Tom Hardy portrayed Bronson in the 2008 film “Bronson”, earning critical acclaim. To prepare, Hardy spoke with Bronson directly—via phone calls and letters. In one of their conversations, Bronson gave Hardy a brutally honest life lesson, told through a story: A boy gets caught in a flood. His leg is stuck in a gate, and the water’s rising fast. He drowns… because he couldn’t let go. But me? I’d have cut my f**ing leg off. That’s the difference. Sometimes you’ve got to cut off a piece of yourself

Watch actor Michael Sheard transform into terrifying teacher Mr Bronson #onthisday in 1988, in Behind the Scenes at Grange Hill. | BBC Archive