Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Podbit · Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Tom Holland

Explore episode Jun 2, 2026
Arts
Tap Shoes After 15 Years: The Fred Astaire Rehearsal

Tom Holland · Jun 2, 2026 Arts

Tom Holland hadn't worn tap shoes in 15 years when he walked into Pineapple Dance Studios for his first Fred Astaire biopic rehearsal. He played the Billy Elliot music on his phone — and the choreography came flooding back, erasing months of doubt about whether he should take the role.

Where this was said

Janet Jackson: The Woman Who Started It All

At 26:30 · chapter starts 26:20

Amy steers the conversation to Janet Jackson, and Tom's answer is unexpectedly, genuinely emotional. He's never met Janet but credits her as one of five people who are foundational to his career success. The logic is airtight: if he hadn't shown natural rhythm as a kid, his mom would never have enrolled him in dance; without dance, no Billy Elliot audition; without Billy Elliot, no agent; without an agent, no Spider-Man. Amy draws a parallel to Billie Eilish's similar origin story — an injury in dance competition that redirected her toward music. Both conversations land on the same idea: dancing is spiritual, primal, and the gateway to creativity.

Arts
Fred Astaire biopic in prep

Tom Holland · Jun 2, 2026

Tom Holland is prepping to play Fred Astaire in a Paul King-directed biopic, calling it his biggest creative risk yet.

Arts
Tap shoes first time in 15 years

Tom Holland · Jun 2, 2026

Tom Holland wore tap shoes for the first time in 15 years for a Fred Astaire biopic rehearsal and found his Billy Elliot muscle memory instantly returned.

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