Tom Hardy has never felt "manly".
The 'Locke' actor claims he has been intimidated by macho men with bulging muscles for as long as he can remember and even used to avoid the gym because he was so paranoid.
He told the new issue of America's Esquire magazine: "I have always been frightened with men. To the point where I couldn't go into a gym because of the testosterone and I felt weak.
"I don't feel very manly. I don't feel rugged and strong and capable in real life, not how I imagine a man ought to be."
The British star revealed his fear causes him to choose ultra manly roles like Bane in Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Rises' because he wants to understand how the other half lives.
Tom explained: "I seek it, to mimic it and maybe understand it, or maybe to draw it into my own reality. People who are scary, they terrify me, but I can imitate them.
"I'm not a fighter. I'm a petit little bourgeois boy from London. I don't fight, I mimic."
The 36-year-old actor also touched upon his past struggle with addiction, explaining he is grateful that he has learnt from the experience in a positive way.
He said: "I am f***ing lucky to be here, to be honest. Any near-death experience - if you're lucky enough to f***ing realise that it is one - is going to leave an indelible mark on you.
"And then you add shame and guilt and fear into that, it's a recipe for awareness if you have the ability to become aware from it. And good things can come back into your life."

Hugh Hefner celebrated his 88th birthday by hosting his traditional 'Casablanca' movie night.
The Playboy founder has held the same event for more than 20 years and decided he's not yet bored of marking his big day with family at friends at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.
Hugh, who celebrated his birthday on April 2, shared a number of photographs on Twitter with his 1.43 million followers.
He also posted: "Tonight we start my weekend birthday celebration with the screening of my all time favourite film 'Casablanca' with family and friends."
He shared one snap of him cosying up to wife Crystal, 27, at the Beverly Hills bash, accompanied by the caption: "Here's looking at you, kid", a quote from the 1942 movie.
Hugh also shared an image of male guests wearing white formal jackets and a group of women posing in the foyer.
In honour of his birthday, Hugh also looked back at his life in 'CBS This Morning's 'Note to Self Wednesday'.
Addressing his 16-year-old self, he said: "After launching Playboy magazine in 1953 ... you'll come out from behind the desk and become Mr. Playboy, the embodiment of the magazine you've created. You'll even inspire those around you to reinvent themselves.
"The girl next door will become an international sex symbol through the pages of Playboy. Librarians, lawyers and even your own secretary will use Playboy as a tool to re-imagine themselves."
He added: "Millions of readers will aspire to live the Playboy lifestyle and you will challenge them to question what they believe about sex and sexuality, about personal freedom and civil rights."

Kelly Rowland has recruited Pharrell Williams for her fifth solo album.
The 33-year-old star is planning the follow-up to 'Talk A Good Game' and has managed to get the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker to work on new material with her in the studio.
She told Billboard.com: "I'm at the very very beginning stages of the record. We're at the point now where we are all talking - writers [and] producers - we're all excited.
"There are fresh ideas coming into the studio right now. We're trying different beats. It's a really great start.
"Pharrell [Williams] is on board. We already talked about it. I'd love for Timbaland to be on board. We've had discussions as well.
"I want to try to some new talent as well. There's so much new talent ... There's somebody out there with something new to give and I'd love to tap into that as well."
Kelly recently revealed she's parted ways with Universal Republic for a "fresh new start" and wants to try something different.
She said: "I need something new and I've earned the right to make my own choices and make my own decisions.
"I wish them well. They wish me well. No hard feelings, I just needed a fresh new start."

Ed Sheeran has revealed that he was high on MDMA when director Peter Jackson texted him to ask if he would write a song for 'The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug'.
The 23-year-old singer-songwriter admits he decided to try the drug for the first time while on holiday in Ibiza, attending his producer Jack Gossling's wedding.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "If I was ever going to try it, it would've been there.
"I thought the text wasn't real, because I was like, 'Is everything just great today?'"
The 'Lego House' hitmaker, who went on to write the track 'I See Fire' for the film, also spoke about his upcoming album, 'x', and claims he wanted "raw, honest songs from the heart."
He explained: "When you hear that Kesha-Pitbull song, you know it's a hit, but it doesn't make you want to cry or laugh or sit in a corner for five hours just repeating it."
Meanwhile, Ed also recently revealed one track from his album 'Don't' is about an ex-lover and singer who cheated on him in a hotel with a friend while he was downstairs.
He said: "It's 100 percent not about Taylor [Swift]. Taylor's one of these people that if you p*ss her off and she writes a song about you, it's not good news for you.
"I've never dated Taylor. I've dated a few singers, though."
Ed revealed he has played the song for Taylor and claims she told him: "Whatever happens, ever, between us as friends, I never want to p*ss you off that much."

