Tom Hardyhas had a long and successful career in Hollywood, playing everything from a comic book villain inThe Dark Knight Rises, to a grizzled post-apocalyptic wander inMad Max: Fury Road, butthere’s one role that he didn’t land that still hurts to this day. Hardy first began his career in 2001 with roles in two military projects by way ofBlack Hawk Downand the HBO epicBand of Brothers, and since thenhe’s been a leading man in several projects, carving his own path to success. He’ll appear next inThe Bikeriders, whichis set to hit theaters on August 18, 2025.
Speaking withFar Out, Tom Hardy reflected on the one role he didn’t land that still irks him to this day:Mr. Darcy in the 2005 filmPride & Prejudice. While actors are used to rejection, this one in particular stung for the 46-year-old Englishman due tohow much of himself he had given to the audition. He says that he tried to do his “best Hugh Grant impression,” butit just wasn’t enough to land him the part, after which he says he was back to playing the “wonky skewiff-teeth kid.”
“I’d worn a blue shirt and jeans and a blue blazerand been doing my best Hugh Grant impression. I was back to playing the wonky skewiff-teeth kid with the bow legs.”
“That hurt, that really hurt.”
Pride & Prejudice
Hardy would go on to say that Stacey Snider, the head of Universal Studios at the time, tried to let him down easily by claiming,“Every woman in the world has an impression of who Darcy is, and you’re just not it.”Her words were little comfort to the English actor, who would go on to star in another period piece that same year, the PBS seriesThe Virgin Queen, where he portrayed Robert Dudely, Earl of Leicester.The role of Mr. Darcy inPride & Prejudiceeventuallywent to Matthew Macfadyen, who has gone on to have a successful career in his own right.
Tom Hardy Has Done Just Fine Without Mr. Darcy
While Tom Hardy might have felt dejected at the time about losing out to Macfayden for the role of Mr. Darcy,he managed to recuperate just fine, and has gone on to prove himself a tremendous leading man over the yearsin a number of gritty action films and period pieces. He played the lead role of Heathcliff in the BBC production ofWuthering Heightsin 2008, while at the same time solidifying himself as an action star that same year thanks to his roles inSucker Punch,RocknRolla, and the black-comedy,Bronson.
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Always one to dive headfirst into a part, Hardyhas also become known as a stupendous character actorover the years thanks to his ability to morph into various parts that require a shift in appearance and dialect. His portrayal of Johnny inThe Bikeridersis no exception, as Hardy said recently that it took some deep searching to come up with the character’s unique voice,which he likens to “Bugs Bunny.”
FollowingThe Bikeriders,Hardy will appear next inVenom: The Last Dance, reprising his role of Eddie Brock/Venom for the final time. The actor has even teased the possibility of appearing inthe upcomingPeaky Blindersmovie for Netflix, possibly reprising his character of Alfie Solomons, a parthe played on and off again from 2014 to 2022.
The Bikeriders
