#fabulousTomHardy
I think what blew me away about Tom Hardy was the way that he can kind of go in and out of it. He obviously created this really interesting, complex, unique character that I think nobody else would’ve ever arrived at where he arrived at. It was so fleshed out and great. But I felt that way about so many of the actors in the movie. They were all so impressive. But what’s amazing about Hardy is his ability to go in and out of it and be Hardy one second and then be this completely unique fleshed out character the next.
- Dane DeHaan about working with Tom Hardy on Lawless
![There is no shortage of talent in this film. What can you tell us about the cast and what they brought to the table to bring the whole thing to life?
That is a big question! I was totally thrilled with the cast that we got and each of them brought something very special. With Mia [Wasikowska], in addition to being a great actress has a wonderful face of that time and world of a secluded religious community of the South — there is a real innocence there. Shia LaBeouf was the first one aboard. He was so brimming and enthusiastic. Much like the character, he wanted everything at once and couldn’t sit still! There was that quality in the character of Jack that I think translated really well. Jessica [Chastain] and Tom [Hardy] have this beautiful complicated relationship, like they are two damaged souls coming together. They are so brilliant at exploring their vulnerable sides. Jason Clarke has a real physicality to everything he does, whereas Tom had a very distilled manner. There were points where he wouldn’t say and do anything for so long. We all looked at each other and realized that he brought this incredible distillation into the process. He also brought the idea of the matriarch and ran with in an audacious way. It was brilliant, the idea of this mother hen protecting the coop. Dane Dehaan had such a superb, youthful innocence and vulnerability that was quite heartbreaking. Gary [Oldman] and Guy [Pearce] had the courage to really let loose with this and do things they had never done before. Guy works from the outside in, so the outrageous choices of dress and hair started to come forward from Guy very early on. Of course, Gary is the ultimate chameleon. Together, they personified the outrageousness of Chicago in that era, the larger than life Jimmy Cagney types. We had a terrific cast and I could go on and on. All of these people were quite impressive. They are from all around the world and came together to form a very close-knit, small community for the film. That was quite an impressive feat.
- John Hillcoat on the flawless cast of Lawless](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_melyw1m9x61qe5f96o1_250.jpg)
There is no shortage of talent in this film. What can you tell us about the cast and what they brought to the table to bring the whole thing to life?
That is a big question! I was totally thrilled with the cast that we got and each of them brought something very special. With Mia [Wasikowska], in addition to being a great actress has a wonderful face of that time and world of a secluded religious community of the South — there is a real innocence there. Shia LaBeouf was the first one aboard. He was so brimming and enthusiastic. Much like the character, he wanted everything at once and couldn’t sit still! There was that quality in the character of Jack that I think translated really well. Jessica [Chastain] and Tom [Hardy] have this beautiful complicated relationship, like they are two damaged souls coming together. They are so brilliant at exploring their vulnerable sides. Jason Clarke has a real physicality to everything he does, whereas Tom had a very distilled manner. There were points where he wouldn’t say and do anything for so long. We all looked at each other and realized that he brought this incredible distillation into the process. He also brought the idea of the matriarch and ran with in an audacious way. It was brilliant, the idea of this mother hen protecting the coop. Dane Dehaan had such a superb, youthful innocence and vulnerability that was quite heartbreaking. Gary [Oldman] and Guy [Pearce] had the courage to really let loose with this and do things they had never done before. Guy works from the outside in, so the outrageous choices of dress and hair started to come forward from Guy very early on. Of course, Gary is the ultimate chameleon. Together, they personified the outrageousness of Chicago in that era, the larger than life Jimmy Cagney types. We had a terrific cast and I could go on and on. All of these people were quite impressive. They are from all around the world and came together to form a very close-knit, small community for the film. That was quite an impressive feat.
- John Hillcoat on the flawless cast of Lawless
The two sides of Forrest // via Lawless UK
Them Bondurant brothers // Shia, Tom and Jason on the set of Lawless
The Lawless Gang in Cannes // Tom Hardy with Mia Wasikowska, Guy Pearce and Jason Clarke
Photos by Nick Cave
![“Why didn’t they just drink their aftershave? That’s what I used to do. That’s why I always smelled so good.
