Tom Hiddleston trained with a navy seal and two royal marines for his role in ‘Kong: Skull Island’.
The 36-year-old actor – who plays former SAS tracker Captain James Conrad, who is hired to help hunt down the ape – would wake up at four in the morning and train before heading to set for a full day’s shoot.
Speaking on the red carpet at the European premiere of ‘Kong: Skull Island’ in London’s Leicester Square on Tuesday evening (28.02.17), he said: "The only reason I chose to take on the physical aspect is because the SAS are so highly-regarded for the discipline, so I should try and do something. Let’s just be straight: I am nowhere near fit enough to be a professional soldier, I have more respect for their bravery and courage than you can imagine.
"I was trained by a US navy seal and I worked with two British royal marines and it basically involved getting up at four o’clock in the morning and do all manner of running, jumping, lifting, pulling, pushing and then going and doing a day’s work filming."
It comes after Tom – who attended the premiere alongside his co-stars Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson – admitted he was impressed by the "truly monstrous size and scale" of Kong in the movie.
He said: "He is truly monstrous in size and scale and scope. He’s 90 feet tall. We’re captivated by Kong’s power and majesty. He is the mystery of the unknown, he is a terrifying force of nature with an intelligence we don’t understand."
And Tom feels incredibly lucky to have had a chance to explore the "natural beauty and danger" of some of the locations they filmed in.
He shared: "There was this palpable sense among every member of the cast that to be in a ‘Kong’ film was such a privilege and to be in these locations.
"Because there’s something very timeless about the myth of ‘Kong’ and the idea of mankind going into undiscovered countries, going into the jungle and being humbled by the power of nature as represented by ‘Kong’.
"Jordan [Vogt-Roberts, director] chose three exquisite locations on the planet where nature is at its most beautiful and terrifying. These were places of natural beauty and also danger. We just felt so lucky to be there."
Tom Hiddleston’s early wake up calls
