Tom Hiddleston Finally Opens Up About His Romance With Taylor Swift: She's "Amazing"

Tom Hiddleston is finally opening up about his whirlwind (and short-lived) romance with Taylor Swift, and we're eating it up. In the latest issue of GQ, the English actor opens up about everything from that infamous "I [heart] T.S." tank top to whether or not their relationship was actually for publicity. "Of course it was real," he says. "Taylor is an amazing woman. She's generous and kind and lovely, and we had the best time." The pair certainly caused a fan frenzy when they were first spotted kissing near the beach last June, especially since Taylor had just broken up with her longtime boyfriend Calvin Harris, but Tom insists they were both just two people looking for a regular relationship. "So we decided to go out for dinner, we decided to travel."

And travel they did. Not only did the two partake in some romantic dates around the world, but Tom quickly became an honorary member of Taylor's squad. He even joined in on her iconic Fourth of July bash, where he was spotted wearing that fateful tank top that will live on in infamy. So why exactly did he decide to make such a bold fashion statement? After hurting his back during a game, he claims he wanted to protect his graze from the sun and borrowed a tank top — the tank top — from one of Taylor's friends. "It was a joke," he said. "Among friends."

Even though their relationship came to a close shortly after, Tom admits he doesn't regret a thing. "I only know the woman I met. She's incredible," he adds. "A relationship in the limelight . . . A relationship always takes work. And it's not just the limelight. It's everything else." Even though he's still trying to figure out how to have a personal life without hiding it, he hasn't given up on finding love. "You can't live in fear of what people might say," he says. "You know, you have to be true to yourself . . . I'm not going to live my life in hiding."