Wednesday, July 1, 2020

#PassTheMic series with the ONE Campaign (2020)

July 1, 2020:

Tom Hiddleston handed over his Instagram to Dr. Vera Songwe as a part of the ONE Campaign's #PassTheMic series finale. #PassTheMic is when experts, frontline workers, and scientists take over celebrity social media accounts. 







The #COVID19 pandemic has shone a light on the stark inequities of our health systems globally. Through my continued work with @unicef_uk I have seen first hand the failures to protect marginalized communities, especially children, and the progress that can be made when we work together. As #COVID19 continues to disproportionately affect these same exact populations, we are reminded of our responsibility to support each other as one community globally. That is why I am honoured to #PassTheMic to Dr. Vera Songwe @songwevera, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. She is an expert on economics and development in Africa and globally. Today Dr. Songwe is taking over my account to talk about the large scale impact of #COVID19 in Africa and around the world, and why we all need to demand a coordinated global response from our leaders. Follow along here and in my Stories to learn more from Dr. Songwe about the challenges and opportunities we face with COVID-19. None of us are safe until all of us are safe. Join me to demand action at @ONE. #oneworld
A post shared by Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) on

In a series of posts and stories, Dr. Songwe - who serves as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa - highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 virus in Africa and the need for global response to tackle this pandemic. 







Thank you, Tom, I’m so glad to be here. Like Tom mentioned, my name is Dr. Vera Songwe @songwevera and I’m the United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Today I want to talk about the economic impact of a coordinated global response to #COVID19. A united global response is the key to a faster recovery and unlocks the potential for more equitable growth. Tens of millions of people around the world have already lost their jobs, and we need to keep that number from growing. If we don’t come together as one, we will have a “limping recovery” where some countries take off and the rest are left struggling. We’re all interconnected, so having one country lifting off and another lagging behind is not going to help any of us. To join us in fighting for a coordinated global response to COVID-19, demand action at @ONE #passthemic #oneworld
A post shared by Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) on






In Africa, our priority should be keeping people safe and getting the private sector back on its feet so we can get people back to work. The good news is that Africa’s private sector has been quite resilient. Many have changed their production facilities to produce hand sanitizer and PPE equipment, and have been able to pivot in these times of crisis. Most importantly, and the thing I’m most optimistic about, is the innovation we’re seeing. For example, a laboratory in Senegal is making testing accessible by producing one-dollar test kits that can give you results in 65 minutes. And the innovation we’re seeing in the technological space from Africa’s youth is amazing and refreshing and is key to recovering our global health and economies. Join us in a coordinated global response to #COVID19. Demand action at @ONE #passthemic #oneworld
A post shared by Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) on

Tom also surrendered his Twitter page.




In Tom's final tweet, there is a call to action to join the ONE Campaign. If you sign up, this letter is sent to your local government.  




Thursday, June 4, 2020

Coriolanus Watchathon (2020)

June 4, 2020: 

Fans were in for a special treat when Tom Hiddleston, joined director Josie Rourke, and many other cast members for a live watchathon of Coriolanus. It's more or less three hours of Tom playing with his hair - while giving you a history lesson and presenting his Master's thesis on Shakespeare. I support all those topics. 



Also. Josie Rourke + technology is the humor we all need right now. I need some of whatever wine Josie was drinking okay. 

The watchathon is in three parts because there were time limits on how long they could stream. 

Part 1   

Part 2   
Part 3

Here are some highlights: *no disrespect to Josie for cropping her out. I recorded these on my phone and notifications kept popping up over her and it just looked messy. 

Tom's advice to artists.


Hadley Fraser "I wonder what it was like kissing the beard. Ask (Tom Hiddleston what it was like kissing the beard."
Tom Hiddleston "The beard was very soft, just in case everyone was wondering." 



The Mullet Competition



Also, Tom Hiddleston was the top trending topic in Italy... while livestreaming a play that was set in Rome. 



If that wasn't enough. The National Theatre also recorded a reunion special that aired on their Youtube channel. Many of the things they talk about were also discussed during the watchathon. 



"The stories we tell on stage, the stories we tell in the theatre, we laugh together, we cry together, we learn together. We're a community. And, it's been the source of so many curiosities, avenues of thought, ideas, experiences in my life. It can open your mind to something you didn't know. And that's why I wanted to be an actor, I thought 'What a thing to be part of.'" And that's what I think we all hope we're doing every time we put on a play is we hope we are contributing to that tradition of community , and ideas, and fellow feeling." 






Ahead of the watchathon, Josie shared this video from their first week of rehearsals. 







Coriolanus is airing as a part of the National Theatre's At Home fundraising initiative. More than $20,000 was raised during the live streams. The play will be available to watch through Thursday, June 11 and you can continue to donate. 




During the broadcast, the Donmar Warehouse announced a new auction to raise funds while their theatre is closed down.  







Own a piece of theatrical history! In honour of our National Theatre At Home stream we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the leather armour worn by @twhiddleston in the title role of the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, directed by @JosieRourke in 2013. Signed by Tom himself, it was created by the Donmar’s own costume department from designs by Lucy Osborne. Thanks to Bid In generously providing this platform free of charge in response to the Covid-19 emergency, all proceeds will go directly to the Donmar Warehouse to provide much needed funds during this difficult period of uncertainty while the theatre is shut, so please give generously. The armour will be securely delivered to you by courier wherever in the world you are (additional charges may apply for international shipping). Link to the auction in our bio and our stories - the auction closes 10pm Friday 12 June 2020
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Monday, January 6, 2020

BAFTA Rising Star Announcement (2020)


January 6, 2020:

Our first event of 2020 brought Tom Hiddleston's BAFTA story full circle. In 2012, Tom was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star. 


In 2020, he was back to announce the nominees along with Edith Bowman. 



TFW you were once a nominee, but now you're the man on stage, and you keep that same energy. 


Tom took over the BAFTA Instagram page, and then reposted the videos and nominees on his own Instagram. I do believe this is the first time he has posted a video in his stories? 


This year's BAFTA Rising Star Nominees. You can learn more about each nominee - and more importantly, VOTE for your favorite - on the BAFTA website





Tom, Edith, and BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry with Rising Star nominees Micheal Ward and Jack Lowden.