torrilla:

16 JUNE 2013

Tom Hiddleston has admitted he is worried there is not enough local arts funding to help young actors discover their talent.

The star of War Horse and Thor is appearing on stage in the title role in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus at the Donmar later this year, and the play will be broadcast live on one evening in January into regional cinemas around the country.

Tom said of regional arts funding: “There could always be more. It’s interesting that in the course of my lifetime, lots of that funding has disappeared. Local theatres had a huge amount of government subsidy to produce work.

“I do worry that there’s not enough money for those talents to cut their teeth.

“But I’m not an expert on this and certain things in tough times have to come first, like health and essential services. But I do think it’s a shame that in the squeeze, our arts funding gets cut.”

The British actor worked with director Joss Whedon on Avengers Assemble. Whedon, who has just made his own film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, holds Shakespeare readings at his Hollywood home.

Hiddleston revealed: “I haven’t actually been around his particular part of Los Angeles for that. We shot Avengers in New Mexico. But one day maybe I’ll get the Shakespeare call from Joss, which would be a privilege.

“Joss is very, very good at comedy but he’s also very good at darkness. He likes to get underneath the veneer.

“So something like A Midsummer Night’s Dream [would work for him]. It’s a comedy about love, but people are very cruel in it, so I think you could have a lot of fun with the juxtaposition of comedy and cruelty.”

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