Which British actor played the role of Loki in Marvel films starting in 2011?

British actor Tom Hiddleston played Loki in Marvel films beginning with Thor in 2011.

Hiddleston was cast as Loki for Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh and released in 2011. He originally auditioned for the title role of Thor, but Marvel and Branagh ultimately saw him as a strong fit for Loki, the adopted brother and eventual adversary of Thor. His performance combined theatrical intensity, dry humor, and a sympathetic sense of the character's family conflict.

Loki became one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most recognizable recurring characters. Hiddleston reprised the role in The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. He also led the Disney+ television series Loki, which premiered in 2021.

A common mix-up is Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor, not Loki. Idris Elba portrayed Heimdall, while Benedict Cumberbatch played Doctor Strange in the same broader Marvel universe. Hiddleston's Loki is based on the Norse mythological figure, but the films substantially reshape the character for Marvel's fictional continuity.