never A Priority For Tom Hardy

Being A Leading Man Was Never A Priority For Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy may be regarded as one of Hollywood's few bonafide movie stars, but the actor has never made it a priority to be a leading man in his films. Sure, he has headlined his own superhero franchise in "Venom," but he has rarely gone out of his way to be the sole acting powerhouse in any given film. In fact, some of his best performances are in a supporting role, across the so-called "leading man." For example, in the three Christopher Nolan projects he's been in — "Inception," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Dunkirk" — Hardy is relegated to being second (or third) fiddle to the lead performances. However, that doesn't mean he isn't as crucial as the protagonist. According to Hardy himself, he takes after the best talents in the business who have made their imprint on cinema as co-stars.

Let's be clear: Hardy is absolutely more than capable of carrying a project on his shoulders. But that's not something he seems to be interested in doing, even in his most prominent roles. He may be the titular character in "Mad Max: Fury Road," but he is on an equal playing ground with Charlize Theron's Furiosa. As a character actor, Hardy excels in bringing the best out of the individual across him.