Tom Holland may be celebrating the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but Entertainment Tonight has taken fans back to where it all began-unearthing rare interviews that reveal the astonishing sacrifices behind one of Hollywood's biggest success stories.
In its latest ET Vault Unlocked special, Entertainment Tonight revisits Holland's remarkable rise from a shy 16-year-old newcomer to the actor who would redefine Spider-Man for an entire generation.
One of the biggest revelations? Before landing the role that changed his life forever, Holland pushed his body to the absolute limit while filming In the Heart of the Sea alongside Chris Hemsworth. The actor revealed he was surviving on just 500 calories a day during production, while also battling relentless seasickness during the gruelling shoot.
Just months later, everything changed.
Rather than receiving a call from Marvel, Holland famously discovered he'd been cast as Peter Parker by seeing the announcement online. The actor recalled "going ballistic" after finding his own name on the internet-a surreal moment that launched one of the most successful superhero careers in cinema history.
The ET retrospective also revisits Holland's earliest days on The Impossible, where Naomi Watts helped shape his approach to acting by teaching him that every film set succeeds through teamwork rather than individual performances.
Of course, becoming Spider-Man brought more than global fame. It also introduced Holland to his now-wife, Zendaya, with Entertainment Tonight replaying their playful early interviews that hinted at the chemistry fans would later fall in love with.
The special also looks back at Holland's unforgettable Lip Sync Battle performance, which remains one of the internet's most iconic celebrity moments, before bringing viewers full circle to his next major challenge.
Fresh off Spider-Man's latest box-office triumph, Holland is preparing to play legendary entertainer Fred Astaire-a role that returns him to his dancing roots after beginning his career in London's West End production of Billy Elliot.
Training, however, hasn't been easy.
"I've already got blisters on my toes," Holland joked, admitting the demanding rehearsals are already taking their toll-but adding he's loving every minute of it.
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day breaking records and another career-defining role on the horizon, ET's fascinating look back proves Holland's incredible success wasn't built on luck-it was earned through years of grit, sacrifice and relentless determination
