Richard E Grant on joining Loki with Tom Hiddleston: “How can I fight when I’m like an old green bean?” | Ents & Arts News

Days after delighting fans with behind-the-scenes photos of his costume for Loki, Richard E Grant sits in front of me on a video call to tell me about his cameo role – although this time unfortunately there is no green tights or “baggy yellow Y-fronts,” as he puts it, in sight.

But first, it’s the day after the Euro 2020 finale when we’re talking, and there’s only one thing everyone’s talking about. “Heartbreaking,” said the actor, with England losing to Italy on penalties.

Grant, a West Ham fan, reflects on the cruel nature of one-off kicks that decide the outcome. He thinks there must be a better way. “I would rather they play three more hours than resort to penalties,” he said. “What do you feel?”

Foolproof friendliness and politeness, Richard E Grant likes to ask her own questions in return. Whether football, favorite wonder characters (Spider-Man) or the government’s management of COVID-19[female[feminine pandemic (unimpressed), the response is usually followed by a variation of: “What about you?”

We’re here to talk about Loki, the spin-off of the six-part TV series starring the mercurial god of wickedness Loki, played by Tom hiddleston, with the character emerging from the shadows of his brother Thor in the wake of the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Grant’s debut as Classic Loki, an older variant of Loki, took place in the series’ penultimate episode, which aired earlier in July. With so many Marvel movies and spin-offs, did the British actor have to do a lot of homework before signing up?

“Well, the upside is that Tom Hiddleston is literally a walking and talking Wikipedia, a Loki-centric guru, a fundi, whatever you call it, of all the Loki and Norse legends,” says …