There are some new and newish interviews with Tom Hiddleston, because he’s still promoting I Saw the Light, which opened in limited release starting last week. Hiddles has been telling people that he did his best Owen Wilson impression to get the role of Hank Williams, although I don’t see how that would help? Owen Wilson has sort of a flat Texas accent. I guess the point of it was that Tom is good at mimicry and producers thought he would be able to do a decent Hank Williams when the time came.
Tom also spoke to Page Six at a screening of ISTL, telling them: “Hank had always been part of the soundscape of America for me, which as a European . . . is actually quite exotic. There are things about the fabric of America that we have always found foreign and exciting. But I wasn’t a fan in the way I am now.” I can sort of see how a modern Englishman would find the first country superstar “exotic.” Tom also chatted about the James Bond rumors when he appeared on Entertainment Weekly’s SiriusXM show over the weekend. He was asked flat-out about the Bond rumors and this is what he said:
“Honestly, I don’t know… Apart from the fact that people have watched The Night Manager and started to throw my name around in that conversation, I really think that’s it. Of course it’s flattering when people float that idea, because as a child growing up in Britain, Bond is the center of your world. I grew up with Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and BBC used to run those movies on Saturday night and it was all we talked about on the playground Monday morning. So it’s very strange to be in that conversation.”
So does the possible future James Bond have a favorite Bond film? It turns out he has three!
“Off the top of my head, probably I could say my top three are From Russia With Love, Live and Let Die, and Casino Royale. … If I could take one to a desert island, it would probably be From Russia With Love.”
From Russia With Love is a decent one, but of the early Sean Connery-Bond films, I honestly think Goldfinger is the best and most iconic. Live and Let Die is sort of problematic to me, because it’s like Bond-does-Blaxploitation.
And finally, Tom appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night. It went really well! Here’s Part 1: Tom suggests that his butt is working for British tourism. Colbert teases him about the #Hiddlesbum hashtag, and then they talk nudity. Hiddles makes Colbert laugh!
Part 2: Tom talks about I Saw the Light, Hank Williams’ poetry, and then Colbert makes him sing. They actually sing together and it sounds really nice.
Hiddles photos from the past few days:
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN, Fame/Flynet.
his forehead is enormous.
I think that means he has a big brain.
@Cranberry: HUGE.
@ell, @MI6
Oh, he’s got a big forehead, but it’s not that bad. Many, many attractive men have big foreheads and noses. It’s a sign of intelligence.
This is one of his most delightful interviews and that’s all you have in response?
It does require one to use their “head” to enjoy 😛
I know! People even do that in response to tragedies — it shows how little they have to say.
best 1st comment ever
Really? You haven’t read a lot of CB 1st comments have you?
The best 1st comment was on a Tom Hardy post sometime last year:
“I need his face on a chair so I can sit on it.”
his forehead ginormous and his hair receding….makes sense — he’s getting older.
@ Cranberry. I was talking about his intellectual capacity, not his forehead. With a brain like that, looks are just a bonus.
Oh, sorry MI6, yes I see. 😮
That was meant more for @ell AND @Gtt.
It seemed a bit like he felt pressured to sing, but it turned out fine. Nice appearance IMO.
Easily the weakest link in The Night Manager. I find him so bland and one-note as an actor.
Oh and a big no to him as Bond.
I have a feeling he was directed to play the part with a mask over his feelings of loathing Roper and this is how it turned out. He’s a lot more expressive in other roles.
@spidey People complaining on how Tom is too “bland”, or straight faced, or wooden in The Night Manager, sort of give the feeling they lost the point of that character.
@ Bay, yes I think you are probably right, he was someone put into a spying role without being a trained spy so he was more deadpan than in other roles.
I find him very expressive in this series. I mean, one minute he’s scared and the next he has to appear “collected”. The changing of expressions makes up for the huge chunks of inner monologuing Pine goes through in his moments of doubt or misdirection.
@jammypants, I found him expressive as well. For example, in the weaponry demonstration, he had to put on a show of bravado for Roper and the prospective buyers, but then became visibly shaken by the potential for devastation. And then a moment later, he had to squelch those feelings and become the showman again.
Just so long as you can explains me how an actor who played Coriolanus, Loki and Jonathan Pine is a “one note”. Or, you know, don’t.
The role is one note. Not him as an actor. I agree with that critique. He’s been consistenly the weakest link within the series. It’s written with a bit more emotion than is being exerted in the performance. But that’s what I get for reading the book.
I kind of agree. I wasn’t impressed by him in this. 50% of the time his acting just consisted of him laughing awkwardly.
He is not “one note” as an actor, but this particular performance wasn’t very strong. Wooden pretty much sums it up. He seemed deeply awkward in some scenes where it wasn’t appropriate for the role, and demonstrated maybe two facial expressions. Contrast that to Olivia Coleman….. Or Hugh Laurie.
I could chalk it up to direction. Either way though, I think this is one of his weaker parts.
“I could chalk it up to direction”
But Susanne Bier is not a bad director, an Oscar winner in fact.
She could be a wonderful director who in this case didn’t make the best decisions in regards to this particular actor.
Her career is pretty distinguished, i am not sure why it has to be her fault that his performance wasn’t the best? Sometimes actors make bad decisions, acting choices or pick the wrong part. It doesn’t have to be someone else’s fault.
“Wasn’t very strong” ???????? Are you kidding me? He was the absolute heart of the piece. He played it brilliantly. Charm, arrogance and secrecy were the main characteristics of Pine. How should he have played him?
Well the character in the book doesn’t emote much either. It helps you can read his thoughts in many of the intrigue bits, but that doesn’t translate very well on the screen. Tom definitely emoted more before he “changed the guards” in the form of Lyndon, Quince, and Birch. In fact, Lyndon was a stone wall. Quince was dodgy and unsure of his path. Birch was charming and knows his weapons and business dealings. I don’t find him “two expression” at all. I actually think Tom was very close to the book’s Pine.
