Tom Hardy snaps at reporter over sexuality questions
The actor shut down a reporter who asked him questions over past comments he has made about his sexuality.
Legend star Tom Hardy rebuked the reporter at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday (September 12) after he was asked to comment on his sexuality.
The star was joined by director Brian Helgeland and actress Emily Browning at the press conference to discuss new crime drama Legend – in which Hardy plays the sexually ambiguous gangsters the Kray twins.
During the conference, a journalist from a local LGBT publication asked the actor about playing an ‘open’ character given past reports about “ambiguous” comments he previously made about his own sexuality.
When asked about comments he had made in the past, Hardy swiftly responded, “What on earth are you on about?”
The reporter tried to clarify his point, before Hardy demanded: “But what is your question?”
The reporter asked: “In the film, your character Ronnie is very open about his sexuality… but given interviews you’ve done in the past, your own sexuality seems a bit more ambiguous. Do you find it hard for celebrities to talk to media about their sexuality?”
Hardy replied, “I don’t find it difficult for celebrities to talk about their sexuality. Are you asking about my sexuality?”
The journalist said, “Hmm… sure”, to which Hardy fired back, “Why?” – before giving a firm and final “thank you” to the reporter.
In 2008, the Dark Knight Rises star revealed he had enjoyed sexual relationships with other men in his youth.
“I’ve played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I’m in my thirties, it doesn’t do it for me,” he said at the time.
“I’m done experimenting but there’s plenty of stuff in a relationship with another man, especially gay men, that I need in my life.
“A lot of gay men get my thing for shoes. I have definite feminine qualities and a lot of gay men are incredibly masculine,” he added.
When asked about the Kray twins’ sexuality recently, the actor said he didn’t even consider the pair’s sexualities while making the film.
“Do you know what? I didn’t even think about [sexuality]. I don’t think it needs playing, that’s that. Ronnie was gay, does that make sense?,” he said.
“If I thought about then that would give me pause to think about it, but I just had to get on with doing what I’m doing which is my job.”
