Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tom Holland

Discover the career path of Tom Holland, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Tom Holland is a highly successful English actor known for his leading roles in blockbuster films. He has received a BAFTA Award and three Saturn Awards, and his films have grossed over $9.9 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing film actors. He was also recognized on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2019.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

2006: Performance at Richmond Dance Festival

In 2006, at age nine, Tom Holland performed at the Richmond Dance Festival with his school group from Nifty Feet Dance School, where he was spotted by a choreographer.

June 2008: Debut Performance in Billy Elliot the Musical

In June 2008, Tom Holland made his debut performance in Billy Elliot the Musical at the West End's Victoria Palace Theatre after winning the role of Michael Caffrey.

2008: Supporting Role in Billy Elliot the Musical

In 2008, Tom Holland secured a supporting part in Billy Elliot the Musical after two years of training. Later in 2008, he was upgraded to the title role.

2008: Promotion to Lead Role in Billy Elliot

Later in 2008, Tom Holland was promoted to the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical. On his first day playing Elliot, he performed despite having tonsillitis.

2010: End of Billy Elliot the Musical Role

In 2010, Tom Holland's time playing the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical came to an end.

2010: End of Billy Elliot Run

In 2010, Tom Holland's work on Billy Elliot the Musical finished, marking the end of an era in his early career.

2011: Voiced Role in Arrietty

In 2011, after finishing his work on Billy Elliot the Musical, Tom Holland voiced a role in the British dub of the Japanese animated fantasy film Arrietty.

2012: Film Debut in The Impossible

In 2012, Tom Holland made his film debut in The Impossible, a disaster drama. He played a teenage tourist trapped in a tsunami and received critical acclaim.

2012: Audition and Casting in The Impossible

In 2012, Tom Holland sent an audition tape to Juan Antonio Bayona for a part in The Impossible and was subsequently cast in the film after an impressive audition.

2013: Appeared in How I Live Now

In 2013, Tom Holland appeared in the film How I Live Now, continuing to build his acting career after his debut in The Impossible.

2013: Roles in How I Live Now and Locke

In 2013, Tom Holland featured in the drama film How I Live Now and lent his voice in a supporting role for the drama film Locke.

2014: Cameo in Billy Elliot the Musical Live

In 2014, Tom Holland had a cameo in Billy Elliot the Musical Live, revisiting his stage roots.

June 2015: Signing with Marvel Studios

In June 2015, Tom Holland signed a six-picture deal with Marvel Studios to play Peter Parker / Spider-Man, marking a significant turning point in his career.

2015: Roles in Wolf Hall, Tweet, and In the Heart of the Sea

In 2015, Tom Holland appeared in Wolf Hall, directed Tweet, and co-starred in In the Heart of the Sea. It was a busy year for the actor, showcasing his talent in various forms.

2015: Directed the Short Film Tweet

In 2015, Tom Holland directed the short film Tweet, showcasing his talent behind the camera.

2015: Role in In the Heart of the Sea and Wolf Hall

In 2015, Tom Holland played historical figures in the film In the Heart of the Sea and the TV miniseries Wolf Hall, further establishing his presence in the acting industry.

2016: International Recognition as Spider-Man

In 2016, Tom Holland achieved international recognition for playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, marking his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

2016: Co-starred in Edge of Winter

In 2016, Tom Holland co-starred in the psychological thriller Edge of Winter, which was the first film he did without his parents' knowledge.

2016: Debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War

In 2016, Tom Holland made his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

2017: Solo Feature in Spider-Man: Homecoming

In 2017, Tom Holland starred in his solo feature as the title character in Spider-Man: Homecoming, earning him an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest actor to play a title role in the MCU.

2017: Won BAFTA Rising Star Award

In 2017, Tom Holland won the Rising Star Award at the 70th British Academy Film Awards. He also starred in The Lost City of Z and The Current War this year.

2018: Filming Avengers: Infinity War

In 2018, Tom Holland reprised his role as Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War, marking another significant appearance in the MCU.

2019: Success of Spider-Man: Far From Home

In 2019, Spider-Man: Far From Home, a sequel starring Tom Holland, grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, cementing his success in the MCU.

2019: Views on film industry and Marvel films

In 2019, Tom Holland advocated for more representation of racial minorities and the LGBT community in film. He also defended Marvel films against criticism from Martin Scorsese, emphasizing that they are still "real art".

2019: Filming Avengers: Endgame and Release of Spider-Man: Far From Home

In 2019, Tom Holland starred in Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Spider-Man: Far From Home widely received positive reviews and became the first Spider-Man film to earn $1 billion, finishing as the fourth-highest grosser of 2019.

2019: Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list

In 2019, Tom Holland was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, recognizing his achievements and influence as a young actor.

November 2020: The Devil All the Time Streaming Success

By November 2020, the film The Devil All the Time, starring Tom Holland, was the 22nd-most watched straight-to-streaming title of the year, according to a Variety report.

2020: Roles in The Devil All the Time and Onward

In 2020, Tom Holland played against-type roles in The Devil All the Time and voiced a role in Onward. The film "The Devil All the Time" is a crime drama.

2020: Voiced Roles in Dolittle and Onward

In 2020, Tom Holland voiced roles in the live-action film Dolittle and the Pixar animated film Onward, collaborating with his MCU co-stars.

November 2021: Voiced Percy Pig and acknowledged Relationship

In November 2021, Tom Holland voiced Percy Pig in advertisements for Marks & Spencer's Christmas food specials. Also in November 2021, Holland publicly acknowledged his relationship with Zendaya.

December 2021: Future as a top-paid actor

In December 2021, Variety editors Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin suggested that Tom Holland could become a top-paid actor in the future following the success of the Spider-Man films.

2021: Success of Spider-Man: No Way Home

In 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home, starring Tom Holland, became the highest-grossing film of the year, each grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

2021: Doubtful about reprising role as Spider-Man

In 2021, Tom Holland expressed doubt about reprising his role as Spider-Man after No Way Home, particularly after he turns 30 in 2026, and voiced a desire to see Miles Morales as Spider-Man. He also invested in Dogpound gyms and starred in the film adaptation of Uncharted.

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2021: Starred in Cherry and Chaos Walking

In 2021, Tom Holland starred in the crime drama Cherry, based on the novel by Nico Walker, where he played a college student with PTSD who robs banks. He also starred in Chaos Walking alongside Daisy Ridley, an adaptation of Patrick Ness's science fiction series. Both films received mixed reviews.

Cherry: A novel

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2022: Action Role in Uncharted

In 2022, Tom Holland played another action film role in Uncharted, expanding his repertoire beyond the Spider-Man character.

2023: Starred in The Crowded Room

In 2023, Tom Holland executive produced and starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries The Crowded Room, inspired by The Minds of Billy Milligan. The series received negative reviews, and Holland took a year off work due to the role's emotional toll.

May 2024: Starred in Romeo and Juliet

From May 2024, Tom Holland starred as Romeo in Jamie Lloyd's West End revival of Romeo and Juliet, which ran for twelve weeks and received mixed reviews.

October 2024: Launched BERO

In October 2024, Tom Holland launched BERO, a low-alcohol beer brand.

2024: Created Billy17 and deal with Sony Pictures

In 2024, Tom Holland created his own production company, Billy17, and landed a deal with Sony Pictures. He will star in Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey.