Watch: Tom Hiddleston talks about doing battle with 'The Avengers'
Loki digs deep into the psychology of his character in this summer's megamovie
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It was during a set visit for the movie "Thor" that I met Tom Hiddleston for the first time.
He was in full costume as Loki at the time, and he was happy to be talking to reporters about his part in the film as Thor's brother and the instigator of much trouble. As with any Marvel visit, we were being carefully supervised the entire time by the film's producers, who were working hard to make sure no real secrets were revealed to us.
There was a mishap earlier in the day with video playback that meant we accidentally saw the first 1/3 of the film played back in high speed as a collection of footage, animatics, and artwork, and so I think people were even more on edge than normal. As we interviewed Hiddleston, Feige had to take a few steps away to take a phone call, and so we pressed our advantage as a group.
"Yes, one of them," he replied, smile still on his face, and Feige's head whipped around like he was Linda Blair in "The Exorcist." He came hurrying over, pulled Hiddleston aside, and whispered something to him for a moment. When Hiddleston rejoined us, his smile was a little more sheepish. "Maybe I'm not," he continued, getting a good laugh out of all of us.
Now, Hiddleston's finally able to discuss his role in the film and his place in the larger Marvel universe, and he's a great conversation. He takes this material seriously, and he's happy to dig deep into it when discussing both the text and the subtext.
One of the things I've enjoyed watching is the way ladies react to Hiddleston. At the press day, there was much swooning in the halls outside his room, more than I witnessed for any of the superheroes. Seriously, there was another room where you had Thor and Captain America together, and I didn't see any of the reactions I did for Hiddleston.
Ladies love the bad guys, and after "The Avengers" finally hits American theaters, my guess is that phenomenon will continue unabated.
"The Avengers" opens Friday in the US.
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May 2, 2012 at 10:28AM EST Reply to Comment'One of the things I've enjoyed watching is the way ladies react to Hiddleston. At the press day, there was much swooning in the halls outside his room, more than I witnessed for any of the superheroes. Seriously, there was another room where you had Thor and Captain America together, and I didn't see any of the reactions I did for Hiddleston.'
You should search "Tom Hiddleston" on Tumblr. It's insane. I mean he's not ugly, but he's not conventionally handsome either. I think that scene in THOR where he confronts Odin after finding out he's adopted really struck a nerve.
ray That's a smart observation.
May 2, 2012 at 1:14PM ESTJG I think women are predisposed to want to save the (almost) bad guy. This desire is actually good for society, though it probably drives a lot of good guys nuts. But, while we only hear of the failures of this aspect of women's psyche, you almost never hear of the times it actually works.
May 2, 2012 at 4:39PM ESTMegalodon Villainous tendencies aside, I think there's a large percentage of women out there who simply like a guy who's clever and well-spoken. A guy who actually looks like his thoughts continue when he's not speaking. That's a very attractive quality. Then there are the women who just like pale guys with dark hair. (There's a lot of 'em.) And I'm sure the accent isn't hurting either.
May 2, 2012 at 6:33PM ESTJG @Megalodon - well I was commenting about the character not the person...but I will admit that while the Loki persona was intriguing, Tom Hiddleston has probably kept interest in the character alive by being such a charming and well spoken interview. And didn't Branagh say that about Tom that every has something for "free" and with Tom it's his intelligence? Meaning his ability to easily convey this on camera.
May 3, 2012 at 8:41AM ESTAndromeda I'm one of the Loki fangirls. There are a few reasons. 1)I find Loki's backstory very interesting. He's not one of your typical just-plain-insane villains. There are reasons why he is the way he is (betrayal over his adoption, jealousy of Thor's status as the preferred child, etc). 2) He (and Tom Hiddleston) both seem very intelligent. 3) Yes, I'll admit it, the looks and the accent. I love his deep voice. I prefer him with the dark hair, but either way is easy on the eyes.
May 7, 2012 at 12:15PM ESTA-i-W I'm also in the "team Loki", if I may say... My opnion is similar to Andromeda's. First of all, I think Loki's a great villain, the evil-but-smart guy and not only a big bully. His method is kind of “divide and rule”, which is not new, but still remains more interesting than just using the muscles. And he's a god, for himself's sake ! He has class, he's “civilized” in his own way, and Tom Hiddleston's RP-like accent fits really well in there. Compared to him, Thor sounds to me like a brute.
