Hardy defends Bronson

Tom Hardy has spoken of his encounters with Britain's most violent prisoner Charles Bronson.

A biopic of the notorious inmate has been released this week, in which British actor Hardy takes the title role.

Speaking to This Morning, the RocknRolla star revealed he spoke to Bronson two or three times a week over the last four years and came to respect the man he is now portraying.

"I grew very fond of him actually. He's a very articulate, gentle, funny and clever man," he remarked.

"I had to put his past and facts behind him and my job was to study, observe and reflect a man who was in front of me. There was no judgement from me, and I wanted to get as close to his characteristics and hear as many of his stories as I could to help my performance."

It recently emerged that Hardy and Nick Nolte have joined the cast of Gavin O'Connor's forthcoming drama Warriors.