Tom Holland pushed himself to the limit for his intense new TV show: ‘It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done’

Tom Holland has achieved global fame for his acclaimed portrayal of Peter Parker in Marvel’s blockbuster Spider-Man saga.

Now, the British actor takes a huge creative leap from superhero movies to lead the cast of “The Crowded Room,” the ambitious, psychological thriller now streaming on Apple TV+.

Holland said reading the script was “pretty stressful,” once he realized the kind of character he would have to bring to life. Still, he was up for the challenge. “I love that kind of environment,” said Holland in an interview. “I love being uncomfortable. I love pushing myself to new limits and trying to see if I can do things that I didn’t think I could do before.”

“The Crowded Room” follows Danny Sullivan (Holland), who is arrested after his involvement in a 1979 shooting in New York. Through a series of interviews with interrogator Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried), Danny’s life story unfolds, revealing elements of the mysterious past that shaped him, and the twists and turns that will lead him to a life-altering revelation.

Holland said that it was a “daunting but exciting” prospect to tackle such a complex character. “I understood the weight of the responsibility of telling this story in an authentic way. It’s a different kind of responsibility to playing Spider-Man — it’s a very different genre.”

Amanda Seyfried said she was also intrigued by her character Rya’s arc, particularly the show’s realistic portrayal of balancing motherhood with career.

“I’m certainly not afraid to go off to work,” said Seyfried, “but I let my kids know where I’m going and that I love what I do and it doesn’t take away from how much I love them. I’d rather be with them but If I’m not going to be with them then I’m going to be doing what I love.”

Both Holland and Seyfried said that their roles were among the toughest they’ve ever taken on, because of the show’s dark themes and troubling subject matter.

As challenging as the role was, Holland said he was able to be “myself when I was at home and Danny when I was at work.” Still, it took time to find out made Danny tick. “I loved playing him, but it was emotionally draining. I found it really interesting to find those aspects of my own emotions that I could put into him.”

For “The Crowded Room,” Holland underwent a drastic body transformation, from being in perfect ‘Spider-Man’ shape to Danny’s gaunt, even frail figure. (Holland is no stranger to this kind of commitment: for the 2018 thriller “Cherry,” the actor lost a quarter of his body weight by crash dieting.)

“I don’t like seeing myself like that,” said Holland about his body in “The Crowded Room.” “I don’t enjoy not training and not feeling fit and healthy — it’s a big part of my life. So that was something that I really struggled with and as soon as I finished the show I was back in the gym and enjoying myself.

“There’s nothing better when you’re doing films like ‘Spider-Man’ or ‘Uncharted’ and you need to let go of some pent-up energy than going to the gym. And when you’re not doing that, where does that energy go? For me, it spills out and I struggle a little bit.”

Holland said making “The Crowded Room” was ultimately a creatively fulfilling experience. “I’ve never been pushed like I’ve been pushed on this show,” said Holland. “This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the hardest thing that I’ve ever done. It really broke me at times — it was as hard as it gets. But I’m so proud of it. I think we all did a really good job.”

Seyfried concurs. “I hope people tune in and come back with the real message (the show) was intended to spread.”

“The Crowded Room” is streaming now on Apple TV+.

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