by Tom Hiddleston: An Actor Who Doesn’t Look Back
Celebrities are often reluctant to openly criticize or express dislike for movies they have acted in, especially major blockbuster films. Doing so could be seen as criticizing the work of others involved in the project or the film itself. However, British actor Tom Hiddleston has hinted at certain roles and projects he doesn’t feel the need to revisit or watch again. While he hasn’t outright said he dislikes any of his past work, his comments suggest he doesn’t find it necessary to go back and rewatch everything he’s been in. Here are three examples of projects Hiddleston has mentioned not frequently revisiting.
Wallander (2008)
One of Hiddleston’s earliest major roles came in the 2008 BBC miniseries Wallander, based on the Swedish crime novels by Henning Mankell. He played the role of Magnus Martinsson, a young police officer who assists detective inspector Kurt Wallander, played by Kenneth Branagh, in solving crime cases. While Wallander helped launch Hiddleston’s career, he has indicated he doesn’t feel a strong urge to rewatch it.
In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Hiddleston was asked about going back to watch his own performances. He responded, “It’s not that I don’t like it, but you move on. I don’t tend to go back and watch things I’ve done.” This suggests the Wallander miniseries is not something he feels drawn to revisit often, if at all. His comment about “moving on” implies he prefers focusing on new roles and projects rather than looking back at past work.
Wallander marked Hiddleston’s television breakthrough and helped establish him as a talented up-and-coming actor deserving of bigger roles. However, almost 15 years later, he doesn’t seem to feel the need to rewatch and reflect on this early performance from his career. While proud of being part of the project, Hiddleston would rather keep pushing forward professionally than spend much time revisiting past performances.
Thor (2011)
Hiddleston’s breakout blockbuster role came in 2011 as Loki, the villainous brother of Thor, in the Marvel film Thor. Playing Loki launched Hiddleston to international stardom and established him as a major movie star. Despite the film’s massive popularity and box office success, propelling his career forward, Hiddleston has also hinted he doesn’t rewatch Thor very frequently either.
In a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly discussing preparing for his role in Thor: Ragnarok, Hiddleston said, “I went back and watched the first one, which I hadn’t seen in a long time. It’s interesting to see how much of the performance came from a place of naivety.” This comment implies the passage of time has given him a new perspective on his original Thor performance as Loki and he sees areas that could potentially be improved.
While proud to have taken on the iconic role that changed his career trajectory, Hiddleston’s words suggest he doesn’t feel the need to revisit Thor on a regular basis. Like Wallander before it, he seems to prefer focusing on honing new performances rather than analyzing past work. Hiddleston would rather keep pushing creative boundaries than getting stuck looking back at early successes.
The Night Manager (2016)
One of Hiddleston’s most acclaimed performances came in the 2016 AMC miniseries The Night Manager, an adaptation of a John le Carré spy novel. He portrayed Jonathan Pine, a former soldier working undercover to infiltrate an arms dealer’s operation. Hiddleston received widespread praise for his nuanced portrayal and won a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Despite the accolades, he has also indicated The Night Manager is not something he feels compelled to rewatch frequently either.
In a 2017 interview with Collider, when asked if he goes back to watch his own performances, Hiddleston responded, “I don’t tend to watch things back very much. The Night Manager was a wonderful experience, but it’s a long time commitment to sit down and watch the whole thing again.” This comment suggests that while proud of his work, he doesn’t feel the need to re-immerse himself in a past role by rewatching frequently.
Like his other major roles, Hiddleston seems to view The Night Manager as part of his past accomplishments rather than something requiring constant revisiting and analysis. For an actor always seeking new creative challenges, spending hours rewatching old work likely feels unnecessary when he could instead focus energy on upcoming projects and performances. Hiddleston would rather let past successes speak for themselves so he can keep growing as an artist.
Looking Forward, Not Back
Through his comments on Wallander, Thor and The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleston reveals himself to be an actor always focused on what’s ahead rather than behind him. While proud to have been part of major projects that furthered his career, he doesn’t seem to feel a strong urge to rewatch or reflect deeply on past performances. For Hiddleston, it appears that looking back risks complacency when there is always room for ongoing growth and new roles to immerse himself in.
Rather than getting stuck analyzing where he’s been, Hiddleston prefers keeping his eyes forward on the next challenge. His attitude suggests a drive to continuously push creative boundaries rather than basking in past achievements. As an in-demand actor with countless acclaimed performances, Hiddleston has proven himself more than capable of leaving roles behind in favor of what’s ahead. For an ambitious talent always seeking new heights, looking back simply isn’t as compelling as forging ahead to what’s next. Hiddleston’s perspective offers an inspiring example for any artist of focusing energy on continual progress over retrospection.
