Tom Hardy: 10 Roles That Passed You By

Bringing Star Trek into the 21st century, Nemesis seemed to have everything going for it: written by Gladiator scribe and avid Trekkie John Logan, it co-stared Nina Meyer and Ron Perlman, and had a fresh perspective from newbie director Stuart Baird. The film that emerged however, never managed to deliver what it promised. Left alone by a general audience, it remains memorable to hardcore fans mostly for all the wrong reasons. 

One highlight which almost all agree on however, is Tom Hardy's performance as primary antagonist, Shinzon. A clone of Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard, it was up to Hardy to produce a character that mirrored Patrick Stewart's noble hero (complete with prosthetic nose and chin), yet still be believable as a sadistic military leader. 

Despite such a central role so early in his career, it is easy to see why Hardy was chosen for such a complex character. Aspects of his personality change to suit who he interacts with, but always as a skilled manipulator rather than an incoherent mess. Needless to say it is his scenes with Stewart where he shines, but his relationship with Perlman's Viceroy is also one that also begs to be expanded upon. It was hardly the blockbuster many expected, but later roles, Bane in particular, would not have been the same without Hardy's experience as Shinzon leading the way.