Tom Hiddleston: I went to Harry Potter school

Actor Tom Hiddleston's school days were just like Harry Potter - but minus the magic.

The Thor actor studied at the prestigious boarding school of Eton in the UK. Although it meant he was away from his family for great swathes of time, the 34-year-old star loved every minute of his childhood.

"It was a like a mixture of summer camp and Harry Potter without the magic, so I had a good time," he laughed to Britain's Hello! magazine. "Boarding school is an interesting experience because you're all away from home with each other at a very early age, so the friendships you form with people are very strong. The friends that I made at school are among the closest I have and wherever we see each other we just pick up where we left off."

Among those who Tom bonded with was fellow actor Eddie Redmayne and Britain's Prince William. Although he hasn't really stayed in touch with the royal, he is still close to Eddie, who is also enjoying career success after winning the best actor Oscar for The Theory of Everything this year (15).

"Well, I think Prince William is rather busy these days and has other things to do than hang out with me," he said. "But I did see him at the premiere of War Horse (which Tom starred in) a few years back, which was nice. I see a lot more of Eddie - we're very good friends, and have been for 20 years."

Tom also opened up about what he looks for when it comes to romantic partners. He is currently rumoured to be enjoying a relationship with Elizabeth Olsen and has set ideas about what he likes in a lady.

"I like strong women," he stated. "My mother and sisters are very strong women, immensely independent and very capable and that's what I feel comfortable with. My mother places a huge importance on decency and kindness and always has - and the older I get the more I realise how rare that is."