TOM HARDY

The Spitfire rises…

Three films in with Christopher Nolan, would you just say yes to anything he offers you now?

It’s always been that way with Chris, yes. For me, it’s wonderful to meet someone who is completely in control of the elements and assets that he has available to him. He has a specific confidence that I’ve not met in another filmmaker, really. Akin to George Miller, actually. Iñárritu did as well, actually. They’re very specific about what they want. But Chris, the most so, out of everyone I’ve ever worked with. So yeah, it’s a no-brainer if he says, “Tom, do you want to jump on this option?” Whatever he wants to do. Even if he wants to shoot a short film in his garden, I know it’s going to be good and I’ll learn something.

You play RAF pilot Farrier. Is this another role – like The Dark Knight

Rises’ Bane – where you’ll have your mouth covered by a mask?

It’s pretty standard, yes. It’s in the contract with Chris that I have to wear something on my face. It’s a bit like Cillian Murphy has to wear a sack on his head. [Dunkirk’s] the first time he hasn’t worn a bag on his head. But now I’ve got the mask back, and the sheepskin. Good times.

What should we expect from Nolan’s take on a war film?

Do you know, I wouldn’t know, and I haven’t seen the movie yet. Again, it’s one of those things with Chris – everything is under a tarpaulin: it’ll be unveiled when he wants it to be unveiled. But there’s always a really specific Nolan style to absolutely anything he does. I couldn’t tell you what to expect from him from this movie. I think that’s part of the magic of his – in inverted commas – ‘brand’.

Were there any comparisons between

Dunkirk and Mad Max: Fury Road, what with all the full-on, in-camera stunts?

[ Both directors are] trying to create artifice from as much reality as possible; from building live sets and building live-action events. Because it’s more palpable when you watch it. You go, “Wow, that actually genuinely feels like it’s happening.” And obviously, no one has to act! When you’re being thrown off a vehicle, it’s just what it is, isn’t it? “Wow, we’ve captured magic. A little lightning in a bottle. An authentic ‘shit myself’ moment there.” [ laughs] Yeah, no acting required. Brilliant.

What’s up next for you?

It’s absolutely quiet at the moment. I’m just taking some downtime, and I’m sieving through some options, and looking for something to do. I’m not in a massive rush to go back to work, actually, to be fair. I think Taboo, for me, was a really big thing, and I really enjoyed that side of the work and the business and the story [ Hardy co-created and produced the 2017 TV series as well as starring]. So I’m going into a little bit of hibernation to decide what to do next. I don’t have anything on the horizon apart from Dunkirk, obviously. And I’ve got to write the new season of Taboo. And then there’s Fonzo –[ playing] Al Capone, with Josh Trank – which is coming up at the end of the year. Yeah, everything I was doing has sort of fallen apart until October, and I’ve been left with this clear sky. MM