Tom Hardy Calls Out Method Madness: “I’d Love to Go Up Against Fassbender on Stage”

Tom Hardy, one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, has built a career defined by an array of powerful roles in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, and Venom. Despite his success, Hardy doesn’t immediately come to mind when discussing the biggest names in Hollywood, but his impressive filmography speaks for itself. However, in a recent interview with Daily Actor, Hardy shared his mixed feelings on method acting—a technique that has often been the subject of debate in the acting world—and his relationship with his fellow Drama Centre London alum, Michael Fassbender.

Hardy reflected on their time together at the Drama Centre, a prestigious school known for producing high-profile actors like Colin Firth, Simon Callow, and Dame Penelope Wilton. He recalled his memories of Fassbender, who was already an established star at the time. “Mikey Fassbender, he was in the third year, and he was, like, the shit,” Hardy said with a laugh. He humorously recalled a memory of Fassbender holding up the lunch queue in the school canteen due to the fact that he was staying in character, even using a wheelchair for a role. Hardy’s respect for Fassbender is clear, but he also admitted that he’d love to challenge him on stage. “I’d love to go up against him on stage,” Hardy said, emphasizing his admiration and competitive spirit.

Despite his respect for Fassbender’s dedication to method acting, Hardy is clear that it’s not a technique he embraces himself. Method acting, a controversial approach to character immersion, has produced some of the most iconic performances in cinema, such as Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot and Robert De Niro in Raging Bull. However, when taken too far, it has the potential to harm an actor’s career and personal life. While Hardy doesn’t entirely reject the method, he has expressed his discomfort with its more extreme applications, having once compared his own schooling to the intensity seen in Whiplash. “The guy that trained me, they based Hannibal Lecter on him,” Hardy said, highlighting the rigor and, at times, the toxic intensity of his training.

Though Hardy has often been compared to Marlon Brando, one of the most well-known method actors, he doesn’t identify as a method actor himself. His approach to the craft is more grounded in natural instincts rather than the deep immersion of method acting. Fassbender, on the other hand, has dialed back some of his more extreme method practices since their school days, showcasing how two actors from the same school can develop such differing approaches to their craft.

Hardy’s candid reflection on his time with Fassbender and his own thoughts on method acting offers a glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s most intriguing and self-aware actors. His journey has been shaped by both his rigorous training and the desire to continually evolve as a performer. Whether or not Hardy embraces method acting, one thing is clear: his diverse body of work continues to speak volumes about his incredible talent.