Tom Holland Shares Why He Doesn’t Fully Embrace Hollywood Life
Tom Holland is heading into one of the busiest periods of his career, but he says fame is not something he fully enjoys.
The actor has two major films arriving close together in summer 2026. First, he appears in The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, alongside stars like Matt Damon and Zendaya. Shortly after that, he returns as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, where he again shares the screen with Zendaya and other new cast members.
Even with such big projects, Holland says he tries to stay away from the spotlight when he can. Speaking on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, he explained that the industry itself makes him uncomfortable. He said, “The business really scares me. I understand that I’m a part of that business and I enjoy my kind of interactions with it. But that said, I am always looking for ways to kind of remove myself from it to kind of just live as normal a life as possible.”
🚨 Tom Holland on Why He Keeps His Distance From Hollywood
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) March 29, 2026
“Had I not walked away from certain situations, let's just put it at that, I would be a very different person today … I really do not like Hollywood. It is not for me. The business really scares me.” pic.twitter.com/szlVJvDRu2
He also shared that he has seen how fame can change people. Some of those changes have affected his personal life. He said, “I’ve seen so many people come before me and lose themselves and I’ve had friends that I’ve grown up with that aren’t friends of mine anymore because they’ve lost themselves to this business.”
Because of this, Holland keeps a low profile outside of work. He avoids events unless they are directly connected to his projects. He explained his approach clearly, saying, “Like, you’ll never see me at an award show that I don’t have to be at. I’m never going to a red-carpet event that I’m not in the film of, you know, I don’t want the attention when I don’t need it.”
This mindset also applies to his relationship with Zendaya. The two are known for keeping their personal lives private, rarely appearing in public unless it is required.
Despite being one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, Holland seems focused on staying grounded. His goal is simple: keep working, but avoid getting lost in the fame that comes with it.
This is a very smart way to handle success. Fame can easily take over someone’s life, and it is not always positive. Choosing to stay private and focused on real life can help keep things balanced.
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