The only time I laughed at his acting was episode 2, Mr. Tough Guy, LOL! Other than that I thought he was excellent.
I wasn’t saying it “has to be” Leah. I offered that as a possible explanation, mainly because I do feel that Tom has done better in other roles, e.g., Coriolanus.
The character in the book “doesn’t emote much,” very true, Jammypants. And if something isn’t translating very well onto the screen, this is where the director gets to make decisions.
If that flat affect is what she wanted though, and if that is simply the way Pine is…. eh, sorry, not buying that. This is a man with a rich inner dialog, and we got to see very, very little of that.
Yea I do feel a lot of this does hinge on direction. Her closeups and getting the characters to make more facial expressions to show their thoughts is clearly her way or the screenwriter’s way of showing their inner conflict against their exterior demeanors, against much more showy characters like Corky, Burr, and Roper as opposed to the “keep your cards close” Jed and Pine characters. This gimmick’s used many times over, but for some reason it’s more glaring in the series with the SUPERINTENSE closeups to miniscule eyelashes.
@Miss Jupitero, Oh I think you’ll love Tom in High-Rise and ISTL. Two very very different roles, one quite repressed and stoic, and the other intense and heavy. It was quite the pleasure to see these two back to back and make comparisons. Tom’s definitely has many cards up his acting sleeve.
I think I do like Pine in the books more, but I liked how he handled the character on screen. My one big complaint about the series is that I wish they showed clearly, besides Sophie, how much the women in his life affected all his decisions. Like he wanted to live up to their expectations of him and do them right in a way. He was striving to be that person he could/should have been. He finally succeeded with Jed, by not failing her. I felt the writing of the show got a bit unfocused after Pine went undercover, which is funny because it should have gotten MORE focused on his character’s convictions. They left out the backstory about his previous failed marriage, which led to a series of him trying to be better, not disappointing/failing the women in his life. He’s very tender in his motivations towards them, even the one he had a fling with in Canada and the girl in the English countryside (merged into one in the show). The show really left a lot of the meat of his character off the screen. Do I blame the writing and direction a bit? I do actually. But the only real criticism I can give Tom is he can’t really play a tough guy lol! I did not understand why they went that route honestly. Lyndon in the books intentionally charmed the socks off the whole seaside town. He did that so when the murder happened, no one knew what they felt about it because they liked him so much, thus creating a “legend” because of his sudden disappearance. But the show made him only likeable to Marilyn. They never slept together. She half idolized him and half lusted after him. But he wouldn’t let her “in”. Instead he connected with her on a human level, through her paintings and through his cooking. I hated that decision to axe that storyline in the show honestly. The book Lyndon even fits Tom better. Less tough guy. More of a charmer. Oh and Lyndon cooked. A lot. None of that was obvious in the show. He was a drug dealer instead smh.
@jammypants,
I think a great deal of what we saw was director’s decision.
SPOILER
All those close-ups of his eyes, one eye at a time, from the beginning of the series right up to the end seemed gratuitous at first, (yes, Ms Biers, he has pretty eyes, we get it) then she worked it into the story line, and then, at the end, it became a major plot point with Roper’s character even having a line about it just before it changes the game.
SPOILER
olivia was over the to-acting, saying that i liked her performance, but spy-runners are not that emotional IMO.
Pine, was a watch em & wait role, & Tom acted it very well, the way he killed two characters, without spoilers, was excellent. He was not wooden, want to see wooden? watch Kit Harrington act as a spy in Spooks, thats wooden.
I don’t think LEGS is a one note actor either. I think he’s a good actor.
That said, I’d agree this wasn’t his finest work. Others in the cast outplayed him. I thought he was great in the first episode and then it went downhill from there. But not really his fault. Too many mooning shots for everyone to look at his pretty face, which were good for looking at his pretty face but not much more. And Miss J is right – if a novel’s character is written with a rich internal thought process, you have to find a way to get that on screen when you transfer it to film or TV. And they didn’t find that way. A shame because I think he’s more than capable.
Regardless, the show achieved what it set out to achieve and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wish they’d had a bit more ambition for the Pine character.
I’m not sure if people outside the UK know what a big deal The Night Manager has been here. It has been huge, “watercoolerTV”, and has massively increased Tom’s profile. Friends of mine who were previously not that bothered about him are now fans. I’m glad for him.
I’m sure the same will happen here when it airs on AMC next month. They have quite a press tour planned for the cast starting in early April.
We all expected TNM to increase his popularity beyond the Marvel/Tumblr crowd. For whatever complaints I’ve had of the series, I agree that it’s entertaining and I’m happy for Hiddles that he’s getting this profile boost, along with Coleman, Hollander and Debicki.
It seems to have had sufficient impact that the Daily Mail has to run almost daily fluff pieces about him
I just want to know if any of our resident Brits have been to one of these “pub lock in’s”and what was it like.
Otherwise finally a decent late night appearance.
Irish here and yes, yes they are awesome and amazing fun. Best done in a small country pub with a fire
When I lived in Ireland I couldn’t believe how many amazing singers I’d hear in the pubs. Like, where do you people come from, lol. Not to mention the amazing musicians. Thought I’d died and gone to heaven a few times.
I haven’t watched the video so don’t know what he said about lock-ins, but I’ve been to a gazillion. They haven’t really happened for a good ten years or so, since the licensing laws were changed in the mid-2000s. Pubs used to close at 11pm (or 10.30pm on Sundays) and everyone had to go home. Unless you knew a nice landlord, who would close up the pub and let favoured regulars continue drinking. Nothing weird happened: everyone just kept drinking and talking and playing darts and pool as usual! Not a common occurrence now, since pubs can largely open as late as they like.
I was in pub and didn’t even realize how late it was until someone switched the lights on. Funny night. Btw Sixer, you are living in London right? Any pub suggestions? Or Clubs? Last time, I had no clue about where to go tbh.
