Top 10 Tom Hardy Performances

There aren’t that many gay characters in the crime film genre, a few notable exceptions aside of course, and we sincerely hope that those behind that genre see this film and see what an oversight it is in cinema history. Playing a closeted man with a crush on the leader of the group of criminals he works with, Tom Hardy is Handsome Bob in this British comedy crime flick. This member of the Wild Bunch uses his looks, strength and smarts to get whatever he wants, including a spot on this list.

Brought into this BBC Two crime drama in its second series, Tom instantly upped the ante on this already acclaimed show, which is anchored by respected actors Cillian Murphy and Sam Neill. As an unpredictable and violent rival mobster whose demeanor intimidates everyone around him and has audiences chomping at the bit to see him kick some serious ass, Alfie Solomons is entirely awesome to observe. With Mr. Hardy on board, we just couldn’t wait for each new episode of “Peaky Blinders” to drop.

As a bartender at a bar that’s used as a drop for Chechen mobsters, Bob shows up every day to work and takes the world of crime and randomness around him in stride. Despite the fact that the themes of this crime drama may not be the most original and there are many other films that have tackled similar content, it is largely the talents of actors like Tom Hardy that served to separate “The Drop” from its competitors.

There are few actors who don’t sing under the guidance of Christopher Nolan, but there are even fewer that manage to overshadow actors of the caliber of Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. When this sci-fi thriller was released, Tom Hardy was a name that a lot of people had never heard - and though another role as a prisoner we may discuss later earned him a lot of praise - this was the film that really got him a lot of notice.

One of three brothers who are running a successful moonshine business, Forrest may not have been intended as the lead, but his story is the one we care the most about in this crime drama. Playing a man who survives his throat being cut deep, it takes an actor of incredible strength both physically and emotionally to make audiences buy into a myth of that grandeur. Every moment of this film in which he doesn’t appear may be well crafted and entertaining, but it suffers at least a little bit from his absence.

It may have been Gary Oldman that took home the lion’s share of the praise from critics, but this espionage flick also served as yet more proof that Tom Hardy is a force to reckon with in the acting world. As a field agent who set the movie’s plot in action by informing his superiors of a possible mole inside British Intelligence, he doesn’t need much screen time to be remembered fondly, as he does the job so effectively in the time he’s given.

Casting a truly fearsome shadow, Tommy is an MMA fighter who walks in and out of a bout and just so happens to utterly destroy his opponent in between. Not taking any solace or delight in coming out on top of his fights, he seems most of all to be fighting himself and his family at every turn. Tommy may be a fictional character, but you never for a second think you’re watching an actor, which may be the greatest compliment of them all.

Told in real time and almost entirely shot directly in the face of Mr. Hardy, this drama offers little reprieve from his acting skills – but luckily, we don’t want one. A man whose career and personal life are simultaneously being decimated by a massive mistake, Ivan Locke’s priorities are clear, as is his desire to do what’s right after doing something he never envisioned he’d do. There are few actors who have ever attempted to perform under such microscopic examination and that have not wilted under the pressure, and this speaks to Hardy’s ample skills.

Casting an actor who is known for being tough, as a character who was so tough and feared that he spent almost his entire adult life in prison under solitary confinement seemed like a no brainer. While other tough guy actors would have turned the already over the top script into a cartoonish and goofy role, in this case, we got treated to a relatable maniac we hope we never meet in a dark alley. Even the real-life Bronson appreciated Hardy’s portrayal of him!

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Clarkie
“Layer Cake” (2004)
- Praetor Shinzon
“Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002)
- Freddie Jackson
“The Take” (2009)

The man who broke the bat’s back, Bane is a brutal man who envisions himself as the hero of the story, but also relishes the opportunity to wreak havoc on the people of Gotham. While he seems to be a cookie cutter villain, he is actually anything but. Entirely committed to the role, Tom packed on pound after pound of muscle and any comparison to other roles on this list are foolhardy. After seeing him take on this military revolutionary from the comic book world, there is virtually no role we wouldn’t have confidence in him trying his hand at.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Tom Hardy performance? For more acting Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.