If you're like most people, Tom Hardy appeared on your radar right around the same time that he started bulking up for roles in Bronson, Warrior, Inception and, most famously, The Dark Knight Rises. He may have been more or less intelligible with the Bane mask, but his screen presence was undeniable. Before he got his big break, he was developing quite a career as a thespian. He attended the prestigious Drama Centre in London until 2001, when he was cast in Band of Brothers. In 2004, he was nominated for a Lawrence Olivier Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer, for his performance in "In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings." But what really cemented his place on this list was his harrowing interpretation of the tormented Heathcliff in 2009's adaptation of Wuthering Heights. He brought such a raw intensity to the role that made Heathcliff feel new, like it hasn't been performed by a dozen different actors over the years. And hey, he must have been doing something right -- he's currently engaged to Charlotte Riley, the actress who played his Cathy. Up next for Hardy is the highly anticipated Mad Max: Fury Road, where he stars alongside Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult, set to hit theatres summer 2015.