‘He’s the only person who isn’t afraid to call me a d***’: Tom Holland credits his dad with keeping him grounded

The character he plays isn’t one to stay grounded but Spider-Man actor Tom Holland says his parents “keep him chained to the floor”.

The actor, 21, is one of four sons of comedian Dominic Holland and photographer Nicola Frost, who he says make sure he doesn’t get “lost in the clouds”.

He told the Standard: “The thing that’s amazing about my dad is that he is the only person I know who isn’t afraid to say I’m being a d***. In this industry, everyone says you’re amazing, everyone says yes. The only people that tell me no are my parents.

“It’s so important for me to have that grounding because otherwise you get lost in the clouds.

"My parents have chained me to the floor! It’s so important and I’m so grateful that they’ve done that, because otherwise you can get lost in this beautiful world that is Hollywood.”

Holland, from Kingston, began his career on the West End stage in Billy Elliot before moving into film, and first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War in 2016.

He made his full debut in last year’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.

His father, 50, won the Perrier best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1993 and last year returned there with a show called Eclipsed, about his son’s career outshining his own.

Tom Holland said: “My dream has come true. It’s funny — I’m a kid from Kingston who lives a very normal life, who has a very crazy alter-ego as such.

"So I’m very similar to Peter Parker in certain ways. It’s impossible for it to sink in. I’ve been playing Spider-Man in my bedroom since I was five.”

Holland, who won the EE rising star award at the Baftas last year, will next appear as Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War and a second standalone film.

He said: “It’s bigger, it’s more exciting — and it hasn’t been done yet in the superhero movie world.” He also wants to make a foray into music.

He said: “I want to sing! I really like singing. I don’t know if it will ever work out. I enjoy it. I enjoy the process. I’ve got a couple of songs I’ve recorded that I love, but I’ll never release them.”