The two actors Tom Holland has always looked up to: “A hero”

Posted On January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Since taking on the role of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Holland has established himself as one of this generation’s biggest action stars. Although his fourth Spider-Man is in production, there have been rumours that it could well be his last.

Tom Holland has played our ‘Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man’ for nearly a decade and is now approaching 30, so it feels like a turning point in his career. The next few roles he takes could define his future as an actor. Already, he’s setting his sights on more prestigious studio projects, including a role in Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey. He’s also frequently mentioned among the potential candidates to become the next James Bond.

But until he signs on to further projects, it’s all conjecture. But Holland’s own idols give a little insight into how he wants to shape the rest of his career. “The types of people that I admire in my business are the types of people whose lives I would like to emulate,” he told Harper’s Bazaar.

Clearly aware of the ways that the fame that comes with being a leading man affects every aspect of your life, Holland is looking to hone not just his career choices, but his personal ones, too. It’s a smart move for someone who has retained a fair amount of privacy, given he’s engaged to fellow superstar Zendaya.

He apparently wants to keep it that way, too, given his cited inspirations in both life and career. “Someone like Cillian Murphy, arguably one of the best actors in the business,” he explained, “You never see him anywhere, you know?” And, he’s not wrong. Murphy is one of the most prolific and talented actors currently in the film business, racking up leading roles in Peaky Blinders, Oppenheimer and Small Things Like These. Yet, despite being on what seems like never-ending press tours and being one of the most talked-about actors of the moment, he’s mostly stayed out of the rumour mill.

Murphy comes across as someone deeply committed to his craft, yet firmly resistant to the trappings of fame. His reluctance to engage with the celebrity circus has become something of a running joke – both online and in his interviews. He doesn’t pretend to care, and you can see it in those unmistakably deadpan blue eyes.

If I were a star, it’s the kind I’d want to be. And the same goes for Holland’s second big inspiration, “Daniel Craig. He’s the man, he’s a hero. I think he’s one of the coolest people. You never see him anywhere, but he’s one of the biggest movie stars in the world.” Even more than Murphy, Craig is one of the most famous leading men of the past two decades.

Of course, there were the James Bond years. A role that’s a sure-fire way to cement yourself as a film star. But in the five years since, Craig has managed to even further solidify his status by taking on challenging and diverse roles, most notably playing William Lee in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. Just like Holland, he’s been in a long-term relationship with a leading lady in her own right, only for Craig it’s the incredible Rachel Weisz. And yet, his personal life is virtually non-existent in the public sphere beyond that. 

As Holland puts it, Craig and Holland are “people that are able to remain relevant [and] present, do good work, and at the same time somehow manage to live a regular life.” Which is exactly what he aspires to. Despite Holland’s high profile, he’s very clearly not in it for the fame.

It’s not always easy to keep it that way. Fans have a way of needling themselves into actors’ lives, especially with the rise of social media and the onslaught of parasocial relationships. But regardless of his next career steps, let’s all hope he has some success in this area of his life at least.

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