A decade after their headline-grabbing summer romance, Taylor Swift proved to be a subject Tom Hiddleston still finds difficult to navigate. The actor's visibly awkward reaction became the talking point of The Graham Norton Show's New Year's Eve special, as fellow guest Laura Dern regaled the audience with tales of her close friendship with the global pop icon.
The Couch of Awkwardness
Tom Hiddleston was on the BBC sofa to promote the second series of his hit drama, The Night Manager. He was joined by actress Laura Dern, who host Graham Norton was quick to note shares 'a deep friendship' with Taylor Swift, having also starred in her 2022 Bejeweled music video. As Dern began to effusively discuss her pal, cameras captured Hiddleston, who famously dated Swift for three months in 2016, sitting just inches away with a studied, poker-faced expression.
Laura Dern launched into a hilarious anecdote about an encounter with Swift's devoted fans, known as Swifties. She recalled being on a family holiday in Hawaii and stumbling upon a Jurassic Park attraction. 'In that moment I was the most famous person that ever lived. I said to my young children "this is going to be a nightmare for mom guys",' she said. Her fears were realised when three teenage girls spotted her. 'And suddenly I see these three teenage girls start to lose their minds and run toward me. Right under the Jurassic Park sign they yell "oh my god! You're the girl in the Taylor Swift video!!"' she revealed.
Viewers Spot the Discomfort
While the story did eventually prompt a laugh from Hiddleston, viewers watching the episode were left cringing at the palpable tension. Commenters on the show's YouTube channel were quick to dissect his reaction. 'His face says it all' wrote one fan. Another agreed, 'He looks damned uncomfortable on that couch though, doesn't he?' A third observed, 'lol this is a bit awkward with tom there eek you can see how he’s trying not to react bless him.'
The moment highlighted how, even ten years on, Taylor Swift remains an inescapable figure, especially for an ex-partner. Their 2016 romance, dubbed 'Hiddleswift' by the media, was a whirlwind of public outings, including the infamous moment Hiddleston wore an 'I Love TS' tank top. The split was followed by allegations from Tom that the relationship was a 'showmance', which he vehemently denied.
Moving On, But Never Fully Escaping
Both stars have long since moved on with their lives. Taylor Swift is now engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce, while Tom Hiddleston is engaged to actress and novelist Zawe Ashton, with whom he shares two young children. Hiddleston has adopted a markedly more private stance in his current relationship, a stark contrast to his very public summer with Swift. When asked about Ashton in a 2022 interview, his declaration was succinct: 'I'm very happy.'
The episode served as a reminder of the long shadow cast by a brief but intensely scrutinised celebrity relationship. For Tom Hiddleston, a simple chat show appearance became an unexpected reminder of a chapter he has deliberately left firmly in the past, proving that in the world of entertainment, the past is never truly forgotten.
