Tom Hiddleston looks like the sort of bloke who should be discussing Shakespeare over afternoon tea rather than trying to conquer Earth with a magic stick. With his Eton education, Cambridge degree and voice smooth enough to narrate your sat nav, you'd expect him to spend his days in period dramas wearing waistcoats. Instead, he somehow became one of the most beloved villains in modern cinema by playing a jealous Norse god with daddy issues and a serious fondness for green leather.
For millions of fans, he simply is Loki. Mind you, that was never really the plan. When he first appeared in Thor, the character was supposed to be a fairly straightforward villain. Tom had other ideas. He turned Loki into something far more interesting – funny, tragic, charming and just unpredictable enough that you never quite knew whether he was about to save the day or stab somebody in the back. Probably both.
And fair play, because Marvel audiences absolutely lapped it up. What started as a supporting role ended up growing into one of the most important characters in the entire franchise. Not many villains get cheered louder than the heroes, but Tom managed it.
Outside of Marvel, he's spent years proving he's far more than the bloke with the horns. He battled giant apes in Kong: Skull Island, played a deeply odd doctor in High-Rise, and looked ridiculously cool in sharp suits as Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager. Honestly, if they ever make being effortlessly sophisticated an Olympic sport, Hiddleston's bringing home gold.
These days, he's just as happy treading the boards as he is walking red carpets. Whether it's Shakespeare, Stephen King or superheroes, he throws himself into everything with the enthusiasm of a man who genuinely loves acting. Which is probably why audiences love him right back.
• The Thor Audition: Tom originally auditioned to play Thor, spending months bulking up and swinging a hammer around. Kenneth Branagh quickly realised he wasn't built like a Norse fridge, but his sharp wit and mischievous energy made him perfect for Loki.
• Going Full Country: For I Saw the Light, Tom moved to Tennessee and immersed himself in country music to play Hank Williams. He even altered his sleeping habits to capture the singer's exhausted voice. That's dedication, although most of us struggle just getting up for work on a Monday.
• The Walking Shakespeare Encyclopedia: During Kong: Skull Island, Brie Larson discovered Tom could practically recite Shakespeare in his sleep. She'd randomly throw out lines from obscure plays and he'd immediately answer with the next line and tell her exactly where it came from. Which is either incredibly impressive or slightly terrifying.
Tom Hiddleston is proof that being ridiculously posh doesn't stop you from being ridiculously entertaining. He brings a bit of class to everything he touches, whether he's causing chaos across the multiverse or wandering around in a tailored suit looking like he belongs on the front of GQ. And let's be honest, cinema is a lot more fun when Tom Hiddleston is plotting something.
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