The Hollywood hardman who's just a big softy: Tom Hardy says dogs are his only friends... and admits he refused to attend drama classes without one

  • Tom Hardy walked Legend red carpet with his wife and beloved dog Woody
  • He has been a passionate dog lover since the age of 15 when he got Max
  • Refused to go to drama class without Max, says dogs are his only friends

Tom Hardy walked the red carpet of his new Kray twins biopic Legend with an unusual escort last night.

Along with wife Charlotte Riley, Tom, 37, stroked, snuggled and hugged the other most important figure in his life - his dog Woody, a formerly homeless mix breed who found all eyes were on him, rather than the star, as he chased a pigeon in front of cameras.

But while many may see bringing their pet to a showbiz event as an eccentric move, for Tom this is par for the course. The dog lover is rarely parted from his animals and is so devoted to his pooches that he would even bring them to his drama classes as a student in the late Nineties.

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Tom Hardy greets reporters with his arm around labrador mix Woody at the Legend premiere last night

Tom Hardy greets reporters with his arm around labrador mix Woody at the Legend premiere last night

Now considered one of Hollywood's most talented performers, Tom has certainly had his ups and downs in the past.

He battled an addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine in his 20s and divorced his first wife Sarah Ward in 1999.

The star - who has an seven-year-old son from a previous relationship - went on to star in blockbusters including Inception, Mad Max and more recently, Legend, and is now happily married and expecting a child with actress Charlotte Riley.

But one constant however, has always been Tom's devotion to dogs; either his own, helping to rehome others or rescuing strays, literally, from the side of the road.

Tom found Woody in 2011, while filming Lawless in Atlanta. He spotted a homeless dog running loose on the highway and sprang into action.

The star caught the dog, naming him Woodstock (or Woody for short), and then brought him home to London.

Tom poses for pictures with Woody, the dog he rescued from the side of the road in Atlanta, at the Legend premiere

Tom poses for pictures with Woody, the dog he rescued from the side of the road in Atlanta, at the Legend premiere

In April of this year, speaking about his love of dogs, Tom told Details that he didn't believe in chance, or 'coincidence' - that fate had brought him together with every dog he's ever loved. 

In Febuary 2012, he made his feelings about man's best friend abundantly clear.

'I don’t have any friends,' he said. 'So I like to keep [to] myself. I have a dog and a son. A dog couldn’t do anything to upset me, you know, and neither could my son.'

The first great canine love of the actor's life, however, was Max - the late labrador mix he got when he was 15. 

'I wouldn’t go to [acting] class unless Max was allowed in,' he once told Dogs Today.

'Max was my support unit, it’s like I had a focus; I had an identity and higher self-esteem because something relied on me and loved me constantly... I’m very, very lucky that people - from 17 to now - have always allowed me to have my dog around.'

Tom in 2006, posing with Max, the first great canine love of his his, who he got when he was 15

Tom in 2006, posing with Max, the first great canine love of his his, who he got when he was 15

Just another day on a movie set... Tom and Woody demonstrate Dumbo ears behind the scenes while filming Legend in 2014

Just another day on a movie set... Tom and Woody demonstrate Dumbo ears behind the scenes while filming Legend in 2014

It's love! The actor relaxes between takes on the set of Legend with his faithful hound, Woodstock 

It's love! The actor relaxes between takes on the set of Legend with his faithful hound, Woodstock 

The picture of Tom and Woody, taken on the Legend set (above), was so adorable that animal rights campaigners PETA used it to encourage people to adopt from animal shelters rather than buy from breeders

The picture of Tom and Woody, taken on the Legend set (above), was so adorable that animal rights campaigners PETA used it to encourage people to adopt from animal shelters rather than buy from breeders

He may have a tough guy image on screen, but the star who's played monstrous villains like Batman's Bane, reveals a far softer side when talking about his pets. 

In July 2010, when Max's health was faltering following a heart attack, he told The Guardian: 'I call Max "Lives-in-Hope”, because he does. "Can I have a biscuit?" Max asks. "Can I go for a walk?" Inevitably the answer is no, but even if it's a rainy day he lives in hope.'

When Max passed away in 2011, a devastated Tom told the Irish Central: 'My dog and son recognise me no matter what. Actually, my dog's dead now so he won't. We had him cremated. 

'There's a cardboard box of his ashes on our sofa that we're working out what to do with. I might put him in a pillow.'

Tom shared a selfie with Woody in 2012 to help raise money for homeless charities in Cambridge

Tom shared a selfie with Woody in 2012 to help raise money for homeless charities in Cambridge

The actor shares an affectionate kiss with a puppy while filming The Drop in 2013

The actor shares an affectionate kiss with a puppy while filming The Drop in 2013

His dog's death came in the same year he filmed in post-apocalyptic active movie Mad Max: Fury Road.

Speaking to Total Film, he remarked: 'I [had] a dog called Mad Max. Brilliant dog.There’s a linear sort of coincidence as to how I feel about this now that I’ve ended up playing him.'

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at Tom's finest canine moments, from cosying up with his dogs over the years to highlighting discrimination against pitbulls and encouraging the rest of the world to love the animals as much as he does.

Already a big screen hunk who has legions of female fans, knowing this hard man has such a soft side will no doubt get even more hearts fluttering. 

The smooth-shaven star cuddles a very scruffy looking pup on the set of Legend in East London in 2014

The smooth-shaven star cuddles a very scruffy looking pup on the set of Legend in East London in 2014

Tom reveals his penchant for bringing dogs to the red carpet by cuddling puppy Zora at The Drop premiere at The Sunshine Cinema, in New York

Tom reveals his penchant for bringing dogs to the red carpet by cuddling puppy Zora at The Drop premiere at The Sunshine Cinema, in New York

Three is never a crowd for the Mad Max star, his wife Charlotte Riley and his dog Woody, as they pose at the Blag clothing launch in London in 2014

Three is never a crowd for the Mad Max star, his wife Charlotte Riley and his dog Woody, as they pose at the Blag clothing launch in London in 2014

Tom can't resist a hug with a icy-eyed husky on the streets of New York

Tom can't resist a hug with a icy-eyed husky on the streets of New York

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