Hayley Atwell Nearly Said No to Shakespeare With Tom Hiddleston—Her Hilarious Barn Dance Fear Revealed

Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston are gearing up for a magical reunion on stage in the West End, starring together in Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. While fans are eagerly awaiting the on-stage chemistry between these Marvel stars, Atwell recently revealed an amusing moment of hesitation before accepting the role—one that has us all chuckling.

The actress, best known for playing Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, confessed during an appearance on The One Show that her main concern when offered the role of Beatrice was whether the production would involve “barn dancing.” Atwell quipped that her first question to the director, Jamie Lloyd, was: “How ‘Hey Nonny Nonny’ is it going to be? And will we be doing barn dancing?”

It turns out that Atwell need not have worried. When Lloyd responded by sharing a Spotify playlist with her, she was immediately reassured. The music, she explained, was far from the traditional, folk-infused sounds she feared. Instead, the production has embraced a modern, playful vibe that feels fresh and exciting.

“What I love about Shakespeare,” Atwell continued, “is that it’s for people now. Back then, the songs chosen were very much of its time. We’ve brought it into a modern day context, and it’s lively, playful, and joyful.”

This modern twist is evident in the rehearsals, where Atwell admits the cast has been dancing like “nobody was watching, but everyone is watching.” It’s clear that this Much Ado About Nothing is set to have a dynamic, energetic atmosphere that appeals to today’s audiences.

Meanwhile, Hiddleston, known to Marvel fans as the mischievous Loki, shared his thoughts on the play. Describing Much Ado About Nothing as “the original rom-com,” he emphasized the central theme of celebration and love. “Loosely, the plot of the play is that a group of very old friends come together to celebrate and have a big party,” Hiddleston explained. “At this party, two young people fall in love, and everyone’s delighted for them.”

The chemistry between Beatrice and Benedict (played by Atwell and Hiddleston, respectively) is at the heart of this Shakespearean comedy, and their witty banter and playful sparring is sure to be a crowd favorite. “Beatrice and Benedict are these old sparring partners who have this historic chemistry,” said Hiddleston. “It’s like a dueling, sparkling wit, and everybody loves it.”

As for the wedding at the end of the play, Hiddleston couldn’t resist teasing the audience about the confetti. “There’s a wedding, and therefore there is confetti,” he laughed. “And in our production, it might be pink. And there might be some lunging and other things that happen at weddings and parties—people get excited and do agile things.”

Speaking of agility, Atwell couldn’t resist poking fun at Hiddleston’s impressive “lunge” technique, which she had witnessed during rehearsals. “The rehearsals we’re doing are so free,” she said. “It reminded me of Tom’s very agile lunge.”

Hiddleston was more than happy to accept the challenge posed by other guests on the show to demonstrate his famous lunge, but with a humorous twist. “You have to come and see the show if you want to see the lunge. I’m not sure my trousers would actually cope with it,” he joked, leaving fans even more excited to see the production.

With Shakespeare’s timeless humor, a fresh modern take, and the undeniable chemistry between Atwell and Hiddleston, Much Ado About Nothing is shaping up to be an unforgettable theatrical experience. We can’t wait to see these two stars shine on stage, hopefully without any barn dancing!