David Walliams says 'Britain's Got Talent' is a "real life" 'Little Britain'.
The 42-year-old comedian often watched the ITV talent competition with his comedy partner Matt Lucas before becoming a judge, to help inspire characters for their sketch show.
Speaking on the red carpet at the launch of the new series yesterday (09.04.14), he explained: "We always used to watch it when we were doing 'Little Britain' to think, 'All these crazy people, who can we adapt as a character?' That's why I was obsessed with the show.
"Simon [Cowell] said to me years ago, when I'd just met him socially, before he asked me to do the show, he said, 'It's like the real life version of your show.' And it really is. That's why I love it. It's not like any other talent show because you've got no idea what's coming next."
David also reveals he thinks the show is at its best when the contestants are "eccentric".
He said: "We had an owl act on our show. Unfortunately, the owl didn't do anything. The man has about 30 owls and I go, 'Are you married?' He said, 'I don't need to, I've got owls!' So you start to wonder what happens with all the owls. I love it because of all the eccentrics!"
'Britain's Got Talent' returns on Saturday (12.04.14) at 7.15pm on ITV.

Marc Warren has joined the cast of 'The Musketeers'.
The 'Hustle' actor has signed up to play the Comte De Rochefort, a dashing aristocrat with a talent for sword fighting and a taste for adventure, in the BBC One drama's second series.
He commented: "I'm delighted to be part of the BBC's stylish and exciting take on the Dumas classic. Once I've overcome my fear of horses I'm sure it'll be a walk in the park."
On the surface, Rochefort seems like a charming and persuasive character, but as the series progresses his true nature and dark secrets are revealed. Only the Musketeers and their friends stand between him and a desperate act that will change all their lives forever.
The character replaces Cardinal Richelieu as the series' main antagonist as actor Peter Capaldi has left to star in 'Doctor Who'.
Jessica Pope, BBC's executive producer, added: "Adrian [Hodges, show creator] and I were thrilled to welcome Marc to the cast. He's a clever and mercurial actor who will bring danger and charm to the role of Rochefort in equal measure."
The star joins Luke Pasqualino ('Skins') as D'Artagnan, Tom Burke ('Great Expectations') as Athos, Santiago Cabrera ('Merlin') as Aramis and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Howard Charles as Porthos.
'The Musketeers' follows King Louis XIII's personal bodyguards who fight for honour and justice on the streets of 17th Century Paris.
Filming for series two is currently under way in Prague, following the success of the first series this January, which was the BBC's third highest-rating drama launch of the past decade.

'Hollyoaks' star Jesse Birdsall is backing Sandy Roscoe as Fraser Black's killer.
The actor's villainous alter-ego will be killed off in a major new 'whodunit?' storyline and he thinks Fraser's on-screen wife, played by Gillian Taylforth, should be the one to murder him.
Sandy and Fraser hit the rocks in the Channel 4 soap this week as her sons Joe and Freddie exposed some of the gangster's crimes.
Jesse told All About Soap magazine: "Personally I've always thought it should be Sandy, but that doesn't mean that's who the killer is.
"I love Gilly (Sandy) so much and we have a great working relationship. I've known her since I was about 12, so it has been a long time. When I left, there were a few tears.
"I suppose he's a pretty bad guy, and he did some pretty bad things, so I think it's probably right that he got his comeuppance in the end."
Jesse admits it hasn't hit him that he's left the show after wrapping filming on the Liverpool set recently.
He added: "I've really enjoyed it. I have to say, I have been there ten months and it feels like it has only been about two weeks.
"I've just packed up and left Liverpool and it seems as if I'm just off on a break at the minute - I don't feel like I've finished yet."
Meanwhile, Gillian is to leave 'Hollyoaks' as well later this year, but producers are leaving the door open for her to return.

Kate Upton says men will feel good about themselves after watching 'The Other Woman'.
The Sports Illustrated model hits the big screen alongside Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann in the comedy which follows the three women on a mission to get revenge on their three-timing lover, Mark - played by Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Upton, 21, believes the film will appeal to men because most can leave feeling smug about being a faithful partner after watching cheating Mark on screen.
Talking on US chat show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on Wednesday (09.04.14), she said: "I think that when they go to the movie they'll feel better about themselves. They'll be like 'I missed Valentines Day but I'm not that bad'."
Jimmy replied: "You look good by comparison."
She said: "Exactly, exactly. Suddenly, their wives and girlfriends will be like 'I like you a lot better.'"
Upton - who is best known for appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - has her first big film part in the Nick Cassavetes-directed picture which was released in the US and UK this month.

Mae Whitman is in talks for 'The DUFF'. The 25-year-old actress is negotiating a role in the high school flick which follows a teenage girl who becomes determined to reinvent herself after learning that her 'friends' have labelled her DUFF, their des...

Reese Witherspoon laughed on the phone as she enjoyed a cool beverage following a trip to the salon in Brentwood, California. She sported a cute denim jacket with a black top and a leopard print skirt which showed off her tanned legs.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Prince George with babysitters as they attended a World War One Aviation commemorative event Blenheim, as part of their tour of New Zealand and Australia tour. Catherine was all smiles wearing a stylish blue trenc...

Rihanna enjoyed a cold beverage as she enjoyed the Clippers game in Los Angeles with her best pal Melissa Ford. The 'Pour it Up' singer showed off her legs in a sporty blue dress accessorized with chunky jewellery and styled her hair into big curls.