Chances are you know Tom Hiddleston from his sinister performance as Loki in Marvel’s series of Avengers movies. Or perhaps you know him as the Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe–winning star of The Night Manager. But Tom Hiddleston has long been a star of the stage—an Olivier Award–winning one at that.
Born in London, Hiddleston’s theatrical roles have been exclusive to his native U.K.—until now. He will make his Broadway debut this season with the transfer of Betrayal from the West End. Beginning performances August 14 with an official opening September 5, the Harold Pinter classic tells the story (in reverse chronological order) of spouses Robert (Hiddleston) and Emma (Zawe Ashton) during Emma’s affair with Robert’s friend Jerry (Charlie Cox).
Here are 11 other roles casual fans might not know the gifted actor has played:
1. A Streetcar Named Desire
During his second term at Cambridge, Hiddleston played Mitch in the Tennessee Williams play. After an agent witnessed his performance, Hiddleston applied to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he graduated in 2005.
2. Yorgjin Oxo: The Man
Shortly after graduating, Hiddleston played Yorgjin Oxo in this play by Thomas Crowe at Theatre 503 in London. Called “willfully bizarre” by The Stage’s Alistair Smith, the play follows the story of an innocent boy of the marshlands forced into slavery who eventually grows up to seek revenge.
3. The Changeling
In 2006, Hiddleston played leading role Alsemero in this play from Declan Donnellan’s theatre company, Cheek by Jowl. Beatrice is betrothed to Alonzo but loves Alsemero (naturally, Hiddleston played the dreamy lover), but tragedy ensues when she hires her servant to kill Alonzo.
4. Cymbeline
The following year, Hiddleston earned the Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for his work in Cymbeline—also a Cheek by Jowl production. The actor took on the roles of Posthumus and Cloten at the Barbican Theatre.
5. Othello
Hiddleston first began working at the Donmar Warehouse in Michael Grandage’s production of the Shakespeare classic. The actor played Cassio opposite Chiwotel Ejiofor and Ewan McGregor. Hiddleston was nominated against himself for Best Newcomer in a Play for his work in this drama, as well.
6. Ivanov
Hiddleston teamed up with Grandage again for this West End revival of Tom Stoppard’s Chekhov adaptation. Part of the Donmar Warehouse season, the play ran at Wyndham’s Theatre with Hiddleston as Eugene Lvov alongside Kenneth Branagh’s titular character. It was this collaboration with Branagh that led to Hiddleston’s audition for the Marvel film Thor, directed by Branagh. Though Hiddleston auditioned for the titular superhero, he was eventually cast as the villainous Loki.
7. The Children’s Monologues
While he was busy working on screen, Hiddleston made time to exercise his stage chops for worthy causes. In 2010, he performed as part of Dramatic Needs’ The Children’s Monologues. The organization adapts real stories by South African children into monologues that are then interpreted by world-class actors in order to raise funds and awareness.
READ: Why Audra McDonald and Javier Muñoz Read The Children’s Monologues
8. Coriolanus
Though Hiddleston spent years playing Loki, he still made time for the stage. He played the title character in the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, directed by Josie Rourke. The play ran for a limited engagement, but was broadcast internationally January 30, 2014. The role won Hiddleston the Evening Standard Award for Best Actor.
9. Hamlet
After playing Loki in The Avengers series, filming Kong: Skull Island, and starring in the mini-series The Night Manager, in 2017 Hiddleston reunited with Branagh to play Shakespeare’s Danish prince.
