Tom Hardy is a genuine curiosity. On one hand, he's like a young Gary Oldman, eager to prove his worth though an endlessly eclectic mix of roles, many of which employ the use of a foreign accent - American, Australian, Eastern European; you name it, he'll have a go. Indeed, Hardy has even cited Oldman as a huge influence and "the greatest actor who ever lived," and it does seem like he's actively trying to carve out a similarly-minded filmography. On the other hand, there's the Tom Hardy who chooses those really bizarre roles that have you scratching your head and saying things like: "Why on earth did he agree to do this?" - roles that someone like Oldman, risk-taker that he is (or was, perhaps), would never have signed on for in his prime. And then there are those unforgettable acting performances from the early years - the kind that most famous actors never, ever want you to see. And yet Tom Hardy is certainly one of the finest actors of his generation. A strange actor, for sure, but capable of delivering a truly astounding performances when he wants to. His latest performance in Mad Mad: Fury Road is another weird one, but weird in the sense that it's kind of brilliant. Sadly not all Tom Hardy roles have managed to be this good. Hardy admits to taking himself super seriously as an actor; as a result, here are 8 embarrassing roles from across the span of his career that he likely wants forgotten..
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
