The “dazzling” performance Gary Oldman knew was destined for greatness
In the current cinematic landscape, if fans are asked to name some of the most talented veteran actors in the industry, Gary Oldman is one of the first names that will come to any mind. Having collaborated with the likes of Christopher Nolan and Oliver Stone, Oldman has carved out a body of work that continues to inspire his contemporaries as well as younger generations of artists.
While there are countless examples of Oldman’s expertise, he has continued to deliver at the highest stage in the latter half of his career as well. Following his critically acclaimed turn in Mank, Oldman held his own as President Harry S. Truman in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which probably had the most stacked cast out of any recent project.
Like with every acting legend who has managed to maintain their longevity in an industry as dynamic as the movie business, it’s difficult to process that you’re no longer the new star on the block. As such, the expectations and frameworks within which you operate also shift over time, leading to new avenues of creativity and artistic expression.
During a conversation with Vanity Fair, Oldman once reflected on what it meant to age in Hollywood, claiming that it was a strange feeling to have co-stars come up to you and tell you that you were their idol in more ways than one. However, that didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate their talent, especially before everyone else started praising it as well.
Citing his experience of working on Nolan’s immensely popular Dark Knight trilogy, Oldman said: “Whether you like it or not, you become older and a bit of an elder statesman. You know you’re getting old when Tom Hardy says, ‘I used to watch you as a kid.’ But he meant it in a nice way! A whole new generation coming up flatteringly look up to you—but you’re just looking for something else; you just slow down.”
Hardy’s comments provided a nice boost, but Oldman had one special memory about a particular co-star: “I remember being on the set of The Dark Knight with Heath [Ledger], and we all knew he was going to be dazzling—you could see it. I remember thinking one day, rather you than me… Yeah, that whole bouncing off the walls—you think, thank God I’ve had my share of it.”
Ledger’s unique, frenetic and insanely charged appearance as the popular comic book character is still seen as the defentive portrayal of Joker, even though Joaquin Phoenix has provided his own award-winning interpretation of Joker’s mythology. In some ways, no matter who takes the challenge on next, Ledger will always be the Joker.
