Throwback Thursday: Tom Hardy is One Handsome Devil

It's hard to imagine there was a time when Tom Hardy was practically unknown. Even though he had minor roles in Marie Antoinette and Layer Cake, it wasn't until 2008 that he established himself as a serious actor with some serious acting skills. Thanks to a triple play of three brute roles (Sucker Punch, RocknRolla and Bronson), Hardy was literally punching his way to the A-list.

The most popular of the three roles was Handsome Bob, a closeted gay thug with a crush on Gerard Butler, in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla. And the moment that stuck out most to fans (and now lives on in GIF-form) was the intimate moment the two shared on the dance floor.

"They just made me want to snuggle Gerard a bit tighter, lick his top lip a bit," Hardy told Out in November of 2008.

GIF: Imgur

Six years later, Hardy is back with his most challenging role yet as Ivan in Locke. The film showcases the layered acting talents demonstrated in Bronson and even RocknRolla. But no matter how deep he gets, Hardy will always be our handsome devil.