Luvvies!

Ian McKellen’s thowback pic with young Tom Hardy brings ‘daddy’ and ‘twink’ to mind

Ian McKellen and Tom Hardy (Photos: Gage Skidmore, CC-by-2.0)

Happy birthday to British actor, Tom Hardy! The hunky star turned 42 on Sunday.

Among those wishing Hardy birthday wishes was fellow actor, Ian McKellen. The respected thespian and LGBTQ activist posted to his Instagram and Twitter.

The photo was taken in 2003, and McKellen’s accompanying message says: ‘Happy Birthday, Tom!’

Related: Ian McKellen sets up new program to help other LGBTQ seniors

McKellen is one of the UK’s most respected acting talents, with lead roles in Lord of the Rings and Marvel’s X-Men series. He’s currently touring his one-man show around the British Isles – visiting 80 theaters to mark his 80th birthday.

One of the world’s most famous gay actors, he has been vocal in his campaigning for LGBTQ rights.

Hardy, although he had small roles in Black Hawk Down (2002) and Star Trek Nemesis (2003), came to wider attention with his lead performance in the movie Bronson (2008).

He has since gone on to carve out an A-list career with his roles in Inception, The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road and Venom.

Related: Watch Twenty-Year-Old Tom Hardy Launch His Career As A Top Model

Hardy is currently tied to Mad Max and Venom sequels. McKellen will be next seen on the big screen in Brit crime drama The Good Liar and the forthcoming screen adaptation of Cats.

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