Tom Holland Turns Up the Heat for Men’s Health in Carter Smith’s Latest Editorial
Tom Holland might be best known as Spider-Man, swinging through the MCU with charm and agility, but his latest turn for Men’s Health trades spandex for sweat, grit, and muscle. Captured by fashion photographer CarterSmith, the editorial explores a rough-hewn, masculine aesthetic that feels like a love letter to old-school automotive grit—whether or not Holland has actually ever tinkered under a hood.
Grit, Glam, and Glistening Biceps
The shoot sets Holland in what looks like a mechanic’s dream (or perhaps nightmare): wrenches strewn about, oil cans glinting in the background, and the actor himself smeared with dirt and sweat like he’s spent hours troubleshooting a carburetor. Wearing a mix of rugged denim, worn leather, and, in one particularly arresting shot, just an oil-slick sheen across his toned chest, Holland dives headfirst into this rough-and-tumble fantasy.
Does Tom Holland actually know his way around a car engine? That remains up for debate. The shoot offers no confirmation, but let’s be honest—it hardly matters. The combination of his earnest expression, perfectly tousled hair, and those glistening muscles tells the real story: this is less about auto repair and more about a raw, untamed reimagining of masculinity.
Carter Smith’s Vision of Modern Toughness
Photographer Carter Smith brings a tactile, cinematic quality to the spread, balancing Holland’s boy-next-door appeal with a newfound edge. “There’s a vulnerability in toughness,” Smith says of the shoot. “Tom embodies both—it’s not about pretending to be someone he’s not but exploring sides of himself that feel less polished and more instinctual.”
Smith’s lens captures Holland in moments that feel candid yet deliberate: a grease-streaked hand clutching a wrench, a smoldering gaze under the midday sun, and a pose that suggests he’s about to take a sledgehammer to whatever’s broken. The dirt, sweat, and oil aren’t just props; they’re textures that help redefine Holland’s clean-cut image, leaning into a more primal allure.
Tom’s Take on the Transformation
While Holland remains tight-lipped about his car-fixing credentials, he’s candid about the experience of the shoot. “It’s fun to step into a world that’s so different from my day-to-day,” he says. “I don’t know if I’d trust myself with a car engine, but I can appreciate the craftsmanship—and getting to play with that kind of vibe was really exciting.”