Sorry, Guest, not in London. I lived there for the first thirty years of my life but now I’m in the west country. I honestly couldn’t tell you where is cool to go these days.
Ah, so pretty much like an after hours party here in North America.
Yes. They used to lock the doors and turn off most of the lights so mean-minded people wouldn’t report the landlord to the police (or a passing police patrol wouldn’t see).
Yep, when the smoking ban first came in here, we had people try to go outside to smoke and the landlord just went…you’re kidding right?
Hahahaha! People in pubs are useless! We used to go in one pub where the landlord would take a whip round and close the till, so that he could argue that people were only “drinking up” if necessary. And the amount of people that would moan they had to put in a tenner. “But I only want one more.” “Eff off and drink it at home then. He’s doing you a favour, you tight arsewad.”
I sympathise Sixer, it’s like when you go out for a meal and decided to just split the bill and someone says but I didn’t have…………. I knew someone like that but she was always happy to let others get the round in all evening. 😡
Spoons! The spoons were everything. And I’m thinking his mother probably whacked him with a spoon. Overall, a nice interview.
Now, onto DC in the never-ending publicity tour for ISTL, which will soon merge into the never-ending publicity tour for TNM.
The spoons were an absolute delight! This is my favorite interview of his since the one of did with Josh from MTV where they had a slumber party.
It reminded me of Archipelago. Delighted.
Yes, he played them in Archipelago too.
Haven’t been able to see all the interview so will someone tell me the story of the spoons, his mother and the kitchen please?
He was asked about musical abilities and explained that while locked in a pub one night, he learned to play the spoons. He then told how his mother had her kitchen remodeled and then hosted an engagement party for his sister during which Tom spent the night playing the spoons in the new kitchen. They noticed the next morning that he had done quite a bit of damage to the new kitchen. He also performed a song on the spoons with the band and banged up Colbert’s desk.
Oh no, and thanks.
The spoons were the best bit!
I love Colbert so much, he seemed to genuinely like him
I love Colbert too and it was a good interview.
I thought the song was really cute. Nice of sc to sing with him.
I really enjoy Colbert’s style of interviewing. After hearing pretty much the same thing over and over again on this press tour, it’s delightful to hear & see something new. They both appeared to have a great time.
Colbert made that song. Who knew?
Well one thing is for sure, Colbert projects his voice very well. It downed Hiddlestone’s higher tone singing.
I appreciated his encouraging Tom to sing. I also appreciated that Tom harmonizing along to Stephen’s lead.
I think Colbert can do anything. The guy has talent for days. Plus he’s a major music geek.
Yeah, Colbert is a good singer. I’ve been starting to think he took the Late Show so that he could break out into song every night.
I think he may have done musical theater at some point. I know he also studied acting, but for how long and where I don’t know. I remember seeing him on Law & Order Criminal Intent way back before the Daily Show.
*must not start an argument about BBC schedules*
*must be a nice Sixer*
*desperately seeking most comfortable ball gag. for self*
Would lemon drizzle cake do instead?
This would most certainly be preferable to a ball gag. Ball gags are best used on other people.
I’ll bring the clotted cream!
*mouth duly stuffed*
Hey, I’ve just thought of a get out – perhaps Tom saw those films on ITV but daren’t say that because TNM is on the BBC and he is/will soon be promoting it in the US?
And lemon cake tastes so much better than a ball gag. And is softer on the mouth.
Spidey started it! Spidey started it!
*stuffs more cake*
More lemon cake for everyone and lots of sherry too.
@ Spifey, no provoking or you’ll get a ball gag too.
Now, let’s return to the topics of pub lock-ins, spoons, and new kitchens. And yes, nudity was discussed during the interview too
The nudity bits (“22 is an excellent time to be naked”) and Tom’s saucy remark about everything being “ready” at that age was my favorite part… to no one’s surprise here.
The full Colbert interview here:
https://vimeo.com/160704537
More likely just a dodgy memory – I forgot that Bond was always on ITV, not the BBC. Possibly because ITV has slipped so much in recent years that it’s hard to recall a time when they had big movie premieres.
Haha, as soon as I say that bit I immediately thought of you. 😆
Spidey, You know how I love to see Tom’s more *colorful* sense of humor. “19 and always ready” is right up there at the top with “Push harder… that’s what they all say.”, in the Hiddles book of quotes!
@ Nutballs, yes, we will have to collect and publish a book of Hiddlesquotes!
@Nutballs
The push harder and that’s what they all say made me laugh so much. I swear my jaw dropped first and then I started to laugh when I saw it the first time. The reason why I like Loki is because he is witty and funny… Tom seems to be very smart and gentleman like but also very boyish and funny. Apart of the conquering the world part I think that Loki suits him way too good haha…
Spidey, I bet someone on Tumblr has already done that…
Very probably Nutballs. So far mine favourite is “that’s what they all say”
My favorite is the “Mjolnir in my pants” soliloquy, because he just goes on and on to hilarious effect. And because “We’ll go back to being apes” kills me.
No spidey did not, you started it with your “note to self”
😆
Have some cake!
Have you any chocolate cake and a coffee to go with it please?
*tosses multi-layered chocolate cake and a large coffee in Spidey’s direction*
Yum yum thanks she says, wiping smears of chocolate from face.
Colbert singing with him made a potentially awkward experience extremely charming. It worked.
Hiddles, your charisma is showing.
His costar in the night manager gave an interview they asked her if Tom is sexy and she said Hugh laurie is much sexier 😂
In the same interview, she also said she loved working with Tom. We all have different tastes. She’s entitled to like what she likes and it doesn’t mean anything bad about anyone else.
Calm down, I didn’t say she said anything bad about him. It just made me laugh that she was raving about Lauries sexiness and work and with Tom she was like oh yeah he’s a nice guy 😂
I’m perfectly calm.
Doesn’t Elizabeth know about my death star? What’s wrong with her?
