“I Am a Lucky Man to Have Charlotte in My Life.” The Love Story of Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley

A romantic relationship is quite a common thing between actors when they work together on a movie, but not all of these affairs grow into something serious. However, Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley’s workplace romance marked the beginning of a long life together. Moreover, Charlotte became the person who helped Tom cope with a very difficult stage in his life, and eventually find true happiness.

At CHEERY, we are inspired by the heart-warming love story of these 2 famous actors which proves love makes us all better.

It wasn’t love at first sight.

Charlotte and Tom first met while working on the Wuthering Heights TV series in 2009. She was 28, he was 32. Probably no one from the filming crew would have imagined that these 2 very different people would become close. At the time, Hardy was quite a famous actor in Great Britain and even in Hollywood, and playing Catherine in the mini-series was Charlotte’s first big project as a lead.

Tom had already been divorced once and had just broken up with his girlfriend, who was the mother of his son. Besides, Tom’s reputation wasn’t very good—he was “a bad guy” not only on screen but also in life. He suffered from a few addictions and often lost his temper. And Charlotte was just the opposite of him: she was a shy girl from a good family.

Later, Riley confessed in an interview that it wasn’t love at first sight. Once, she plucked up the courage and asked Tom to go for a cup of tea since they were going to fall madly in love with each other on-screen. Hardy decided to contribute to his questionable reputation by suddenly switching into the persona of Charles Bronson—Britain’s most dangerous prisoner, who Tom had previously played in the movie Bronson. Charlotte was a bit unnerved first, but after a few cups of tea she realized that “it was something he did mainly to make people laugh.” That was how they broke the ice.

“I can wait for her as long as it takes.”

Tom and Charlotte fell in love during the filming of the series, and they became even closer while working on The Take mini-series together. Their relationship developed so rapidly that they got engaged a year later. However, despite their engagement, they took some time to tie the knot. When journalists asked Tom why they were still not married, he said, “You’d have to ask Charlotte when we’re getting married. She’s a difficult woman to pin down, as she’s always so busy with work.” However, he added, “I can wait for her as long as it takes.” So, rumors spread in the press that it was Charlotte who didn’t want to set the date of their wedding.

However, in an interview, Charlotte assured everyone that she was going to marry Tom and even showed them her engagement ring. This delicate and exquisite ring from the 1940s was chosen by Tom because of his fiancée’s passion for that decade.

The relationship that made both Tom and Charlotte better

It’s worth mentioning that both of them tried to support each other and widen each other’s horizons from the moment they met. So, after Tom met Charlotte, he began to admire the sounds of the 40s, and she came to appreciate his love of gangsta rap. Hardy also helped Charlotte overcome her lifelong fear of dogs—she was badly bitten by one when she was a child, but Tom had always loved them. Once, he brought in a stray puppy which he had found on a freeway. She described the moment in an interview like this: “He adopted him, got all the necessary vaccinations done and brought him home. He’s called Woody and I am totally in love with him—he has now grown into this huge beautiful dog that Tom’s little boy Louis rides like a horse.”

Also Charlotte and Tom love writing each other letters. She always preferred this old-fashioned form of communication, and instilled this love for letters in Tom too. “I’ve always been a keen letter writer and so Tom and I write to each other most days when we are apart.” They also have a rule that they must see each other every 2 weeks despite their work or other things.

Secret wedding

Finally, after 4 years of engagement, they got married. They had a secret wedding and didn’t announce the event. Only close friends and family were present at the modest ceremony in France. Mass media learned about this event only a few months later thanks to one of the guests who agreed to talk to a journalist. According to them, “It was a beautiful, low-key day made even more special because they just had their closest friends and family around them.” They also added that Tom and Charlotte wanted it to be about the 2 of them and their family rather than any grand gesture.

“...there is no harder job on the planet, and more important, than parenting.”

By becoming Tom’s wife, Charlotte also became the stepmother of his son Louis. In an interview, she confessed, “He is the most incredible, intelligent, creative little human being I have ever met—he is amazing. I feel very honored to be his stepmum.” And in response to a question about whether she wanted to have her own children, she said, “Hell, yes, I want babies, lots of them. Definitely, absolutely definitely.” Soon her dream came true. In 2015, the couple had a baby girl whose name remains secret, and in 2018, they had a boy named Forrest.

Both Charlotte and Tom think their family is a priority, and protect their private life, so they don’t like to discuss their children. Tom once said in an interview that “...there is no harder job on the planet, and more important, than parenting.” They even moved to a more remote location to help bring up their children.

Love unlimited

Even though Tom Hardy often portrays tough guys on screen, he’s very gentle with his wife. They even have nicknames for each other—he calls her “Charlie Monkey” while she calls him “Boo.”

After 13 years together, Tom and Charlotte demonstrate true love every day, which is based on support and mutual respect. When asked what he loves most about his wife, Hardy replied, “She’s just a very kind, pure person.” Earlier, Tom said that he is a lucky man to have Charlotte in his life.

When talking about family life, his wife once said, “I just love him however he comes.” And that’s probably the most important love lesson of all.

What is the secret to a long and happy relationship in your opinion?