harlotte riley praised her actor husband Tom Hardy for “taking time off the industry” and pursuing his passion for jiu-jitsu.
The 40-year-old British actress has been married to Hardy, who has a blue belt in the, since 2014 Brazilian martial art.
Speaking at the British Film Institute (BFI) Luminous Benefit Gala, Riley told the PA news agency: “In our industry, your one passion can completely consume you.
It’s really important to stay healthy, not to get swallowed up by the world of story making
“I think it’s very important for young people who come into this, it’s very important that your job is ultimately your job.
“Yes, it’s art, but it’s also a job. It’s very important to stay healthy, so as not to get caught up in the world of story-making.
“So having something that’s a completely different outlet, like jiu-jitsu, like photography, whatever it is — it’s really important to lead and pursue completely different things, free up time from the industry.”
Known for his often tricky on-screen roles such as Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders and Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, 45-year-old Hardy developed his jiu-jitsu skills while filming for the 2011 movie Warrior.
In the film, Hardy played Tommy, a former Marine and the son of an alcoholic ex-boxer who gets his father to train him for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament.
Riley told PA: “Whatever age you are or wherever you are in your career, it’s very important because you bring back what you learn in life into your stories, whether that’s as an actor, writer, director, whatever it is. .
“And so I think life experiences for people in the industry and going and doing other things are really important and, yes, good for him!”
Hardy competed in an open jiu-jitsu tournament in Wolverhampton last month and won a gold medal in the Milton Keynes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open last week after winning both of his fights.
He is also a trustee of the charity Reorg, which hosted the Wolverhampton tournament and promotes the therapeutic benefits of jiu-jitsu for those with serious, life-changing injuries or who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
In a recent Instagram post about his connection to Reorg, Hardy wrote: “Easy training, for me (as a hobby and private love) has been fundamental to further develop a deeper sense of inner resilience, calmness and well-being.
“I cannot emphasize the importance it has had and the impact on my life and my teammates.”