Tom Hardy, currently starring in “Venom: The Last Dance,” has risen to global stardom since his Oscar nomination for “The Revenant” in 2016. Once viewed skeptically by Sir Patrick Stewart during the filming of “Star Trek: Nemesis” in 2002, Hardy’s quiet demeanor led Stewart to doubt his future success. However, Hardy has since become one of the most celebrated actors of his generation, with upcoming projects including “Havoc” and “Mad Max: The Wasteland.”
Tom Hardy is a name that needs no introduction. The British actor, currently starring in Venom: The Last Dance, has undeniably established himself as a global superstar.
Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for his compelling performance in The Revenant alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Hardy has been a frequent subject of conversation, especially since he debuted in the Venom series in 2018. His filmography includes notable works such as Capone in 2020 and The Bikeriders last year. He is also recognized for portraying iconic characters, from Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road to the formidable Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
However, there was a time when he was relatively unknown. This was exemplified during his role as the antagonist in Star Trek: Nemesis, released in 2002, where he left a less-than-stellar impression on Sir Patrick Stewart, who believed that Hardy wouldn’t have a prominent career.
In his memoirs, titled Making It So, published in October 2023, Stewart reflected on the film’s production and his initial thoughts about the aspiring actor. Despite appearing alongside the iconic Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Hardy did not manage to impress, not due to his performance, but rather his reserved nature and lack of interaction.
Stewart remarked, “In Star Trek: Nemesis, I didn’t have a single exciting scene to play. The actor who portrayed the villain was a strange and solitary young man from London named Tom Hardy. He wasn’t engaging with anyone.”
He further added, “He never said hello or goodbye. He spent his time in his trailer with his girlfriend. He wasn’t hostile; it was just genuinely difficult to communicate with him.”
Stewart reminisced about the last day of filming, “On his final shooting night, he left without a sound, just slipping out the door. As the door was closing, I quietly told the other actors, ‘Here’s someone we’ll never hear from again.’ I’m glad he proved me wrong!”
Indeed, Hardy has proven Stewart’s doubts unfounded, as he is now regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation. There’s certainly more to come from him!
Currently featured in Venom: The Last Dance, alongside co-stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach, and Stephen Graham, he is set to return to the big screen in 2025 for Gareth Evans’ film Havoc. The highly sought-after actor has also been announced for Guy Ritchie’s series The Associate, the film Blood On Snow alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the police thriller 77 Blackout with Mahershala Ali. Additionally, he is expected to reprise his role in the Mad Max franchise with Mad Max: The Wasteland directed by George Miller.
Sir Patrick Stewart certainly misjudged Hardy: the actor is thriving in various projects and shows no signs of slowing down!
Star Trek: Nemesis is available for streaming on Paramount+.