We will have to warn Elizabeth to back away from the Laurie or the Death Star will zap her back to Australia
Having forgiven the Sixlets for their ageist ways, I have conceded the death star. This doesn’t necessarily let Elizabeth off the hook. I have alternatives.
Elizabeth had better be on her best behavior during the US press junket or she may find herself permanently tangled in the scenery of Guardians of the Galaxy? (She’s filming it now)
But there is this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/03/25/the-night-managers-elizabeth-debicki-i-couldnt-help-but-fall-in/
haha, it really depends on which interview you read. Too easy to use bias if you read the one that suits the point 😉
it doesn’t say anything about sexy so I don’t get your point? 😃
But if you fall in love with someone don’t you also tend to find them sexy?
Can I just say he and Elizabeth are just too beautiful together. Almost hurt my eyes to watch them in the same scene onscreen. I love that she’s as tall as he is!
The final scene with them in bed all tangled up, I honestly couldn’t tell them apart. They looked gorgeous together.
Not gonna lie — I went off Hiddles about 2 years ago (dancing bear? full body fan hugs? I forget exactly what pushed me over the edge), but this interview was PERFECTION. I just watched the whole thing on Vimeo, and he is so relaxed and articulate, not a hint of over-eager in sight! I might have to think some more about this version of Hiddles. I like this version.
P.S. He really does have an absolutely gorgeous voice. Every goofy-grinned still photograph should come with a recording. His voice is everything…and I’m pretty sure the reason I fell for him to start with!
I haven’t seen the Colbert interview yet. While I don’t mind his serious side, I’m starting to miss the more fun loving giggling Tom, but I can see how it depends on the situation. Always love TH dancing! Before ISTL would rather see him dancing over singing. Dancing bear, hugging and giggling Tom made me like him best over most other slick and cool celebrities.
@Cranberry I think you’re right that it depends on the situation, and in my experience I’m always hardest on those I love! Having said that, I really have felt at times that his act was too try-hard or not genuine and it was off-putting. (MTV awards, anyone? EEK!!!) I go back and forth on whether in the early days he was nefariously fan-baiting or just doing what he felt he needed to do to build a base or if he really did get off on all the love. Probably a bit of all three! Like a lot of fans, I went home after seeing Loki and looked him up on IMDB and just proverbially went down the rabbit hole, and it’s been a wild ride! Someone up-thread (or down-thread) said he seems to be growing into himself, and I for one am glad to see it.
ETA — Just thought of one instance where the goofy, dancing bear thing seemed absolutely genuine and I loved it — that slumber party vid with Josh Horowitz. Basically anything with Josh Horowitz! We’ll call that and the articulate, Colbert Hiddles two sides of the same coin and overlook the rest. Works for me!
I think people expect one thing of him, but forget that every individual can be contradictory and multifaceted. Every one of us are. I don’t see how Tom is much different in that aspect, other than battling labels and preconceived notions thrown at him left and right because he’s more widely known.
With that said, I find it perfectly normal to be intelligent with depth AND be goofy and slightly embarrassing. I find him more real that way. My coworkers hide a lot of their real selves in certain situations and gatherings. In fact, I think they try harder at not appearing too passionate about certain topics while looking “cool” 😛
“MTV awards, anyone? EEK!!!”
@platospopcorn
Yes MTV awards was so cringe-y I could barely watch. But to me most of his try-hardness like MTV awards is an example of his ineptness to assimilate himself into American popular culture. I don’t think he was ever trying to deceive anybody or be nefarious about wanting to be liked by American kids. I do think he tends to need approval in general, but that’s nothing new among actors. It’s a matter of degrees, but I think he’s getting past that although probably never completely.
I think he got too nervous or excitable about being approved of and liked especially by US audiences.
When he first got cast as Loki nobody outside of UK knew of him and even then mostly just the theater crowd. So I think he found himself in very unfamiliar territory for his first public outing on the big-time, American pop culture stage of MTV awards with a target demographic between ages 10 -20 yrs old.
To be fair, teen choice awards and especially MTV are pretty cringe worthy to watch. One, they’re truly lame, period. Plus you can tell all the “serious” actors are embarrassed to be there but are trying to show gratitude without looking disingenuous. But the fact is they’re ONLY grateful for the acceptance of the coveted MTV youth demographic that is crucial to an actor’s success in the commercial (US) film industry. In many ways MTV awards might be more important than the Oscars as far as $ is concern, at least to the big studios and especially Disney.
We really need some sort of like button (I know, I’m groaning as I write it) – only because some of you guys really nail it and I want to show appreciation as easily as possible 🙂
I contribute to a comments page in a newspaper where you can click a recommend. There have been occasions when I have gone to do it here!
+1
🙂
I like how on LSA you can show like or dislike, but the posters are still identified.
Their faces were so close, I thought they were gonna smooch at the end.
I presume based on his cultural inheritance as well as comments he’s made that Tom is either an atheist or agnostic. Colbert’s well-known faith made the choice of singing a gospel song together made that moment even more awesome to watch.
“Their faces were so close, I thought they were gonna smooch at the end.”
Not gonna lie, @Nutballs, I would have been here for that.
I thought so, too!! Just a light peck on the lips at the end lol
Had they kissed at then end I would have had to ask Colbert what cologne does he use or what his secret is… everyone seems to want to smooch him!!!
I love the smooch that sassy Dame Helen Mirren planted on him not too long ago.
Wait, COlbert is NOT an agnostic???
Colbert is a devout Catholic.
devout Catholic intellectual.
Devout Catholic intellectual singer
Colbert knew what to do with Tom (unlike Kimmel for instance). Colbert unlike so many interviewers flattered Tom when talking about his rich education – Colbert threw out some Latin root woods, some Greek texts, knew Hank’s song by heart and sang very well. He brought out the best of Tom. Made me want to start taping the Colbert show. The spoons thing was awkward, but it went over ok, and Tom did sing like they were sharing a mic which they were not, also awkward. It forced a personal story out of Tom (Mom’s house) rather than the same old practiced stories. Great interview in comparison to so many others. Worth finding on youtube or vimeo or wherever.