“There was no Betty Ford clinic out there, so you just stayed drunk. Actually Bill W [Wilson - founder of AA] did start up around that time. AA started up at some point, shortly thereafter. But I probably wouldn’t be in rehab, I’d end up tarred and feathered somewhere. It would have been rubbish for me.”
- Tom Hardy on what his life would be like in prohibition times](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdf4ouAnTi1qe5f96o1_250.jpg)
“Why didn’t they just drink their aftershave? That’s what I used to do. That’s why I always smelled so good.
“There was no Betty Ford clinic out there, so you just stayed drunk. Actually Bill W [Wilson - founder of AA] did start up around that time. AA started up at some point, shortly thereafter. But I probably wouldn’t be in rehab, I’d end up tarred and feathered somewhere. It would have been rubbish for me.”
- Tom Hardy on what his life would be like in prohibition times
fabulous profiles & one gaze
Tom Hardy as Forrest Bondurant with make up by Ken Diaz
Topman GENERATION: What was the most important thing you wanted to convey in your performance?
What I care about is the character – whether you identify him, whether you like him and whether he can get away with doing some heinous stuff and you can still feel for him. Would you want to sit in a room with a man like knowing he has cut a man’s testicles off? Everybody should be taking care of their role, that’s why this film is so exciting – to be part of an ensemble like that.
Do you think that having a largely international cast and crew influenced the tone of the picture?
We’re just acting and telling a story and it’s meant to be fun, but it’s not easy to make a film. I think the international cast and crew does influence it because there’s a perspective that comes with that. But I think we all wanted the same thing – to do good work and make the film as successful as possible.
What moments in the making of the film are you particularly proud of?
My proudest moment was when we got to Cannes, to be honest. The camera was panning along all of our faces and I remember thinking I’d just try to avoid it. I thought, ‘Well, I’m just going to be pragmatic. This is all far too overwhelming. I’ll just pretend to be security and get people to their cars…’ Then when I saw the camera get to John’s face and I saw him well-up, I saw the relief and the release of something in my friend and I realised how big a moment that actually was for him, and for me.I allowed myself some pride and then I quickly put it away because I’ve got a feeling that God will go: ‘That’s mine! You’re the wrong Tom Hardy!’ And despatch me into the blackness!
“I’m a Bondurant. We don’t lay down for nobody.” ~ Tom Hardy as Forrest Bondurant in Lawless (2012)
![GQ: So it was surprising to learn that Tom Hardy apparently decided to play his character as if he was an “old lesbian”. Was that something you envisioned?
Nick Cave: Yes, in fact I thought all the characters were all old lesbians. [Laughs] No, he had a habit of coming up to you during rehearsals and whispering in your ear: “I’m going to play it like an old lesbian.” Then he’d walk off and you’d be left there going: “Did he just say ‘old lesbian’?” At first we didn’t know if he would be the best possible actor or the worst possible actor for the part because of all these ideas he had, but it became very clear that he had the long game in mind. He knew his character really well and he knew how effective it would be. He wanted scenes put in where he was darning socks, sitting on the porch knitting, all that sort of thing…
// Nick Cave GQ.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9zc9umCfU1qde7iyo1_250.jpg)
GQ: So it was surprising to learn that Tom Hardy apparently decided to play his character as if he was an “old lesbian”. Was that something you envisioned?
Nick Cave: Yes, in fact I thought all the characters were all old lesbians. [Laughs] No, he had a habit of coming up to you during rehearsals and whispering in your ear: “I’m going to play it like an old lesbian.” Then he’d walk off and you’d be left there going: “Did he just say ‘old lesbian’?” At first we didn’t know if he would be the best possible actor or the worst possible actor for the part because of all these ideas he had, but it became very clear that he had the long game in mind. He knew his character really well and he knew how effective it would be. He wanted scenes put in where he was darning socks, sitting on the porch knitting, all that sort of thing…
