Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth explain the love for Loki

While Marvel bosses were undoubtedly predicting big things for 'Thor' star Chris Hemsworth, it's unlikely anyone considered that the God of Thunder's mischievous little brother Loki would become equally, if not more, popular.

But Tom Hiddleston has amassed a huge fan base - something his on-screen brother isn't surprised by at all.

[Chris Hemsworth didn’t want to go shirtless in Thor: The Dark World]

"I lead that fan base," Hemsworth told Yahoo Movies UK. "I think that in amongst all the obvious - the mischief, the conflict, the misunderstood, the villainous that Tom's provided - the biggest thing is there's a vulnerability there that's allowed to be seen.

"It's an access point, it's an immediate way of an audience accepting or empathising with a character and it's a perfect balance that's been orchestrated through these films."

A clearly flattered Hiddleston was modest on hearing the praise, saying: "Any character, you try and create as complicated because people are complicated - and contradictory. They have big dreams which they strive towards and nightmarish fears that they're running away from. Loki is no different.

"I suppose as an actor you build your compassion for his vulnerability and then throw in the mischief and the playfulness and the anger, and you just have someone who I hope is engaging."

[Thor cast: 'Humour is unbelievably important to Marvel movies']

Hiddleston and Hemsworth star in 'Thor: The Dark World', out now in UK cinemas. Watch the full trailer below.