Did Tom Hardy secretly get hitched?

Los Angeles - Tom Hardy has sparked speculation he has secretly married.

The Locke actor has praised long-term partner Charlotte Riley - who he started dating in 2009, a year before they got engaged - but referred to her as his "wife", though he later appeared to backtrack and just described himself as her "boyfriend".

Discussing how his family support his career, the 36-year-old star said: "Well my wife is an actor as well so she sort of gets it. Apart from that, I'm a pain in the ass really. You know what I mean? Like any other boyfriend.

"Isn't that part of being in a relationship?"

Tom - who wasn't wearing a wedding ring - went on to praise Charlotte as being "pure" and "kind".

Asked what he loves most about her, he said: "Aw, she's pure. She's just a very kind, pure person."

A spokesperson for the actor - who met the British beauty when they worked on an adaptation of Wuthering Heights together - did not comment on the marriage speculation.

The Dark Knight Rises star previously admitted he always puts Charlotte first and they never go too long without seeing each another.

He said: "I like to go no longer than three weeks without seeing Charlotte but it can be tricky because we both go to opposite sides of the globe, then we have to meet in the middle. We're managing so far"