Tom Hardy portrayed Bronson in the 2008 film “Bronson”, earning critical acclaim. To prepare, Hardy spoke with Bronson directly—via phone calls and letters. In one of their conversations, Bronson gave Hardy a brutally honest life lesson, told through a story: A boy gets caught in a flood. His leg is stuck in a gate, and the water’s rising fast. He drowns… because he couldn’t let go. But me? I’d have cut my f**ing leg off. That’s the difference. Sometimes you’ve got to cut off a piece of yourself

Tom Hardy's incredible Charles Bronson story 🤣👏 | Far Out Cinema

Tom Hardy as Charles Bronson, 2008 The real Charles Bronson was not allowed to see the film, but said that if his mother liked it, that would be enough for him. According to Director Nicolas Winding Refn, his mother loved it. In 2011 Bronson was finally allowed to see the film and called it "theatrical, creative and brilliant". | History of Cinema

Watch the actor Michael Sheard transform into terrifying teacher Mr Bronson in just a few seconds #onthisday in 1988, in Behind the Scenes at Grange Hill. | BBC Archive

Watch actor Michael Sheard transform into terrifying teacher Mr Bronson #onthisday in 1988, in Behind the Scenes at Grange Hill. | BBC Archive