Tom Holland is having quite the summer. Within the space of a fortnight, two of the biggest films of the year landed in cinemas – The Odyssey, in which the 30-year-old British actor stars as Telemachus, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise led by Holland. As he looks over the Hollywood Hills, he is reflecting on the previous summer, which saw him transported from epic setpieces evoking Ancient Greece to the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland, transformed to double as the streets of Manhattan. Much like the films’ release schedules this July, production was pretty much back-to-back.
“It was definitely a whirlwind,” he admits. “The scale and intensity of The Odyssey was massive, and then jumping straight into Spider-Man: Brand New Day in Glasgow was like switching gears completely. But I love that challenge as an actor. Peter Parker has such a different energy and rhythm, so it actually helped keep things fresh creatively.”
This summer marked 10 years since Holland debuted as Peter Parker, aged 19, making him the youngest actor ever to play the comic book hero in a live-action adaptation. It was a role that propelled him to global stardom after early acclaim as a child actor, starring in London’s West End production of Billy Elliot at age 12, and moving into films, acting in The Impossible (2012), How I Live Now (2013) and In the Heart of the Sea (2015), alongside the TV series Wolf Hall (2015). To say Brand New Day was highly anticipated would be an understatement. Holland is beloved as the Marvel hero, bringing an earnest warmth to a character who somehow manages to be both the most extraordinary and most ordinary teenager from Queens, New York. While Spider-Man’s quips come as quickly as his web-slinging, it’s Peter Parker’s awkward adolescence and noble intentions that have made him an enduring hero, no matter how much the world around him changes.
“Peter Parker is relatable because underneath the suit, he’s just a kid trying to do the right thing,” says Holland. “He struggles with responsibility, loss, love, pressure – all the things people deal with in real life. No matter how big the action gets, that emotional core always keeps him grounded.”
The character of Telemachus demanded a similarly nuanced performance from Holland in British director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey. “What excited me about Telemachus was that he’s a young man trying to understand who he is, while living in the shadow of this legendary father. There’s vulnerability and frustration there that felt very human to me,” reflects Holland.
The tale at the centre of Homer’s epic Greek poem has long transcended its ancient origins. For Holland, the reason The Odyssey continues to be retold lies in its universality. “I think The Odyssey has endured because it’s ultimately about identity, family, resilience and the search for home,” he says. “Those themes are timeless.”
Away from acting, the importance of home runs through BERO, Holland’s non-alcoholic beer brand, inspired by his own sobriety journey, influenced by his British identity and brewed in the United States. When it launched in October 2024, it did so with three varieties: Kingston Golden Pils, a European-style pilsner named after his hometown of Kingston upon Thames in South West London; Edge Hill Hazy IPA, a tropical, hop-forward beer named after the school he first attended; and Noon Wheat, a classic wheat beer with a citrus finish, named after his miniature schnauzer.
“My London roots are such a huge part of who I am, so it felt natural for that to influence the brand,” Holland explains. “Kingston Golden Pils and Edge Hill are both little nods to places and experiences that shaped me growing up. I think there’s a certain honesty and familiarity in the branding because of that. We wanted the beers to feel approachable, grounded and a little nostalgic in a nice way.”
Since then, the brand has expanded with another addition: Double Tasty West Coast Style IPA, a bold, hop-forward beer inspired by what has become a second home for him – the West Coast of California.
But there was a deeper inspiration behind BERO: Holland’s sobriety journey, which began in 2022 and has transformed his way of life. “Sobriety has changed everything for me, really. I’m happier, healthier and much more present. It’s improved my relationships, my work, my sleep – everything. I think the biggest thing is clarity. There’s a calmness that comes with really being present in your own life,” he says.
What Holland felt was missing in the drinks sector was a non-alcoholic option that didn’t feel like a sacrifice. “A lot of nonalcoholic beers felt like they were trying to imitate beer culture from the outside. We wanted BERO to stand on its own: great taste, beautiful branding, and something you’d genuinely be proud to order at dinner or bring to a party. The focus was always on quality first.”
He also credits the American approach to brewing with helping bring to life what he set out to achieve: “The US craft brewing scene is incredibly innovative. There’s this willingness to experiment and push flavour in a really exciting way. We worked with people who genuinely understood how to make a non-alcoholic beer that still had depth and character. It wasn’t about removing alcohol from beer – it was about crafting something complete from the start.”
