Tom Holland has quickly become one of the most beloved young actors working in Hollywood today. The Spider-Man star has captured the hearts and minds of generations of filmgoers with his take on Marvel's boy wonder.
Since his first MCU appearance in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Holland has donned the webbed tights in five total films, with his sixth, and arguably biggest, coming in this December Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The Spidey threequel will cross multiversal lines and will likely see Peter growing up right before fans' eyes. In the lead-up to what feels like a culmination of this chapter of Holland's Spider-Man story, the young actor has started reflecting on what got him here.
Tom Holland Wouldn't Change a Thing
In a recent interview with Total Film magazine, Tom Holland reflected on how much he has "grown and changed" in his time since first being cast as the MCU's Spider-Man. The Marvel actor said that he has "really learned how to stand up for himself" and "how to enjoy... fame, rather than run away from it:"
“I’ve grown and changed in the best ways possible. I really learned how to stand up for myself. When you first start making these films, you’ve got to do as you’re told, and you don’t think anything of it. But as time goes on you realize that you’re an actor in your film, and you need to protect yourself. Sometimes I’ll say ‘no’ as a full sentence. I’ve learned how to stand up for myself , how to behave in a professional capacity when you’re the leader. I’ve learned how to enjoy my fame, rather than run away from it”
Holland looks back and what calls has been "an amazing experience" so far, and that the Spider-Man role has been a bit of a "safety blanket" where he can "play freely, and make mistakes:"
“It’s been an amazing experience. And as an actor, I’ve found so much confidence in my ability, through having this safety blanket that is Spider-Man. It’s like a playground for me. Somewhere I can play freely, and make mistakes. And sometimes those mistakes are the birth of the best idea, and that’s where the character’s growing from.”
When asked by the interview what advice he would have for his younger self just getting starting, Holland brought that he "wouldn’t...do anything differently." The No Way Home star imparted a nugget of wisdom, saying that "You only learn from mistakes, you don’t learn from winning:"
“I would basically say, ’Don’t do anything for the money...I would really, really try to teach my younger self that money means nothing. Money is just a number on a screen. Then again…You now what? Scratch that. I wouldn’t tell my younger self to do anything differently. You only learn from mistakes, you don’t learn from winning. All the things I’ve done wrong have helped me end up where I am today. I haven’t done anything terrible that I would go back and change. So year, I would probably just let him get on with it, if I’m honest.”
Spidey Sounds Like Uncle Ben
Geez, Holland certainly sounds a lot like his fictional uncle, Ben Parker. It is nice to see that this young actor seemingly has a good head on his shoulders.
Few times in comic book history has an actor personified their cinematic counterpart as Tom does Peter Parker. Both have had a great power thrust upon them at a young and now both have had to deal with the fallout of that power. Spidey makes mistakes, and so does Tom, but both learn from it and are better because of it.
Audiences have already seen this young man grow up and thus seen Peter Parker do the same alongside him. That is sure to continue as both Tom and Pete venture into early adulthood, dealing with all the quibbles that comes with being in the spotlight.
One can almost hear Kevin Feige and co. partaking in congratulatory high-fives and handshakes upon reading these quotes. They got a good one and it shows. Holland is likely to be so closely intertwined with this character for years to come and as a fan, it should be good to know that a hero so iconic is in the right hands.
Tom Holland can be seen in Spider-Man No Way Home when it swings into theaters on December 17.
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