Spider-Man, Uncharted, The Impossible, and The Devil All the Time are some of the movies that have made Tom Holland one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young actors. However, there is much more to the British actor than his famous superhero role.
From Marvel giving him fake information to prevent spoilers to his mother calling the studio about his Spider-Man costume, Holland has been involved in some fascinating stories. If you are a Tom Holland fan, here are some facts you may not have known about him.
1. Tom Holland Was Given a Fake Script for Avengers: Infinity War
Tom Holland became notorious for accidentally revealing Marvel secrets, so the studio eventually took extreme measures to protect its movies. While filming Avengers: Infinity War, Holland reportedly was not given the complete script because Marvel was worried he would reveal important information.
In fact, he was sometimes given only his own scenes and did not know exactly what was happening in the wider story. Marvel even gave him a fake script at one point to prevent spoilers from getting out.
2. Tom Holland’s Mom Once Called Marvel About His Spider-Man Suit
Spider-Man’s costume may look cool, but wearing it for hours can apparently be a nightmare. While filming Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland found it difficult to use the bathroom because of the suit. Instead of repeatedly asking the crew for breaks, he reportedly complained to his mother. Holland’s mom eventually contacted the production team about the problem.
The actor later realized what had happened when a producer approached him and jokingly asked how his kidneys were doing.
3. Tom Holland Was Discovered Through a YouTube Video
Tom Holland’s first major movie role came in The Impossible, but the way he got the part was rather unusual. Holland was still performing in Billy Elliot the Musical when a casting director reportedly came across a YouTube video of him doing an interview.
The discovery led to an audition, followed by several more auditions before Holland landed the role of Lucas. His performance in the movie received widespread praise and helped establish him as a serious young actor before Spider-Man came along.
4. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Audition Involved Robert Downey Jr.
When Holland auditioned for Spider-Man, Marvel eventually put him in a screen test with Robert Downey Jr. The two performed a scene together, and Downey reportedly began improvising instead of sticking rigidly to the script. Holland followed along and improvised with him.
The experience was particularly intimidating because Downey was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Holland later described the screen test as one of the most important auditions of his career.
5. Tom Holland’s Brother Appeared in Spider-Man
Tom Holland is not the only member of his family to appear in the Spider-Man movies. His younger brother Harry Holland has made several appearances in his films, including Spider-Man: No Way Home. Harry’s roles are generally tiny and easy to miss, but the brothers have joked about their appearances together.
Tom has also worked with his siblings on other projects. So, while Peter Parker’s family is complicated in the MCU, Holland’s real-life family has managed to become part of his movie career.
6. Tom Holland’s Famous Umbrella Dance Was Extremely Physical
Tom Holland’s performance of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on Lip Sync Battle became one of his most famous internet moments. What many people may not realize is how much physical ability went into the performance. Holland performed complicated choreography, acrobatics, a costume change, and a routine involving actual rain.
His dance background made the performance look effortless. Holland had trained extensively in dance since childhood, which explains why the Spider-Man actor suddenly looked like a professional dancer when the music started playing.
7. Tom Holland Was Already a Skilled Dancer Before Spider-Man
Holland’s dancing abilities did not begin with his famous Rihanna performance. He started dancing as a child and eventually auditioned for Billy Elliot the Musical. He initially played Michael, Billy’s friend, before taking over the title role in London’s West End.
The part required extensive ballet, tap, and acting skills. Holland spent years training for the production, meaning that his unusual combination of athleticism and dance ability was established long before he became famous for performing Spider-Man’s acrobatic movements.
8. Tom Holland Almost Had to Keep Spider-Man’s Secrets From Himself
Marvel’s secrecy surrounding its movies became so intense that Holland sometimes did not know what was going to happen in the movies he was filming. During Avengers: Infinity War, for example, he reportedly had limited information about the story and was not always told which characters he would be interacting with.
This was particularly strange because Holland was playing one of the movie’s major characters. Marvel essentially decided that the easiest way to prevent Tom Holland from spoiling the movie was to make sure he did not know everything himself.
9. Tom Holland’s First Movie Role Involved a Real Disaster Story
Holland’s first major film, The Impossible, was based on the true story of a family caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Playing Lucas required him to perform emotionally intense scenes involving enormous amounts of water.
The movie was a major departure from his previous experience on the West End stage. Holland’s performance was so impressive that he received several awards and nominations for his work. Interestingly, this serious dramatic role came before his career became closely associated with comedy and superhero movies.
10. Tom Holland’s Dyslexia Has Been Part of His Life Since Childhood
Tom Holland has spoken about being diagnosed with dyslexia when he was seven years old. He has also discussed how reading and learning could sometimes be more challenging for him growing up. Despite this, he developed a successful career that required memorizing scripts, performing complicated choreography, and learning large amounts of dialogue.
Holland has said that acting provided him with an outlet where he could express himself creatively. His experience is another reminder that difficulties at school do not necessarily prevent someone from succeeding in a creative career.
