Having played a double agent in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hollywood actor Tom Hardy knows a thing or two about covert operations.

And his plan went perfectly when he surprised brave Herne Bay mum Kayleigh Duff near his home in Richmond.

The Inception star agreed to meet the 23-year-old, who has terminal liver cancer, after his future sister-in-law had the idea planted in her mind.

She saw Kayleigh appear on TV talking about her rare condition, which killed her father Lee, aged 37.

Hearing it was her ambition to meet Hardy, who plays hulking villain Bane in the Dark Knight Rises, she contacted her sister, Hardy’s fiancée Charlotte Riley.

After a week of secret negotiations between the actress and Kayleigh's friend Katie Birch, they surprised the former Spire's Academy pupil with dinner, tea and a stroll along the Thames with the star.

Kayleigh, of Wye Green, Herne Bay, said: "Katie told me she had arranged a surprise and I imagined it was for a posh meal when I realised we were going to London. When we got to Richmond station she walked towards this couple and said 'hello Charlotte, hello Tom Hardy.'

"I just said 'oh my God' like a right div. I could have killed her. I didn't think it was possible."

Hardy and his fiancée treated Kayleigh and Katie to dinner near his home and for a walk along the Thames.

The star talked about his latest project, a remake of Mad Max, and offered to arrange for Kayleigh to attend a film premiere of her choice.

Before saying goodbye, he gave her a diamond necklace to remember their afternoon together.

Kayleigh, who is set to fly to Florida this week on a dream holiday, paid for by fundraisers, said: "He is really nice. He is so normal and such a laugh. He doesn’t take himself seriously.

"We talked about everything – normal stuff like we have known each other for years.

"Charlotte was really lovely too. She joked she doesn't mind sharing him with me.

"He was saying he meets a lot of people. The day before he met Elton John, which was big for him and I said 'now you know how I feel'. Apparently Elton is a really nice bloke.

"I don't think anything can top this."

Friend Katie, who organised a wedding photo shoot for Kayleigh last month, said: "It was lush. It was an amazing day and Tom is so down to earth."

The singer, 28, of Fleetwood Avenue, added: "It was so good because Kayleigh didn't know she was going. It was a massive surprise for her. Her only words were 'Oh my God'.

"Thinking about it today, I can't believe we were sitting there with Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley."