LONDON, UK — British actor Tom Hollander recently found himself in a peculiar situation that shed light on the power of a name. By accident, Hollander received a box-office bonus payment meant for fellow actor Tom Holland, known for his role in the blockbuster film “The Avengers.”
During an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Hollander shared the humorous incident, emphasizing that this mix-up is not an uncommon mistake. “I’m introduced to somebody’s very, very excited, then confused, then disappointed, children,” he said.
The confusion arose because both actors were represented by the same talent agency at the time. Hollander received an email notifying him of the bonus payment, which prompted his initial disbelief. “And I thought, ‘I don’t think I’m in ‘The Avengers’… It was an astonishing amount of money,” he explained.
Teasingly, Hollander mentioned that the payment he accidentally received amounted to a “seven-figure sum” in addition to Holland’s negotiated salary. However, he did not disclose the exact amount.
This unexpected windfall followed Hollander’s hosting of a BBC show, for which he earned $30,000. The actor’s smugness quickly faded as he realized the vast sums eluded him.
Nonetheless, Hollander faced the situation with grace. “It’s up, it’s down. It’s hero, it’s zero,” he philosophized.
Currently, Hollander can be seen in the FX anthology series “Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans,” where he portrays writer Truman Capote.
This incident serves as a reminder that in the entertainment industry, even a simple mix-up can result in millions of dollars ending up in the wrong hands.