Top 10 Coolest Things About Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston has built a career that swings confidently between myth-sized blockbusters and literate, character-driven dramas, moving from Shakespeare to superheroes without missing a beat. Below are ten standout moments and roles that show how wide his range really is, with film and TV projects first and foremost.

‘Thor’ (2011) – Auditioned for Thor, cast as Loki, and reshaped the character

Hiddleston originally tested for the role of Thor but was ultimately cast as Loki after filmmakers saw his fit for the god of mischief. His Loki blends razor-sharp wit with classical villainy, grounded in a complex family dynamic with Thor and Odin. The part drew on his stage background, especially his facility with Shakespearean themes like rivalry and identity. The performance instantly established Loki as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most magnetic characters.

‘The Avengers’ (2012) – Became the MCU’s first crossover big bad

As Loki, Hiddleston served as the central antagonist who forced Earth’s mightiest heroes to assemble. He carried the story’s connective tissue, linking the Tesseract, Chitauri forces, and Thanos’s larger designs. His scenes opposite the full team—particularly the confrontations with Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff—cemented the character’s franchise-wide importance. The role proved he could anchor a global blockbuster’s stakes and scale.

‘Loki’ (2021–2023) – Headlined the time-bending series that expanded the multiverse

Hiddleston returned to lead his own series, following a variant Loki captured by the Time Variance Authority. The show introduced key elements like the TVA, pruning, and branching timelines, while pairing Loki with Mobius M. Mobius and Sylvie. It gave the character a full arc, exploring identity, agency, and redemption across alternate realities. As a franchise pivot, it set the groundwork for multiverse stories across later projects.

‘The Night Manager’ (2016) – Earned major awards recognition with a sleek spy turn

In this John le Carré adaptation, Hiddleston played Jonathan Pine, a hotelier drawn into an undercover operation against an arms dealer. He balanced calm professionalism with mounting moral pressure, working opposite Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman. The series’ global settings and tightly wound plotting showcased his command of contemporary espionage drama. His performance won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series.

‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ (2013) – Reimagined the vampire as a world-weary musician

Teaming with director Jim Jarmusch, Hiddleston portrayed Adam, a reclusive artist navigating love, culture, and time with Tilda Swinton’s Eve. The film emphasized mood, music, and intellectual in-jokes, giving him space to play a subtle, melancholic lead. His guitar-strapped, nocturnal presence contrasted sharply with his blockbuster image. It remains a key example of his commitment to auteur-driven, offbeat cinema.

‘The Hollow Crown’ (2012–2016) – Brought Shakespeare’s Henriad to mainstream television

Hiddleston took on Prince Hal and later King Henry V in the BBC’s prestigious history-play cycle. The production presented the political coming-of-age story across multiple plays, pairing him with veteran stage and screen actors. He delivered the rhetorical firepower of major speeches while tracking Hal’s evolution from wayward heir to war leader. The series underlined his classical training and facility with verse.

‘Kong: Skull Island’ (2017) – Stepped into the MonsterVerse as an action lead

As tracker James Conrad, Hiddleston led an ensemble into uncharted territory populated by Kong and other apex predators. The role demanded stunt work, large-scale set-pieces, and steady command amid chaos. It connected him to Legendary’s broader MonsterVerse continuity through the organization Monarch. The film broadened his action credentials beyond superhero storytelling.

‘Crimson Peak’ (2015) – Delivered gothic romance with Guillermo del Toro

Hiddleston played Thomas Sharpe, whose grand, decaying mansion hides deadly secrets alongside his sister, portrayed by Jessica Chastain. The film blended romance, mystery, and supernatural elements with lavish production design and practical effects. His performance threads charm with moral ambiguity, key to the story’s slow-burn revelations. The collaboration showcased his fit for richly stylized genre filmmaking.

‘War Horse’ (2011) – Marked an early collaboration with Steven Spielberg

Portraying Captain Nicholls, Hiddleston appeared in a large-scale wartime drama told through the journey of a remarkable horse. His character provided a compassionate anchor during the story’s first act. The project moved him from British television and stage acclaim into event-level Hollywood filmmaking. It also highlighted his ease in period costume drama on an epic canvas.

‘Midnight in Paris’ (2011) – Slipped into literary history as F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this time-hopping ensemble, Hiddleston depicted the famed American novelist with a mix of charm and creative restlessness. Sharing scenes with Alison Pill’s Zelda Fitzgerald, he helped bring the Jazz Age circle to life. The role, though brief, demonstrated his range in stylized, dialogue-driven storytelling. It added a distinct literary figure to his growing roster of historical and genre characters.

Share your favorite Hiddleston role in the comments—what did we miss, and which performance do you love most?