Advertisement
In a revealing new cover story for Esquire magazine, actor Tom Hardy opened up about his recent health challenges, physical wear and tear, and quirky habits — all while accompanied by his beloved French bulldog, Blue.
The Venom and Havoc star didn’t hold back when discussing the toll years of physically demanding roles and jiu-jitsu training have taken on his body. “I’ve had two knee surgeries now, my disc’s herniated in my back, I’ve got sciatica,” Hardy shared. He also revealed a new diagnosis: Plantar fasciitis, a painful condition involving foot inflammation. “Where did that come from? And why? Why?!” he exclaimed.
The 47-year-old actor admitted he recently pulled a tendon in his hip and summed up his current state with blunt honesty: “It’s all falling to bits now, and it’s not going to get better.” Known for doing his own stunts and staying active in martial arts, Hardy now finds himself grappling with the long-term effects of that physical intensity.
In typical Tom Hardy fashion, he managed to lighten the mood with dark humor. Mid-interview, the Peaky Blinders actor paused to vape, then dryly observed, “The biopsy of where we’re at: two vapes, somebody else’s clothes, and a hotel room that neither of us feels comfortable in.”
He went on to list more bodily complaints — thinning hair, weakened teeth and knees, and dizziness brought on by cold medicine like Sudafed. When speaking to Hits Radio UK’s Will Best, Hardy even joked about his hair. “You’ve got your own hair and everything,” Best said. Hardy replied, “I’ve got someone else’s,” alluding to rumors that he wears hairpieces.
His eccentricities extend to the film set as well. While shooting Venom 3 in New York, The Sun reported that Hardy had a trailer stocked with 27 specific items, ranging from an IV drip and Molton Brown peppercorn shower gel to 60 strawberry ice cream-flavored vapes and M&S low-alcohol Czech lager. A lavender diffuser, reportedly used to keep him calm, was also part of his carefully curated on-set oasis.
Despite the humor and the headline-making quirks, Hardy’s openness about aging, pain, and identity reflects a deeper vulnerability — one not often shown in the spotlight. As his body slows down, the actor’s self-awareness seems sharper than ever.