Yeah that really got me (the education part). I’m really tired of it being cute and/or cool to be a moron AND educated/smart people being made to apologize for their lack of stupidness. It’s one thing to protest an imbalanced system of class and education; it’s another to demand everyone dumb it down to the lowest common denominator. I get how high mindedness could get pretentious really quickly but when done right it’s gorgeous. I sometimes get the impression that TH is much smarter than the average person and doesn’t get to show it much publicly. The “in depth” interviews where he really gets to talk about real things are the best to me and I hope he gets to do more. Tumblr part of his fanbase and their ridiculousness be darned.
“smart people being made to apologize for their lack of stupidness”
Thank you!! That tendency kills me every time – in everything from the arts to politics. Since when is a high IQ or advanced education some sort of sin against humanity? We should all be aspiring to greater knowledge and achievement rather than shaming it.
I do find there are some highly-learned people who are pretentious and superior, but that has nothing to do with how smart they are – that has to do with the fact they are just jackasses in general. Tom is not one of those people.
“Since when is a high IQ or advanced education some sort of sin against humanity? We should all be aspiring to greater knowledge and achievement rather than shaming it.”
I know what you mean, but those who are upset are mostly upset about “access” to education, but in some weird form of extension, the unhappiness extends to those who are born with privilege. I don’t get the grudge towards Tom or any fortunate actor tbh. Should they stop existing? Should they step aside and turn down roles so others would get them? Should they give up their earnings? It’s not like they didn’t work hard for them. Oh wait, it’s because they need “acknowledge” their good fortune to good education as if that fixes anything at all. Even if he says and does everything right, there will still be gripe. He’s too “perfect” on paper so he’s more hate-able. I do feel like people pay close attention to every wrong move he makes. Sounds too perfect? find the flaw! drag him down!
” liberal intellectual” seems to be absolutely the worst insult that can be thrown about an aspiring US politician. So much better to be a repressive idiot of course. Can anyone think of any of those currently in the news?
And I have usually found that really brilliant people are quite unpretentious, it’s the mediocre ones that are a pain.
I’ve resisted getting a DVR since I don’t have cable and watch almost no broadcast TV, but after watching a full episode last night, makes me think it could be worth the investment of money rather than losing an hour’s sleep.
And they talked about nudity too. Something for everyone.
Now, has a tumblr page appeared for the green socks?
The green socks are so precious.
I think there are two different education/intelligence conversations going on here so:
1. The American dumb-it-down society where it is stylish to be a boastful moron (see: Trump, Palin, G.W. Bush) that someone wants to share a beer with because coming across as an well-informed, educated, intelligent, well-spoken person renders one an “elitist.” (And yes, “elitist” is misused by the boastful morons and their minions who do not seem to know the difference between “elitist” and “elite.”
2. The British class privilege system, which is brought up whenever Tom’s education is discussed on British media.
That said, yes, I agree, it was refreshing to watch two intelligent, educated, seemingly rational humans have a conversation in which neither seemed to feel the need to dumb-it-down for the audience, although there was plenty of fun stuff, like the bits about nudity, for the groundlings
I got the impression that Colbert shares some education/ interests with him and was enjoying the opportunity to geek out a bit about it.
As I wrote down thread his father held impressive academic/medical positions at universities such as Yale, and according to Colbert his parents “strongly valued intellectualism”.
So as I’ve always suspected, he could hold his own on most any level of academia, politics, philosophy, Jeopardy, you name it. I’ll put my money on Colbert. That’s one of the keys to his success; He’s incredibly intelligent.
Yes, Colbert is pretty impressive. He’s bright and educated (a Northwestern grad) and immensely well-informed. He’s also a huge nerd who loves science fiction and role playing games and LoTR. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he and Hiddleston get along relatively well.
The Latin declensions throwdown was one of MY fave parts of the interview!
I can still do one conjugation – amo amas amant amamus amatis amant!
In the last week, Tom has appeared with two of my favorites in life–Bernie Sanders and Stephen Colbert. If he takes a selfie with Samantha Bee, I can die happy.
Yes indeed!
I think Samantha Bee would have a great time interviewing Hiddleston. It can be amusing to see a man who uses so many words (no judgment) be rendered speechless.
That would be a great week indeed. But Tom would have to take off the serious actor jacket and cut it loose with Samantha B, maybe go back to Korea ’13 Tom (sans singing) or further back to the MySpace and Thor days of “Dear god I have Mjolnir in my pants”.
The whole interview floating around on Tumblr https://vimeo.com/160704537
CBS usually posts the whole show and the separate interviews on its website
Best Tom interview ever?
It’s definitely in his top 5 and the best of his talk show appearances that I’ve seen.
I liked this one but I simply loved NerdHQ and the Madrid Talk.
I loved the NerdHQ one but the audience was rather annoying.
I think his Times Talks interviews are some of his best too. Did I read somewhere that he’s got another one coming up or am I imagining that?
@nutballs, I get confused with these and it took me a while to get them right, but I think Tom has a BAFTA Conversation in NY recently for ISTL.
Madrid and especially NerdHQ are classic Tom plus he looked absolutely delicious at those events. Another classic Tom event is Comic Con NY ’11 Avengers panel. Truly delightful, cringy, insightful and funny. (TheAMPNetwork video has best quality)
@jammypants, he did a BAFTA NY “In Conversation” last night. They tweeted some of his answers but won’t have the full interview up until later this week.
He has a Times Talk with Hugh Laurie scheduled for April 11 in New York
@lilac, aw man, NY is getting SO MUCH TOM. I’m quite jealous!
Definitely! Great rapport, respect for the guest and a bit of research will go a long way. Plus Stephen is just really, really good at this. And I think Tom appreciated the respect and the warmth and felt comfortable enough to share those wonderful anecdotes. Loved the spoons. Great stuff.
