Tom Hardy shuts down reporter over sexuality question
By Will Stroude
He might be playing a bisexual gangster in new crime film Legend, but it seems Tom Hardy is less than keen to address the topic of his own sexuality.
Appearing alongside director Brian Helgeland and actress Emily Blunt at a Q&A for the film at the Toronto International Film festival on Saturday (September 12), the Hollywood hard man was involved in a rather awkward exchange with a journalist who asked him about *those* notorious quotes in which he admitted to experimenting with guys in his youth.
In footage posted on Defamer, a journalist from Daily Xtra, a Toronto LGBT publication is heard asking the British star: “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?”
To which a none-too-impressed Hardy responds: “What on earth are you on about?”.
The reporter clarifies that he is referring to quotes from a 2008 interview – with Attitude no less – in which the Mad Max star had answered the question “Have you ever had sexual relations with men” by saying: “As a boy? Of course I have. I’m an actor for fuck’s sake. I’m an artist. I’ve played with everything and everyone.”
To which Hardy says: “But what is your question?”
The reporter goes on: “I’m wondering if you find it difficult for celebrities to talk about their sexuality,” to which Hardy responds: “I don’t find it difficult for celebrities to talk about their sexuality. Are you asking about my sexuality?”
The journalists says “sure,” to which Hardy replies with a rather indignant “Why?”, before ending the encounter with a curt – and very final – “thank you”.
You can watch the footage over at Defamer, or skip to 28:15 in the video below:
More stories:
After Queer as Folk, Charlie Hunnan isn’t phased by explicit onscreen sex
Demi Lovato: ‘If a straight guy sang about experimenting they’d be uproar