The Surprising References I Never Knew Tom Hiddleston ‘Borrowed’ For Loki

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As a lifelong comic book and movie fan, I have to admit, Marvel consistently delivers. Despite the occasional critic, audiences still flock to see these heroes fight the good fight. And speaking of heroes, Tom Hiddleston, who brilliantly embodies Loki – the former trickster god now protecting the multiverse – recently shared the surprising inspiration behind his performance. Honestly, when I heard it, it all clicked – it totally makes sense why he plays Loki the way he does!

What Did Tom Hiddleston Borrow From When First Playing Loki?

Tom Hiddleston is famous for playing Loki, both in his own Disney+ series and in several Marvel films as Thor’s adopted brother. He’ll continue this role in the 2026 movie Avengers: Doomsday, something he’s happy to finally discuss. But how did he originally capture the unique personality needed to play such a dramatic and powerful character?

Recently, Chuck actor Tom Hiddleston discussed his inspirations with GQ, explaining what shaped his performance after he first got the role of Loki.

[I was] borrowing references [I] knew from Shakespeare.

WOW. What? Wait…let’s just have Hiddleston break this down for us. He explained:

Shakespeare’s characters are famous for being incredibly vivid and multifaceted, and one of the joys of acting is truly stepping into that depth. What’s special about Marvel stories is how easily they connect with people from all cultures, languages, and generations. While the stories are diverse, the heroes represent our ideals, and the villains embody our fears.

Given Kenneth Branagh’s history of brilliantly adapting Shakespeare for both stage and screen – and his smart casting of Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Thor – it’s not surprising Hiddleston would draw inspiration from those classic stories. When you consider the types of characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and future superhero films, and compare them to Shakespeare’s characters, the connection becomes clear – it makes perfect sense to find inspiration there.

Marvel stories, like Shakespearean plays, often involve incredibly high-stakes situations where characters face life-or-death challenges (though with more aliens and magic!). As one actor who recently performed Much Ado About Nothing observed, these intense circumstances reveal what we aspire to be as humans when pushed to our limits, or show us the kind of people we desperately hope we never become.

The fact that the actor drew inspiration from Shakespeare to develop his portrayal of the character and understand the stories within the Marvel Cinematic Universe really highlights his skill as Loki.

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2025-11-26 16:38