May 11, 2012 at 4:12PM ESTThe way he appears in the movie is also to his advantage : the superheroes are mostly in a group, the camera can therefore not remain focused more than a few seconds on any of them; while Loki is often alone, the attention is thus directed to him, or to his interlocutor, but not on five or six people at the same time. Plus, there's no better podium than that glass cage, is it ?
After that, there're also the multiple dimensions of the character. Since the heroes are mostly perceived as a group, there's no much room for individual psychology, the question you ask yourself (or at least that I asked myself) is rather : how will these giant egoes get to work successfully together? While Loki stands out as an individual; there's more time to observe him and wonder : why is he doing that ? And, having seen Thor, you know where all that comes from, you know how much suffering and frustration lies behind all that evilness. This personal tragedy creates a certain empathy for the character. At least, that's how it worked for me : In my disgust of what he did, deep down, I pitied him for what he had become. That is an aspect that is absent on the “good guys'” side (the whole point being putting the personal conflicts behind for the greater good).
And finally, I must say that Tom Hiddleston was greatly to my taste ! I like his green/blue eyes, his style and his voice. And he looks to have remained quite cool and humble despite all the buzz, which is always a plus !
Chainie Not ugly?? He's gorgeous! And since I am lucky to be attracted to the nice guy type (and am repulsed by the 'badguy' type) I can definitely tell you this is not a 'badboy' attraction, in fact quite the opposite.
May 15, 2012 at 1:15AM ESTWhether intentional or not, the casting was perfect. Loki is such a deep, damaged character and Tom Hiddleston is such an incredible actor that he takes Loki from this intoxicatingly beautiful smile (which couldn't possibly be evil) and seemingly gentle sweet nature (which makes you fall in love with Loki) to evil in 0.8 seconds (and back again) with both exhibits equally believable. I have never seen that convincingly done before. Even by the end of the 2nd movie in which he is mostly evil, there is this moment where he seems to show remorse right at the end, and again despite everything, you can't help but believe that too, and then nope... more evil (nooooo Loki noooo), and you believe that too! While every other character is struggling to out-ego each other (yawn), Loki is a sensitive, shades-of-grey character and although the script writers may not ever give it to me, I would dearly love to see Loki redeemed because when Hiddleston reveals Loki's sensitive, vulnerable, damaged side it is just mesmerizing. It's the emotion in his eyes, his presence, his walk, the way he carries himself, his voice, it all brings this incredible sensuality to the screen and without even a hint of self-awareness that he is so gobsmackingly stunning to look at. I'd love to see him in more movies, and I hope not as a pure 100% villain because one look into those eyes, just one flash of that smile or one sentence in that voice and as the audience, I believe whatever he wants me to. He's that good. I could watch a whole Loki movie if it was cast with Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
Fastbak Hey Chainie I like women who are unconventionally pretty too. Helen Mirren for example who even in her sixties still one of the sexiest women I've ever. I thought Hiddleston as Loki was good in THOR but even better in THE AVENGERS especially the moment you mention where it looks like Thor got through to him but was like "Psyche!" Also arguably everyone's favorite moment in the movie with the Hulk works all the more because the way Loki is being all superior, indignant and righteous before and afterwards the look on his face!
May 15, 2012 at 11:49AM ESTChainie @Fastbak: Really? - I had my hands over my eyes for that part at the cinema so I'll have to check that bit out on DVD ;-P. I just couldn't bear to see Loki get all smashed up - he has such lovely teeth... but no such reservations when Thor was kapowied by Hulk, that was plain hilarious. (I'm suddenly realising that I seem to have been rooting for the wrong side in that movie) but that's what you get for casting such a hot villain.
May 16, 2012 at 11:02PM ESTAre you sure that Tom Hiddleston is 'unconventionally' gorgeous??? I'm pretty sure he's just downright gorgeous. Maybe I need to...er... see more of him to be certain
;-o ... in other movies I mean... of course. [blush]