Could Peaky Blinders’ Tom Hardy be the next James Bond? Everything to know about his wife, net worth & more

Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy, whose real name is Edward Hardy, has a 6/1 chance of becoming the next James Bond, a bookmaker has said. However, there is another actor who seems to be the current frontrunner.

Hardy, 45, is already older than Daniel Craig was when his first James Bond movie - Casino Royale - released in 2006. Craig was 38 at the time. However, Roger Moore was 45 when he landed the role. Hardy has been in the talks with James Bond bosses for some time now and hopefully, the versatile actor would be the new 007.

The Peaky Blinders actor, best known for his roles as Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road, Eames in Inception and Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, and Venom in Venom, is a versatile performer and globally recognised.

More about him

The 45-year-old was born in London and went to drama school there. His debut was Ridley Scott‘s Black Hawk Down (2001). His acting prowess has lead to him being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, two Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and two British Academy Film Awards. He received the 2011 BAFTA Rising Star Award.

The actor, whose net worth is around $55 million, was cast in Peaky Blinders - a Birmingham based drama - as Alfie Solomons, a Jewish mob boss, who works with Tom Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy), but also betrays him multiple times.

In real life, he is married to actress Charlotte Riley who portrays May Carleton in the show. She plays the role of a rich widow and a horse trainer, who becomes Tom Shelby’s ( played by Cillian Murphy) love interest. However, their relationship in the show doesn’t last.

The couple has worked together before. Riley, 41, played Catherine Earnshaw in ITV’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Hardy played Heathcliff in the same adaptation.

Hardy shares one child with his ex-partner Rachael Speed, an assistant director, and two with Riley.

His love for martial arts

Hardy is not just an award-winning actor but is also a martial arts champion. He entered the 2022 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship and won the event.

A spokesperson for the championships told the Guardian that the actor was a “really nice guy” who was a “real pleasure” to host.

“Everyone recognised him but he was very humble and was happy to take time out for people to take photographs with him,” the spokesperson said. “It was a real pleasure to have him compete at our event.”

In August 2022, he won the REORG Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Wolverhampton. He holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Those fighting skills are likely to come handy for anyone who plays the role of James Bond.