Tom Hiddleston has been in the public eye for a considerable time and has developed a strategy to manage public opinion. In an interview, the actor revealed how he handles public scrutiny while continuing to do the work that he cares about. He says the ordeal taught him how to protect his inner life and stay useful as an actor.
Tom Hiddleston on how he handles public opinions
Tom Hiddleston’s approach begins with hard self-honesty. After waves of attention, he “paused and took stock” to ask what he really wanted from his career and his life. That meant cutting away people and habits that pushed him to please others. He told the interviewer he had to tell himself to “get a grip” and move toward what truly interested him.
One clear rule he uses is discipline in his own view of himself. On dealing with public criticism, he said, “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but you have to be really disciplined about your own opinion of yourself.” That discipline, he adds, keeps him steady “in the choppy waters” of fame (via GQ).
The actor also accepts mistakes and uses them as fuel. Hiddleston speaks about confronting “all the mistakes and all the missteps.” He is making peace with them so he can move forward and change. Rather than deny things that went wrong, he tries to learn from them and move on. This is part of the self-work that gives him the emotional space to perform demanding roles.
Tom Hiddleston finds shelter in ordinary life. Simple routines, such as family time, home, and a dog on his lap, are boundaries that help him feel safe. After a hard shoot in the Himalayas, he described a normal evening at home as “a perfect night” and said that ordinary life helps him stay grounded and grateful.
The actor also leans on craft and preparation. Returning to Jonathan Pine for the second season of The Night Manager meant taking risks physically and emotionally. He made a promise to himself that the role had to be “bigger, braver, deeper, more exposing,” and he trained hard for stunts and for the emotional truth of the part. For him, steady work and serious preparation are ways to answer critics with substance rather than noise.
