Tom Holland can reveal his roster of top acting coaches, which includes the Iron Man star, now that the SAG strike is over.

It has long been believed that superheroes are the embodiment of bravery and strength, able to overcome any challenge. Nevertheless, in order to become icons, even the most powerful of them require direction and mentoring. One such alliance that developed inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe was between Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr., who portrayed Spider-Man and Iron Man, respectively. What happens, however, when a young protégé, such as the Spider-Man: Homecoming star, 27, finds the loud honesty of an experienced veteran a little too much?

Nobody could have coached Holland better than Downey Jr.’s Iron Man when he took on the role of Spider-Man. The Sherlock Holmes star, known for his bold portrayal of the genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist, became Holland’s real-life mentor, providing him with invaluable advice and support. According to the latter, the 58-year-old Oppenheimer star and Zendaya deserve special recognition for their honesty.
Tom Holland in The Crowded Room
Read more: “I never really wanted this”: Tom Holland Details How He Broke into Hollywood When He Was Only 14-Years-Old

Tom Holland Sang Praise For Robert Downey Jr. For his Brutal Honesty

Tom Holland recently participated in a Q&A session led by The Hollywood Reporter during the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The Uncharted star opened up about the life-changing experiences of working with co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., and Zendaya during the conversation. Nobody can dispute Downey Jr.’s reputation for speaking bluntly and honestly. However, is an impressionable young actor like Holland really helped by this strategy?

The 27-year-old Cherry star shared that while this level of honesty seemed intimidating at first, in the end, it was a blessing. According to what he said:
“Zendaya is probably the most honest with me, which I love, because you need that. Downey is very honest, sometimes a little too honest and I’ve seen Doolittle, bro. I love him obviously, and I really respect Downey’s opinion.I really respect Downey’s opinion.”

Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in a still from Avengers: Infinity War

Holland had to constantly push himself to give better performances because of his mentor’s strict expectations. It was during these times that the young actor discovered tremendous growth and admiration for his talented counterpart. He praised Downey Jr., adding:
“He [Robert Downey Jr.] taught me so much, and I always sing his praises. I love the guy, I admire him. I don’t know if you guys have seen Oppenheimer yet, but he’s absolutely staggering in it. He steals the movie for me.”
It is not just the Oppenheimer star and his longtime girlfriend who are part of Holland’s trajectory as a reputable thespian. It made sense when he discussed his interactions with the Sherlock actor and emphasized his status as a go-to person for acting advice.
Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming
Read more: “Is Benedict crying at the coffee station”: Tom Holland Exposes Benedict Cumberbatch’s Secret That Made Him Love Crying Scenes

Tom Holland Also Seeks Acting Advice From Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch is a phenomenal actor who has played multiple characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thus, regarding one particular facet of acting, Tom Holland clarified that he looked to the Sherlock star for guidance. The Pilgrimage star said (per THR):
“Benedict Cumberbatch is someone that I ask for advice a lot about acting. I went through a phase where I was really, really struggling to cry, in my personal life also. And it was really affecting me on set… And I remember asking him, ‘How did you do that? Did you draw from your own personal emotion? Is there a technique that you do?’ Truth be told, it’s a combination of both.”

Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
It makes sense that an actor might find it hard to get moved to tears during a scene. Holland claimed that he was much more comfortable handling the emotionally charged sequences he had previously shied away from because of the Doctor Strange actor’s unique approach:
“The technique that he told me was this kind of thing that he’s able to do with his diaphragm… He sort of does this thing, he showed me on set, and we were just hanging out, having a coffee..It’s something I really feel like I have in my wheelhouse. I don’t have to draw on past experiences or personal matters anymore, which is really important..”
Tom Holland in The Crowded Room
Holland is obviously putting the acting advice to good use, as evidenced by his recent exceptional performances. This is valid for his run of Marvel movies as well as for a project like the gripping drama series The Crowded Room, which is available to all Apple TV Plus subscribers.