Tom Hiddleston says being a father is "the most important role I'll ever play"

Tom Hiddleston has spoken about the joys of fatherhood, just months after welcoming his second child with partner Zawe Ashton. The notoriously private actor gave a rare comment on his family life while promoting his new film Tenzing.

Speaking to Esquire UK, Hiddleston, who is taking part in the Esquire Better Men Honours Dinner 2026 in partnership with Bang & Olufsen, shared: "Becoming a father has completely changed my life. It’s changed the centre of meaning in my life.

"It’s the most important thing I’ll ever do, the most important role I’ll ever play. And to be there with for them, alongside them. It’s… it’s… heaven."

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Hiddleston and Aston welcomed their first child in October 2022 and confirmed the birth of their second baby last December. The couple began dating in 2019 after co-starring together in the play Betrayal.

The Loki star went on to share how parenthood has brought him a new level of happiness in life.

"I don’t think I could have ever been prepared for how your heart expands, becoming a parent. You just feel more of everything," he added.

"You feel more deeply… it’s a love like no other…You’re just more alive. This [parenthood] is the best room in the house, and I didn’t know that. I was quite happy before, but this is the whole point of living here."

Related: Exclusive: Tom Hiddleston had a unique way to bond the cast on new drama Tenzing

Hiddleston is currently starring in Apple TV biographical drama Tenzing opposite Caitríona Balfe, which hits the streaming service on Friday (October 16).

The film centres on Nepalese-Indian Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay (played by Genden Phuntsok), who aimed to climb Mount Everest in 1953 alongside Sir Edmund Hillary (Hiddleston) and John Hunt (Willem Dafoe).

The November/December issue of Esquire UK is on sale from 14 October.

Tenzing is released on Apple TV on 16 October.

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Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.

After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.

Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.