Ben Hardy has no problem kissing on screen because he had to strip naked and simulate sex for his first major role.
The ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ star played Arthur Wellesley in the 2012 revival of ‘The Judas Kiss’ – which was originally written in 1998 by David Hare and focuses on Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde’s disgrace at the hands of his young lover Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie in the 1890s.
For the role, Hardy, who was 21 at the time, had to strip off on stage in front of a live audience and after overcoming his nerves for that he now isn’t worried about locking lips in front of cameras.
The 25-year-old actor said: "(Getting naked) was incredibly nerve-wracking. To the point where I almost said no because I was so scared. I was mortified. I was ringing my agent and saying, ‘I’m not sure I can do this.’ "
Revealing what he told ‘EastEnders’ bosses when he landed the role of Peter Beale in in 2013, he added to The Sun newspaper: "This is my first telly role but I’ve done countless kissing scenes in the past. The last play I did I was naked, simulating sex – so for me a kissing scene on ‘EastEnders’ will be a doddle!"
Hardy’s first Hollywood movie – in which he stars with Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Olivia Munn among others – required him to show off his body as well for his role as mutant Archangel.
Although he is in great shape, Hardy doesn’t just want to be known for his ripped physique.
The hunk – who has been in a relationship with Katriona Perrett for six years – said: "I don’t regret being topless in certain things … but I try not to be topless any more because I don’t want that to be my thing."
Ben Hardy: Screen kisses are easy for me