@jammypants, I briefly considered trying to get tickets to the TimesTalk, taking the Acela down and back, but I have something scheduled that night.
@Lilac I considered it too, but I am saving for a trip. I’ve seen Tom already and it would be nice to see him again, but I must be wiser with my finances sadly. One day I’ll catch him at these hour long conversation events.
No has yet to ask him what his favorite Southern dishes are yet. Someone better ask him before the ISTL press tour is over. Inquiring minds want to know.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t eat much at all while playing Hank. Probably just enough to keep him from keeling over, supplemented by an impressive amount of coffee, cigarettes and Diet Coke. But I would bet money that there was a bacon cheeseburger or prime-cut steak with his name on it once they wrapped.
I think this is probably my favorite. The silly ones are fun as well, but I think this one showed off a few of the different aspects of Tom’s personality that draw people in. He got to be a little silly and performative, but he also got to be a bit thoughtful and throw in some slightly naughty humor.
It doesn’t hurt that I enjoy Stephen Colbert in his own right. I think he’s at his best when he’s interviewing someone who’s fairly clever and when he has a chance to throw in some of his own experiences or background. It ends up being a little more of a conversation and it makes for a nice dynamic.
I have been ambivalent about Tom but after Colbert I like him and found him charming.
This interview was absolutely charming – it seems TH is growing into himself. There’s something indefinable about him that is just transcendent and I’m damned if I can figure out what it is. It shouldn’t all add up, but it does.
Also felt a bit bad about not loving his singing, since he puts his whole heart and soul into it and seems to enjoy it so much. The Colbert/Hiddleston duet was EVERYTHING.
..No more butt talk or yodeling, please.
I think it always depends on the person who is interviewing him. I listened to the podcast of him and Josh from Mtv. And that one was very nice, too.
I too enjoyed his MTV podcast. But I also enjoy his campy stuff with Josh so I might be biased.
Josh asked him about returning to the stage and he said he is kicking around ideas. I hope that means a play after Thor 3
You know I want him on stage too but i presumed he might be needed in one (or both) of the Infinity Wars films.
@Nutballs
Nah everything cool. I agree with you. Josh is so in love with Tom. I adore those two together. They just clicked years ago. Just wonder why no one mentioned the podcast because it was really good. I might have hated Olsen’s stupid laughing sound but Hiddles spoke about Redmayne and Cumberbatch as well and you could almost feel the respect towards these two. Adorable. Btw, Colbert’s singing impressed me. Where is he from? Because he did sound a bit southern like, didn’t he?
@Guest, Colbert grew up in South Carolina.
@Nutballs, at this point, he doesn’t sound like he knows what his involvement in the Infinity Wars might be. And if he did, he probably couldn’t go public with it as the plot of Thor 3 isn’t known and saying: “oh yes, I’m Infinity Wars” might give away and ruin any cliffhangers in Ragnorak (like Loki dies again and is still dead at the end of the film) But even if he is in the Infinity Wars, he isn’t an Avenger and he won’t be the main villain, so it is quite possible that any part would be small and not take up the full length of the filming time.
Colbert is from South Carolina. He’s is actually a very good singer, better than TH I might add. As most know he’s very intelligent and educated. What I didn’t know before is that his father was a doctor, the dean of medicine at Yale and V.P. of academic affairs at SC Medical Univ.
Colbert has said that his parents “strongly valued intellectualism”. So Colbert would probably be one of the last people to hold someone’s education against them no matter how prestigious.
@cranberry and all others
Wow, so Colbert is not only a good singer but also very educated? Impressing. And a southern guy? I knew it. Hah! Thanks for sharing this.
I’m not sure about Tom ‘growing into himself’ because I feel like how he was on Colbert is how he usually is when he’s relaxed. The chatty, tangent-friendly style suits him – it’s when interviewers want a soundbite answer and try to hurry him along to the punchline or prompt him to perform an impression on demand that he seems to get nervy and uncomfortable.
If you start a conversation with him and let him talk, then he’ll come up with something spontaneously delightful without over-thinking it, and that’ll go viral. You can’t force it, though, or it’ll be awkward (though to be fair it’ll still go viral).
Oh, that’s a really good observation – never really thought about it that way before. He does seem to react to the other person’s energy – the more “at ease” the interviewer is, the better the banter is likely to be.
That’s my explanation for the dancing bear routine… Tom mirrors the person he’s talking to and the energy in the room.
What I love about Colbert is his ability to put his guest at ease and streer the conversation down tangents that allow for some gems to be excavated. He veers away from the standard junket questions in favor of those that bring out bits about his guest’s personal life, without it feeling like he crossed a line.
@KTE: I agree with that. I think Tom’s always had this side to his personality – I saw it a long time ago in a video of him calming down some hysterical fans. Back in the dancing bear days, he was doing lots of junkets, and I think he was often getting and responding to others’ hyper energy because in resulted in lots of good, amusing sound bytes. Now that he’s doing a different sort of publicity for a different project, people have an opportunity to see how he responds to different prompts.
@NUTBALLS: Oh, yes, Colbert is wonderful at finding things to talk about with people other than the usual, terribly dull obvious. He’s one of my favorites when it comes to people who actually are interesting, and who have some things to say for themselves. He’s also willing to put a little of himself in the interview, which I think really pays off with certain subjects. (I find him to be a little less strong when it comes to interviewing empty suit types, but those often aren’t the ones I care to watch anyway.)
SPOONS! Dented drawers, and “everything is ready” at 19.
That is all.
😀
Not even gonna pretend to lie:
When he dropped the “everything is ready” comment, ohhhhh.
that was too delightful haha
Tom Hiddleston @twhiddleston 7m7 minutes ago
So much fun on @colbertlateshow last night. @StephenAtHome, you are an absolute gent. Love & respect!
*Happy Clap*! Night Manager starts on my b-day. However. Never did the math and I’m disturbed to find out he was born the year I graduated high school. Oh well. #Hiddlesbum!!!!
You should worry!
