How a Hungover Day Made Tom Hiddleston Miss Out on a Role Orlando Bloom Got

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Everyone knows me as Loki, the God of Mischief from the Marvel movies – a role that even got its own Disney+ series! But what a lot of people don’t realize is I’ve always loved doing a mix of big, action-packed blockbusters and smaller, more intimate indie films. I had a blast facing off against giant monsters in Kong: Skull Island with Brie Larson, but for years I’ve also been building a reputation in the UK for my work in really grounded, realistic dramas. I’m particularly proud of the films I made with director Joanna Hogg, like Archipelago and Exhibition – I think those roles really let me show a different side of my acting and are some of my most subtle and rewarding work.

Like many actors starting out in London, Tom Hiddleston faced plenty of rejections and tough auditions. He recalls one missed opportunity in particular – and admits it was entirely his own doing. He was up against Orlando Bloom for the role of Will Turner in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Bloom ultimately landed the part, which launched his career, but Hiddleston takes responsibility for not securing it himself.

In the documentary Muse of Fire, which looks at how Shakespeare impacts modern actors, Tom Hiddleston recounted a revealing story about a particular audition. He explained that he only received the script the night before his meeting with the casting directors. Instead of using that time to prepare, he went out for drinks with friends. “I showed up at 10 am completely hungover, hadn’t learned the lines, and did it a couple of times,” Hiddleston recalled. “The casting director just said, ‘Okay, okay, well thanks for coming in.’”

It’s no surprise the actor didn’t get a callback. Though losing the part – which later became a hugely successful franchise – was likely disappointing, Tom Hiddleston’s career didn’t suffer. He ultimately found his own way to fame, demonstrating that one mistake couldn’t derail his future. However, his experience is a stark lesson for anyone hoping to succeed in the competitive world of acting: always be prepared and focused.

Tom Hiddleston is having a particularly busy year in his career. He recently starred in the second season of The Night Manager, which aired on Prime Video and the BBC in January, bringing him back to the world of spy thrillers. Hiddleston reprises his role as Jonathan Pine, leading a cast that includes Olivia Colman, as well as new actors Camila Morrone and Diego Calva. With the series already renewed for a third season, fans can expect to see him continuing in this exciting role for a while to come.

Tom Hiddleston is currently starring in The Life of Chuck, a unique film based on a Stephen King story and directed by Mike Flanagan. He plays the main character, Chuck Krantz, in the movie, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in theaters in June 2025.

Fans are also excited to see him reprise his role as Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, coming out later this year. Plus, Hiddleston is returning to the stage to star alongside Hayley Atwell in a limited run of Much Ado About Nothing on Broadway.

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2026-02-26 20:44