Tom’s idol pursuit of Kong is a big thrill
TOM Hiddleston admits he was thrilled to star opposite one of his oldest idols – King Kong.
But what does Tom make of monsters in real life? Is he a Nessie believer?
“I think the reason those myths exist is that human beings enjoy feeling there are mysteries that we don’t fully understand,” he said.
“I’m a great admirer of nature documentaries, like those presented by David Attenborough.
“I always learn something new about some extraordinary creature on the planet, so I think all those myths play into the fascination we have with the natural world.”
The actor, who’s promoting Kong: Skull Island, is clearly keen to pre-empt headlines about him believing In Nessie.
His latest action-packed movie, co-starring Samuel L Jackson, Brie Larson and John C Reilly, is a reimagining of the Kong story and, as director Jordan Vogt-Roberts comments, “represents all the mystery and wonder that still exists in the world”.
Hiddleston plays Captain James Conrad, a former SAS black ops officer who’s invited to join a mission to a remote island in the Pacific, where it turns out the monstrous ape is the least of their worries.
“It’s so thrilling,” says Hiddleston. “I remember when I was younger, the image of King Kong on top of the Empire State Building with the light planes flying towards him.
“I don’t ever remember not knowing that image, in a way.”
It’s over 80 years since Kong first appeared on the big screen, and Hiddleston has a theory about the enduring fascination: “Kong embodies the internal clash between our civilised selves and the place in our consciousness that still has a very real sense of something bigger than ourselves.” ● Kong: Skull Island is released tomorrow. SCIENCE FACTOR: What I want to know is how a creature could produce so much mucus? These disgusting snaky eelie things would probably have to eat all day just to get enough nutrients to make all of that snot.
It’s like they found a way to take a snake and make it even more terrifying. The thought of these things moving around underground is enough to make me want to stay inside all day.