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Tom Hardy

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ACTORS & Skin: Tom Hardy

'I'm an actor, of course I've had gay sex.'

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy isn't just one of the sexiest actors working today, he's also one of the most outwardly sexual.  Tom displays a erotic edge on screen that has been there from the very beginning of his career.  Even before he was really famous, Tom was sharing sensual shots back in the days when he posted thirst traps on his old Myspace page. (2 pics below)

On film, Tom has never shied away from provocative parts, and has taken risks, with both with unlikable and troubled characters. He's also taken risks that most actors would not when it comes to roles requiring nude scenes.   One could certainly say it was big risk for Tom to take on the iconic role of Mad Max.  

Mel Gibson was so synonymous to the role, it was difficult for some fans to accept another actor in the role.   That was until... they saw the film and Tom in the role.  I love that Max in some ways is such a stereotypical masculine action role, yet Tom's feelings on his own masculinity are so fascinating, relatable and real.

''A lot of gay men get my thing for shoes.  I have definite feminine qualities, and a lot of gay men are incredibly masculine  'A lot of people say I seem masculine, I don't feel it.  I feel intrinsically feminine. I'd love to be one of the boys, but I always felt a bit on the outside.  Maybe my masculine qualities come from overcompensating because I'm not one of them.''

In addition to his intense sensuality, from stories and accounts that I've read, much like his characters, Tom is both a complex actor and man.  Reading Kyle Buchanan's book, it was clear that the Fury Road set was not an easy one to work on. In many of the quoted accounts, Hardy was often at the center of much of the stress and many of the struggles.   If you've seen the film, you can understand why confusion was ripe and why the actors might require clarity..  

There is almost no dialogue, even for the two main characters.  I'm guessing Hardy's lines could be squeezed onto just a page or two of paper, with many of them being grunts and one work responses.  Hardy and Theron are reported to have had conflict from the get go, and it wasn't until a climatic scene near the end of the film, that they began to appreciate each others' talent.  Hardy struggled to get a handle on the film's vision and was on George Miller throughout the shoot for concrete answers to his questions.  For his part, Miller wanted Hardy to trust in the process, something Hardy was never really able to do during the shooting of the film.

It wasn't until Hardy saw the final cut on screen that he really gained appreciation for Miller's process and the work they created together.  Regardless of the struggles the two may have had,  they either eventually worked them out, or decided to put them aside.  Both Miller and Hardy have signed on to a new Mad Max film due to begin production in the near future.    Check out part 2 (the SKIN) below: 

Tom Hardy: Taboo

If you're a regular reader of FH, you may remember that I don't normally post nude paparazzi shots of celebrities.  Although it's always thrilling when a shot of an actor you like is released, and it's very tempting to want to share them, I never want to intentionally post any image or screen cap that an actor did give their consent for.  The fact that most are all over the net is yet another reason there's no need to share them here.

I have however made a few exceptions.  I know it's pretty arbitrary, and in many ways an excuse, but if I see or read that an actor has discussed the images in question, and if they voice or appear being fine with their release, or if seem to be taking it in stride, I have posted a few.  Orlando Bloom is a good example.  I did not post his nudes for awhile when they first came out, then after seeing him laugh about them on a talk show, featured a few in a post..  

These behind the scene shots from the series Taboo, sort of fit into the category of 'assuming' the actor, in this case Tom Hardy, is ok with them being out there. I'm sure most have already seen them, they've been out for awhile.  They were reportedly shot for a nude scene from the series, which if you've watched, never showed nearly as much as in these behind the scenes shots.

Now, I have no way of knowing what Hardy thinks of the shots, or what he really thinks of on-screen nudity.  I do know however, that factually, there is nothing seen in these shots that Tom has not shown in a number of his films.  From my calculations, Hardy has had about 10 on-screen nude scenes.  Most on film, but a few were on television including a nude steam on the reality show Driven to Extremes.

Hardy's nude scenes have also not been subtle, or 'quick or you'll miss them' edits or scenes. Hardy has not only  had rear nude scenes, but also  been in four films with full frontals, all unrelenting in their boldness.  These shots from Taboo are interesting in that although Tom was nude on the show, his scenes were all filmed to show as little as possible.  These were taken while filming and Tom appears to totally comfortable being nude and free during the shooting process.

An interesting story from Kyle Buchanan's book was about a nude scene planned for Fury Road. If George Miller had his way, the film would have included yet another nude scene from Hardy.  Originally, in the scene near the beginning of the film, the scene in which Nux is suctioning off some of Max's blood, Max was supposed to be hanging upside down, fully naked.  The camera was going to pan in from behind to reveal a naked butt that would be revealed as Max. 

That changed however, after Hardy arrive on the Fury Road set for the first time.  When Tom first showed up, he quickly noticed how all of his male co-stars playing the War Boys were so fit and ripped.  Hardy began to fixate on the fact that although he had worked out to prepare for the role, he hadn't lost as much weight as all the others and his mind, didn't look as good.  

Frustrated that he wasn't as ripped as the guys he was sharing the screen with, it was decided to keep Max's clothes on.  Although fully dressed throughout the film, Hardy still looked incredible and strong in the role.  Maybe...we'll still get to see a naked Max in the upcoming Miller directed Mad Max project...

Actors & SKIN: Tom Hardy (2001-2006)

Tom Hardy: Actors & SKIN

Band of Brothers (2001)

The story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.

Colditz (2005)

While WWII Allied officer Jack Rose is held prisoner in Germany's notorious Colditz Castle, he recruits a band of fellow escape artists in the ultimate break-out only to discover that the greatest betrayal awaits him on safe ground.

Scenes Of A Sexual Nature (2006)

Sex and love. Some seek it, some need it, some spurn it, and some pay for it, but we're all involved in it. Set on one afternoon on Hampstead Heath, London, this movie investigates the minutiae of seven couples. What makes us tick?

Actors & SKIN: Tom Hardy (2007-2011)

Tom Hardy: Actors & SKIN (Part 2)

Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother (2011)

Dan's decision to run away and join the French Foreign Legion has far reaching implications for his younger brother, Keith.

Bronson (2008)

'A young man who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter-ego, Charles Bronson'

Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)

'A writer takes a backwards look at the life of his unlikely friend, Stuart, a homeless alcoholic who experienced a traumatic childhood event.'