Nearly two years on, BERO has seen exceptional growth, expanding to more than 4,000 retail locations, and increasingly appearing at a host of events that reflect BERO’s lifestyle, which he defines as “balanced, social and intentional”.
“I think sports and culture are naturally where BERO fits best because it’s about connection and shared experiences,” says Holland. “Whether that’s racing, tennis, music, film, or fashion, we want BERO to show up in places where people are celebrating life and community. The goal is for it to feel aspirational, but still relaxed and accessible.”
In November 2025, Aston Martin announced BERO as its official alcohol free beer partner, meaning Holland’s products can now be enjoyed across the marque’s calendar of global driving programmes, lifestyle gatherings and owner experiences.
This distinctly British alliance was forged at the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Holland was a guest of the British luxury car manufacturer. The race has produced many memorable moments at the Circuit de la Sarthe over the years, but it was Aston Martin’s Hypercar entry that stole the spotlight in 2025.
“Getting to see the Valkyrie at Le Mans was just wild,” Holland recalls. “Seeing Aston Martin back at that level again was special, and being invited for the year they were making that historic return felt like a true comeback moment. And the sound of the thing is crazy… the V12 going down the Mulsanne Straight was insane.”
Beyond sharing the same values of heritage, craftsmanship and a pursuit of excellence, there is Holland’s affection for the marque – one that can be traced back to a young age. “Growing up, they were always, in my eyes, the most elegant cars out there. And even now, even with the more extreme stuff like the Valkyrie or the Valhalla, that same feeling is still there. There’s always something unmistakably Aston Martin about them – that sense of being crafted rather than just engineered. It’s never lost its identity, even as its portfolio has expanded. I love that.”
So, is it fair to assume Holland enjoyed his recent experience with the DBX S?
“Sadly, I crashed it,” he admits. “Not in a way like I was driving like a nutter. I was just simply backing out of my driveway, had a total brain fart moment and reversed it into a wall! I’ve never done this before in any car, and sod’s law it would happen in one of the most beautiful cars on the road.”
If time allows in Holland’s busy schedule, he’d love to get behind the wheel of Vanquish next, with hopefully a smoother outing, explaining, “For me, Aston Martin is all about class, and there is nothing classier than the Vanquish. It’s hands down my favourite car and one day I’ll for sure get my hands on one.”
For now, the actor is focused on maintaining the balance that BERO champions whenever possible.
“Routine helps me a lot. Training, golf, spending time with family, walking the dogs, cooking – simple things that bring me back to myself. I also try to stay off my phone when I can and make time to properly switch off between projects.”
That reset is important given the level of focus he brings to both his acting and now his brand. “I think I’ve always had a little bit of that entrepreneurial streak. I’ve always loved being involved in the creative side of things, whether that’s making films, producing or building something from scratch. But BERO definitely gave me my first real opportunity to channel that energy into a business. The fact that it comes from a very personal place makes me want to be involved in every detail.”
Hard work and perseverance are something he learned from his parents, who he cites as his biggest role models growing up. Today, Holland is himself an inspiration to the next generation, among them 16-year-old British actor Owen Cooper, the breakout star of the Netflix miniseries Adolescence, who has spoken about his influence. “The Impossible was the film where I looked at Tom Holland and wanted to be an actor,” Cooper told W Magazine, several months before becoming the youngest male actor to win a Primetime Emmy Award in 2025.
With BERO, Holland is making a new kind of impact altogether – this time in people’s personal lives – and he is humbled by the response.
“At first, it was about creating something personal that I could genuinely enjoy and share with people,” he says. “Now I think we’re seeing a cultural shift where moderation and sobriety are becoming much more accepted – even celebrated.
“The most satisfying part has been seeing the brand become real in people’s lives. You spend so long talking about ideas and tasting and designing, and then suddenly you walk into a restaurant or someone’s house, and there it is. That’s a surreal feeling.”
Tom wears a Prada zip jacket and T-shirt with AMI Paris trousers
Stylist—Crystalle Cox / Grooming—Teddy Charles & Jo Strettell
Location—1859 Bel Air Road, Los Angeles, California
Developer —Sean Balakhani / Interior designer—César Giraldo
cesargiraldodesign.com/1859-bel-air-residence