Why??? 😨
I left school 15 years before Tom was born!!
Oh! It’ll be our secret. 😉
I was a little worried after seeing the Kimmel interview but what a difference a host makes? All hail Stephen Colbert, he brought out some of the best Hiddles has to offer.
Kimmel never interviewed him before and many TV hosts can be a bit tentative the first time they interview someone because they don’t know how it will go. Kimmel was also rushed with Tom in the short interview slot, made shorter by Kimmel’s poor time management earlier in the show. They’ll be better next time.
I disagree. Colbert is a better interviewer, hands down. He has the intelligence to get beyond the standard promo tour questions and keep it entertaining.
Even Tom’s first appearance on Colbert for CP was better than Kimmel. Colbert paces his show better as well. The opening monologue didn’t drag and Sammy the Salmon didn’t take up more than a few minutes at most.
The broadway lady that followed Tom was a hoot and I think that was her first time as well.
I agree Colbert is a better interviewer than Kimmel but that wasn’t my point so I’m not sure what the disagreement is? ‘m pointing out there were lots of factors contributing to the stiffness of the Kimmel interview that won’t be present next go-around and they’ll be more comfortable. Tom’s first interview with Colbert included GDT and Jesdica, both of whom were familiar. So, yes, Colbert will be a must see for future interviews but Kimmel won’t be so awkward
I’m disagreeing that the next Kimmel appearance will be much better, as I don’t think Kimmel is as good of a host overall. While he may surprise me if/when it happens, I’m not as confident as you that it could ever hit the mark of either of Colbert’s interviews.
Colbert > Kimmel
Again, I didn’t say it would hit the mark of a Colbert interview. I’m saying the next Kimmel interview would be better than the first Kimmel interview. I’m not comparing Colbert, who I have now repeatedly said is the better host, and Kimmel.
I’m disagreeing with your disagreement on the basis that I find it disagreeable.
@Lilac, I know you’re not. I’m just injecting my own bias into this conversation 😀
In my disagreeableness I feel no gumption to say anything positive about Kimmel.
Bah Humbug.
Back to the our regularly scheduled programming of the Charming, Competent, Cracking Corlbert and the Handsome, Humorous, High-Spirited Hiddleston…
Don’t get the thirst for this guy. He looks like a middle aged bank clerk. He has kind eyes I will give you that.
If I ever find a middle-aged bank clerk that looks like Tom Hiddleston AND sounds like him, with even 1/2 of his school smarts, I am BUYING.
YES! A middle-aged bank clerk with amazing pair of long muscly legs, an 8-pack, and lovely hands. I find Tom’s face quite chiseled. Sure his fivehead is ridiculous, skin too leathery, and his eyes are too close, but I don’t care one bit. His profile is amazing. I’d put it on a currency.
SAME.
“fivehead” ahah. It took me a moment.
I love Tom’s hands too and those high cheek bones and chiseled face makes for great editorial shots like models. The legs, his tall, lean, proportionate stature. But most of all for me are his eyes. kind, expressive and beautiful.
Jammy, I agree. His profile is what I find most striking. He’s got that lovely Grecian nose that Rodin or Michelangelo would have put to good use in their sculptures.
Actually, I think it is better for an actor/actress if he/she can pass for a bank clerk. Sometimes Tom may look like a “middle aged bank clerk” as in Hogg’s Exibition, and he can be dashing Prince Hal or deadly handsome Laing.
I love his voice (velvety, intelligent, and clear) and how he moves ( I remember icerose’s description, “elegance personified”). If I found a bank clerk like him, I will go to the bank once a week.
@Nutballs, that nose is so under appreciated.
Jammy, you and I must appreciate it to the moon. I swear, I just want to trace it with my finger every time I see it. In bed. After a sexy rumpus. Before the next round.
*quickly closes out of webpage before Mr. Balls sees what was just typed*
Jammy, two words for you:
NOSE P0RN (aka PROFILE P0RN)
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/30/tom-hiddleston-kong-skull-island
Ok, I will admit that “middle-aged bank clerk” is a new one. I’m adding it to the Bingo card though, because it’s hilarious.
I actually find Tom’s face and body just lovely, in addition to his kind eyes. But even if I didn’t, kind eyes combined with a panty-dropping voice, intelligence, kindness, and charm would still be pretty attractive to me.
I’m not a huge fan of his (loved him as Loki, not sure I saw him in anything else), but he does have amazingly kind eyes and does come across as very kind. I’d love to chat with someone who knows him just for a sec to find out if that impression is true. Wouldn’t it be something if it turns out he’s a huge jerk in real life? 🙂
There would have to be a lot of liars out there among the people who have worked with him over the years.
It will be interesting to see how they parcel out PR duties for TNM. Laurie, Colman, and Hollander handled the television interview duties in Britain and pretty much all of them, including Alister Petrie did print stuff. Unlikely, Tom would be back on the Today show, Colbert, or Kimmel so soon so Laurie will probably get those. Tom might get Fallon (cue drunken dancing bears), Conan, some day time stuff like Ellen or The View, and the really late stuff like Seth Meyers and James Corden. Corden would probably be epic
Isn’t that the one he was with at Chatty Man? He was funny.
I love the Chatty Man appearance. One of my faves.
Yes, James and Tinie Tempeh were on the Chatty Man episode when he was asked to explain his dance moves.
Chatty Man interview! Another classic Tom moment.
Oh, I hope he gets on Corden – though I’m sure that would involve the dancing bear. I’m certain that they know each other well enough for some interesting stories to be told….
Corden is very Pro-Tom when the Bond conversation comes up. Maybe a spoof?
I’m hoping he does go on Corden and they do something completely crazy together and it will be brilliant.
Corden would rival Josh Horowitz with his love of Hiddles.
Loved him in The Night Manager. Loved The Night Manager period.
I’m rewatching it and liking it a lot more. I was horribly busy when I was live watching it. Now I do it with ease and can focus more on it. Overall, I give it a B.
