Tom Hardy says he has always been a "liar and manipulator".
The 'Dark Knight Rises' actor was drawn into acting because it seemed like a "fun" career path and he felt he had some personality traits that were particularly suited to the profession.
He explained: "In the end there was nothing else I could do. I had a busy head and I didn't really want to do things I found boring.
"The only thing that kept my attention was to play and have fun and manipulate. I've always been a liar, always been able to manipulate. I pretty much get whatever I want.
"Acing is really a mixture of bulls**tting and manipulation and the study of action-reaction. And camouflage - hiding yourself in other languages, bodies and shapes."
The 34-year-old star - who made his acting debut in Steven Spielberg's 2001 TV series 'Band of Brothers' - credits acting for boosting his confidence.
Tom - who is engaged to actress Charlotte Riley and has a three-year-old son Louis from a previous relationship - told Shortlist magazine: "Acting channelled me into something. I found some self-esteem and thought, 'I'm actually quite good at something."
