TOM HOLLAND EXCLUSIVE I’ve been playing Spidey all my life Brit star reveals his THIRT Y costumes as a child

SPIDER-MAN star Tom Holland has told how the role has been a constant thread in his life – he reckons he’s had no less than 30 costumes while growing up.

“The other day I found my first ever one,” he revealed. “It’s like a little tiny baby costume. I’d never have imagined one day I’d be making this movie.”

British actor Tom, 21, stars in summer blockbuster Spider-Man: Homecoming, which opens on Wednesday.

Talking of his obsession, he said: “I had Spider-Man bed sheets and SpiderMan birthday parties. If anyone else showed up as Spider-Man, I was like, ‘Listen, dude, you need to change’.”

But he admitted he didn’t always feel suited to the role, saying: “Two years ago I went to a party dressed as Spider- Man – I looked an absolute idiot.

“About a year afterwards they were recasting it. I rang my agents and was like, ‘Please, please get me an audition.’

“They said, ‘They’ve actually requested you do a self-tape.’

“I was a gymnast when I was a kid, so I did a backflip, to show I could do that stuff.

“I was like, ‘ Hi, I’m Tom Holland.’ Back flip. ‘I’m from London.’ Side flip. ‘I’m fivefoot-seven.’ Front flip. I had a lot of fun making those tapes.”

Tom played the title role in West End musical Billy Elliot in 2008 before turning to Hollywood four years later with films including The Impossible and In the Heart of the Sea.

While Homecoming is his first headline role as Spidey, he made his debut last year in Captain America: Civil War, starring US actor Chris Evans.

Flip

Tom recalled: “In the audition room for the scene between Chris Evans and I, it said, ‘Spider-Man flips into frame.’

“I did the flip and Chris forgot his line – it was such a cool moment.”

Spider-Man was originally played on the big screen by Tobey Maguire, then Britain’s Andrew Garfield. “I met both of them,” said Tom. “Andrew was so lovely, we had a really good chat.

“It’s difficult not to take influence from what those guys did. The difference is I’m younger, taking Spider-Man back to high school. Peter Parker goes through things every teenage boy goes through, and that’s why I related to him as a kid.

“To see a 15-year-old boy thrust into this crazy superhero universe, it’s every kid’s dream. It’s been my dream, it still is – and I’m the closest a person’s going to get to being Spider-Man.”

Tom grew up in Wimbledon, South West London. His dad is comedian Dominic Holland and mum Nicola is a photographer. He has three young brothers – Patrick, and twins Sam and Harry.

Tom is joined by newcomer Laura Harrier, 27, as love-interest Liz. But he also benefited from the huge experience of co-stars Robert Downey Jr – making an appearance as Iron Man – and Michael Keaton, featuring as Vulture.

Tom revealed: “Before a very heated emotional scene Michael asked me to punch him. I sort of punched him in the chest, like I didn’t really mean it.

“And he said, ‘No, hit me!’ So I gave him a good cracking. That’s very useful as an actor, to have physical contact.

“I don’t normally like being punched – but apparently Michael does.

“Robert Downey Jr was terrifying, but you realise he’s just an ordinary guy, really hard-working, always respectful.

“His Tony Stark becomes a sort of father figure to Peter Parker by the end, and that’s kind of how my relationship with Robert went as well.”

Rolling

Tom’s ballet and gymnastics training for Billy Elliot were a huge help. He said: “Before filming I spent a month just jumping, landing, rolling and flipping to get comfortable 30 feet up.” Playing a teen Spider-Man coming to grips with his powers meant his bloopers stayed i n. He l aughed: “There’s a lot of funny moments of me missing things. “In one scene I had to smash through a fence but fell over. It looked so natural and funny it made the edit.” When he met co-star Zendaya Coleman, 20, he fell again – in love. They have reportedly moved in together, although Tom is tight-lipped about that. He has now filmed three of his six Spidey movies. And he’s put his stamp on the role with a spider tattoo on the bottom of his foot. He smiled: “It hurt a lot – but it was an experience.”