Tom Hiddleston Reveals the ‘Great Piece of Screen Acting’ That Left Robert De Niro Speechless

Tom Hiddleston may forever be linked with his iconic portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his career tells the story of an actor with incredible range and classical pedigree. With a resume spanning Golden Globe-winning performances in The Night Manager, stage triumphs like Cymbeline, and standout roles in films like Midnight in Paris and I Saw the Light, Hiddleston has long proven he’s far more than just a trickster god.

Yet when it comes to naming the scene he considers one of the “great pieces of screen acting,” Hiddleston doesn’t cite any of his own work—or even anything within the MCU. Instead, he points to a defining moment in Michael Mann’s legendary 1995 crime thriller Heat: the riveting coffee shop face-off between Robert De Niro’s Neil McCauley and Al Pacino’s Vincent Hanna.

Hiddleston’s admiration runs so deep that he keeps a giant canvas of the iconic scene hanging in his home, along with another Heat poster proudly displayed in his library. Fascinated by the electric interplay between De Niro and Pacino, Hiddleston even memorized the entire conversation, honing his impressions of both titans in private.

That fandom collided with reality in spectacular fashion when Hiddleston found himself face-to-face with De Niro on The Graham Norton Show. Encouraged by the setting—and perhaps by a spark of mischief worthy of Loki himself—Hiddleston launched into a live reenactment of Heat’s most famous scene, right in front of one of its original stars.

A risky move? Absolutely. De Niro has famously been unpredictable about impersonations of his work. But instead of scorn, Hiddleston’s daring tribute earned applause—from both De Niro and the audience. “No, I kind of enjoy it,” De Niro said, smiling. “Especially if they do it well, it’s great.” Fortunately for Hiddleston, his performance hit the mark.

As director Michael Mann continues developing a film adaptation of his sequel novel Heat 2, it’s unlikely Hiddleston will be stepping into young McCauley or Hanna’s shoes. Still, given his evident passion and skill, perhaps Mann should keep the actor on speed dial—if not for a starring role, then at least for some masterful voice work.

In a career filled with bold choices, Hiddleston’s fearless homage to Heat may be one of his most delightful—and a reminder of how reverence for great art can inspire new greatness in unexpected ways.