Helen Mirren broke her silence following reports of tension behind the scenes of the Paramount+ crime drama MobLandwhere she stars opposite Tom Hardy.
The Oscar winner took to Instagram on Thursday to post a photo of Hardy with text across his face that read: “Love you now and always Helen.”
The brief but pointed message came just hours after conflicting reports emerged about Hardy’s status on the show.
Earlier this week, Puck reported that Hardy had been fired after season two, citing alleged issues with lag and long stretches used in his trailer.
A source said The Hollywood Reporter that Hardy “refused to come out of his trailer for hours at a time.”
However, Black countered that Hardy “wasn’t fired” and that “the door is not closed on Season 3,” noting that creative discussions are ongoing.
Rumors of tension between Hardy and Mirren were also addressed.
A source said Black that while Hardy’s delay was “frustrating” to Mirren, there was no animosity.
“I know she’s said to him a few times, ‘Come on, Tom, we’ve been here forever, let’s get on with it,’ but she’s never come across as anti-Tom,” the source explained.
Another insider added: “Helen is not that kind of person. If she had a problem with Tom, she would have said it to his face.”
Mirren’s supportive post echoes a similar message she shared in December, when she praised Hardy’s “brilliant on-screen”, “dedication off-screen” and “good heart” while cheekily listing “bad journalism” among the things she dislikes.
Hardy plays a fixer for a London crime family led by Mirren’s character in MobLand.
Season two has concluded but has yet to premiere on Paramount+.
