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Q: I was just rewatching an episode of "Wallander" and recognized the younger cop. Was that Tom Hiddleston?

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Author: 
Adam Thomlison / TV Media

It's easy to forget that even superstars were once struggling actors. This is not to say that a supporting role in a huge series in your home country ("Wallander" was a big hit for the BBC) is "struggling," but Hiddleston was taking whatever supporting TV roles he could get before exploding onto the Hollywood scene in 2011's "Thor" (he plays the titular hero's twisted brother, Loki).

Interestingly, one led directly to the other. "Wallander" star Kenneth Branagh directed "Thor," and was the one who chose Hiddleston for the role.

Hiddleston told the Guardian newspaper that he auditioned for the role of the hero, along with "every English-speaking actor over six foot." Branagh, who was familiar with what Hiddleston could do, thanks to their two seasons in "Wallander" together, knew the villain would be a better fit, so he gave him that instead, without an audition.

Branagh is clearly a fan. In an interview with DigitalSpy.com, Branagh recalls seeing Hiddleston on stage before they worked together in "Wallander." He said the performance was "so adept, adroit and invisibly easy with the language, that it did feel like it was the start of something." 

 

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