Behind the gritty, glamorous facade of a hit London crime drama, a real-life personal battle is reportedly brewing between two of its biggest stars. Sources working on the set of Paramount+'s acclaimed series MobLand have revealed that relations between Dame Helen Mirren and Tom Hardy have become 'extremely strained' during filming for the show's second season.
Behind the Scenes of the Gangland Drama
According to insiders speaking to The Mail on Sunday, the professional atmosphere has soured significantly. Dame Helen, 80, who plays formidable matriarch Maeve Harrigan in Guy Ritchie's series, is said to be 'getting increasingly frustrated' with her co-star's attitude. The veteran actress, renowned for her discipline and professionalism, has allegedly been annoyed by Hardy's tendency to be late for filming.
One source elaborated, stating, 'Tom's character is charming. He's the calm one but it is quite the opposite when the cameras stop. Dame Helen is a joy, she is a total pro... But she is getting increasingly frustrated with Tom and his attitude.' The insider added that Hardy, 48, is at times found playing games on his phone on set, and his overall 'tone' has contributed to the friction.
A History of On-Set Clashes
This is not the first time Tom Hardy's conduct during production has made headlines. The actor previously clashed with co-star Charlize Theron during the gruelling shoot for 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. Creative differences, lateness, and Hardy's immersive acting style created a tense environment, which reportedly left Theron feeling threatened enough to request on-set protection. Hardy later admitted he was 'out of his depth' and wasn't the acting partner Theron needed.
The current fallout on the MobLand set has allegedly led Dame Helen to struggle with working closely with Hardy. The pair were reunited just over four weeks ago to begin filming the second series, where Hardy reprises his role as gangster fixer Harry Da Souza. Crew members have noted that Dame Helen no longer appears as happy when filming scenes with him, suggesting the rift has 'become quite personal.'
The Wider Cast and Ongoing Production
The show, which also stars Pierce Brosnan as Dame Helen's on-screen husband and Joanne Froggatt as the wife of Hardy's character, continues filming. Last week, production was underway at locations in the Cotswolds and at London's Tower Bridge. Despite the reported tension, sources acknowledge the show itself is 'fantastic' and beloved by the crew.
One insider summarised the unfortunate situation: 'He is very, very arrogant. It’s a fantastic show and everyone loves working on it. It’s such a shame there is this undertone.' A representative for Tom Hardy did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