I’m going to watch it again, to clear up the bits I didn’t quite understand the first time round. For research purposes only of course!
Research.
You’re not fooling anyone spidey.
I’m going to watch it again with my husband when it comes out in the U.S., because he enjoys spy dramas, and I’m just a really, really good wife.
I discovered when re-watching one of them that sometimes the feed would stall and I would miss parts. So, I have to rewatch them all to be sure I didn’t miss anything.
Then I’ll have to re-watch when it airs on AMC because it is my boyfriend’s favorite book and he didn’t watch it with me on my computer. This time, I’ll see it on a very large television and it will be a very different experience.
I would give a B+ because I love how they updated the old-fashioned text and sometimes twisted Bond cliches in interesting ways (second-time watching made me realize this much more clearly). And it was a hit. Very good for Tom. He needed a project with popular appeal and he did his best with what he was given. Hope that American audience love the series.
So many studious and considerate partners Tom’s fans are.
😎
Hi spidey. What is that site you posted not too long ago with all the emoji text combinations?
At the third attempt 😕
http://www.techlato.com/list-of-wordpress-emoticons/
Thanks spidey.
I didn’t realize you’d replied to my first request. I didn’t see anything and then a new thread opened up so I never checked back. Sorry about that.
😐
No problem Cranberry.
A general question, do actors often take their PAs on location?
Often, yes. Although I guess that would depend on a lot of factors, including whether or not an actor had a full-time assistant to start with. If an actor doesn’t come with one, the production usually assigns them one, or more, “production assistants” to help them with various things – especially on a big-budget studio film.
Thanks Dara.
If you sit through the movie credits you can usually see who has their own assistant on set, as well as their own hair and make-up. It’s pretty common for ‘stars’.
They usually get their own driver too, but that doesn’t make it into the credits very often. Add the personal trainer and nutritionist (if they need to change their physique for the role) paid for by the production, along with first-class air travel, free housing and a per diem if they shoot on location. Working on a big-budget studio film really is a nice way to roll.
Looks like Tom will be a presenter on the AMC Awards April 3. Televised on ABC I think.
I suspected that was coming. The Academy of Country Music has been using the Awards Twitter to heavily promote ISTL and the ISTL soundtrack.
I wonder if he’ll wear his go-to “middle-aged banker” suit, or go for jeans and boots? The suits he’s been wearing have looked especially good this time around, but the stylist they used for the ISTL press tour has significantly improved his “smart casual” game too, so could go either way.
I’d put money on him wearing his cowboy boots.
Those trusty Ariats!
BBC to use working class actors by 2026! LEGS can’t drop his aitches!
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/bbc-to-use-working-class-actors-by-2026-20160329107563
Teehee. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
*goes off in search of recently discarded death star*
Ha… that looks that the British version of The Onion.
D-38… I had no idea it was aired so recently. I thought I was way behind the 8 ball only to realize that it debuted on the Sundance channel last year and on the BBC just a few months ago. The Guardian recaps are quite helpful as I don’t catch as much as I wish I did.
I’ve got “Spiral” on queue with Hulu as it got mentioned in an article about foreign TV shows. Did you see it?
I’m checking out Undercover too…
The funniest headline I saw of the Onion was the day after the 2008 election when the economy, housing market and Wall Street were still in a free fall. It read “Black Man Gets Worst Job in America”.
Cranberry, that’s right up there with “Black Guy Asks Nation For Change” during Obama’s first campaign. Hilarious!
It is! I don’t usually read it but I have an internet friend who’s a film-maker and works with ex-offenders. She’s always banging on about this topic (makes me look like a lightweight!) and she sent it to me this morning. Made her day! Couldn’t resist sharing!
Spiral is fab. As is another French cop show, Braquo.
Did you watch the autism doco? I hope you liked it. I watched Murdered by my Father last night (BBC3 iPlayer) and am still weeping now. It’s a follow-up to Murdered by my Boyfriend last year. Boyfriend was general domestic violence and Father is honour violence. It was brilliantly done but don’t watch it (or Boyfriend) if such things hurt your heart too much.
Sixer, I suspect it would hurt my heart too much, so no, I’ve passed on watching it. I keep my knowledge of violence towards women contained to the anti-slavery organization I’ve supported the past 20 years and what I catch in the news here and there.
I’m still wrapping up D-38, but the documentary will be next. I’ve just finished a book by a guy who discovered he was autistic at the age of 40 (he used to work with KISS!) and it was helpful in understanding my son a bit better.
Speaking of… time for school!
Don’t watch then, you know? I get it, I really do. If you like the doco, shout me out. There are a few other related things on iPlayer I could recommend but I don’t want to a) swamp you or b) be tactless about it.
Sixer, I would never consider you tackless — otherwise, I’d be indicting myself!
Feel free to recommend anything you think I’d like and I’ll add it to the list.
Sixer, watched the autism doc. Got a little weepy. Enjoyed it immensely. I want to raid Uta’s coat closet. That plum coat was divine.
My son was diagnosed when the American Psychological Assoc decided to fold Aspurgers into “Autism Spectrum Disorders”. Since then, I’ve wondered if he doesn’t really fit a particular diagnosis since doesn’t share some of the common markers, such as lacking empathy, looking people in the eye or being anxious in social situations. It all comes down to how interested he is in something or someone as to how much he interacts. Despite his high-functionality, when he’s at a birthday party, it’s still obvious how much he operates in his own world, plays in his unique ways and has a limited sphere of interests. But having the autism diagnosis opened up the federally mandated services available to him at school, so it’s given him benefits there.
We can be tactless together then! At least neither of us are prone to taking offence! I fear we don’t yet have the tools to properly categorise these extraordinary and special people. All I can say is in my little world, everyone is welcome. I hereby recommend Employable Me, episode 1. I bawled my eyes out but it’s joyful!
Colbert is on a musical roll… he did a musical number with Rachel Bloom last night:
youtube.com/watch?v=QDRXgDDR-oM