WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Thor: Love & Thunder!
Thor: Love & Thunder recently premiered, and fans are disappointed to realize that this is the first Thor movie in which Tom Hiddleston’s beloved character, Loki, doesn’t appear. Even though Loki started out as a villain in the MCU, he eventually managed to win the fandom’s heart.
However, even if Loki is Hiddleston’s most famous character, fans of the actor would be surprised to know that he has a wide variety of interesting roles. He’s gone from playing a villain to a vampire to an espionage agent. On top of that, he’s appeared not only in movies and TV shows but he’s also starred in various plays and has even worked as a voice actor in documentaries. His various acting endeavors have inspired fans to vote on Ranker for their favorite Hiddleston characters.
Note: Ranker lists are fan-voted, live, and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Charles Darwin – Darwin’s Secret Notebooks (2009)
Darwin’s Secret Notebooks is a National Geographic documentary centered on Charles Darwin, the famous scientist responsible for the evolutionary theory. The documentary follows Darwin during his trip to Galapagos island and tries to explain how Darwin arrived at the evolutionary theory, a scientific breakthrough.
Not only is this documentary an educational and exciting telling of one of history’s most important discoveries, but having Tom Hiddleston’s voice narrating is a treat. Hiddleston’s dulcet tones help to bring the famed scientist to life and offer a departure from his usual work, which makes it stand out in his filmography.
Magnus Martinsson – Wallander (2008 – 2010)
Wallander is a British adaptation of Henning Mankell’s books featuring Kurt Wallander. Starring Kenneth Branagh in the titular role, the series follows a police officer who is constantly reflecting on his purpose in life. Tom Hiddleston stars alongside him as Magnus Martinsson.
Hiddleston quickly gained the love of Wallander’s devoted fans thanks to his portrayal of the skeptical, analytical Martinsson. The character’s ideas are usually at odds with Wallander’s perspectives, but the chemistry between Hiddleston and Branagh creates strong and memorable interactions between the two. Hiddleston revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that this strong working relationship lead to him being invited to audition for Thor, which was directed by Branagh, which is likely another reason fans on so fond of the Wallander character.
Freddie Page – The Deep Blue Sea (2011)
Set in 1950, the plot of The Deep Blue Sea is triggered when Hester Collyer, played by Rachel Weisz, attempts to take her own life. The woman then experiences flashbacks of her relationships with her husband, a wealthy High Court judge, and her lover, a former pilot troubled by his experience in the Second World War and her dilemma between having a comfortable life or a life filled with passion and excitement.
Although the film was mostly praised for Weisz’s performance, Hiddleston’s portrayal of the troubled and impulsive character Freddie Page is also exemplary. He manages to convey the character’s wide range of emotions, with whom Hester has a passionate yet conflictive relationship. Although the characters have a complicated love story, fans root for them in the end.
F. Scott Fitzgerald – Midnight In Paris (2011)
Characterized by Woody Allen’s typical sense of nostalgia and ironic humor, Midnight in Paris centers on Gil Pender, played by Owen Wilson, a writer who constantly travels to 1920s Paris, meeting famous artists such as Salvador Dali, Gertrude Stein, and Pablo Picasso. Midnight in Paris is one of those movies that make viewers fall in love with the city.
Hiddleston plays famous American writer Scott Fitzgerald, known for his novels about superfluity and overindulgence, most notably The Great Gatsby. Both Hiddleston and Allison Pill’s eccentric and hilarious performances make some of the funniest scenes of the movie. It’s not often fans get to see Hiddleston playing a real-life figure, and it’s unsurprising that viewers immediately fell in love with his charismatic portrayal of the writer.
James Nicholls – War Horse (2011)
Directed by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, War Horse tells the story of a horse named Joey and his many eventualities during World War I. When Captain James Nichols buys Joey to take him to war, he promises young farmer Albert he’ll take care of him. However, Nicholls dies before the war ends, and the horse travels through Europe with many different owners before returning to Albert.
Even though Hiddleston doesn’t get a lot of screentime in this movie, his role is still one of the most important. Nicholls is one of the many characters who take care of Joey, and he’s the first one in the line of people who dies throughout the movie. Nicholls’s integrity and respect for Joey’s and Albert’s bond deeply moved the viewers, making him one of the best characters in the movie and in Hiddleston’s career.
Coriolanus – Coriolanus (2014)
One of the best Shakespeare adaptations, this version of Coriolanus by the National Theatre follows the brilliant Roman leader, played by Tom Hiddleston, and the political intricacies he must navigate. While Hiddleston is mostly famous for his work on television, he’s acted in many successful plays and has won many awards and nominations for his theater work.
His brilliant performance earned Hiddleston a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. Getting to see his superb theater work on the big screen is likely why Hiddleston fans voted for it on Ranker. Like most Shakespeare tragedies, there’s a special focus on Coriolanus’ development as a character, and Hiddleston provides an interesting insight into the character by commanding the stage in a ferocious way that completely captivated the audience.
Thomas Sharpe – Crimson Peak (2015)
Crimson Peak is one of Hiddleston’s great roles few people know about, which is likely why it has a special place in the hearts of his fans. This masterpiece of the Gothic genre, directed by Guillermo del Toro, combines the ghost story with romance and strange family situations to create an unsettling and mortifying environment. Even though the film wasn’t a financial success, it received generally good reviews and several Saturn awards and nominations.
Hiddleston rises to the challenge to portray the complex, disturbing character Thomas Sharpe, who is involved in an incestuous relationship with his sister at the same time that he romances the wealthy Edith Cushing. Hiddleston excels at portraying this sort of Gothic character, and even though he’s a villain of sorts, it’s obvious why the viewers loved him.
Adam – Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Directed by the brilliant independent cinema director Jim Jarmusch, Only Lovers Left Alive is a contemporary and unique take on the vampire story. The movie follows Adam and Eve, played by Tilda Swinton, two vampires involved in a romantic relationship, who deal with the weight of their own murderous nature and their artistic sensitivity in a world that changes way too fast.
One of Hiddleston’s best films, this nostalgic, funny, reflective film is one of the best portrayals of vampires on television, and Swinton’s and Hiddleston’s performances add an extra layer of complexity to the story, which clearly touched its audience. The movie was even nominated for a Palme d’Or, one of the most important awards in the film industry.
Jonathan Pines – The Night Manager (2016)
The Night Manager is a critically acclaimed miniseries based on John le Carré’s novel about espionage. When Jonathan Pines is contacted by agent Angela Burr to infiltrate the inner circle of dangerous weapon dealer, Richard Roper, played by Hugh Laurie, he doesn’t hesitate to accept the job.
Hiddleston’s performance in this show is nothing short of amazing, and it even earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. His ability to thoroughly embody Pines makes him one of his best characters to date, and its ranking was likely helped by the fact it was the actor’s first leading television role after his stratospheric rise to fame in the MCU.
Loki – MCU
In 2011 Hiddleston won international popularity after debuting on Thor as Loki. The God of Mischief is this film’s antagonist, but this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his time on the MCU since. Throughout the last decade, Hiddleston has played Loki in six MCU projects, including his own Disney+ series.
Loki went from a villain to an ally, but always remains morally ambiguous, a trait of the character Hiddleston is adept at playing. Hiddleston’s charismatic portrayal of this classic Thor villain has earned him the fandom’s heart and is undoubtedly the defining role of his career. It would be a surprise to see any other Hiddleston character at the top of Ranker’s fan-voted list.
