In a recent interview with Drew Barrymore, Gary Oldman revealed how his roles in major film franchises boosted his earnings while demanding minimal work.
Oldman became a single parent at 42 following his divorce from Donya Fiorentino. He had to balance a demanding career with his responsibilities towards his two sons, Gulliver and Charlie. The shift in the film industry presented further challenges. Reflecting on those times, Oldman recounted:
“I was a single dad. So, at 42 years old, I woke up divorced, and I had custody of these boys. So, that, in itself, was hard because there was a shift in the industry where a lot of productions were in Hungary, Budapest, Prague, Australia, and Vancouver [for tax reasons]. I turned down a lot of work.”
Thankfully, two of the films in his filmography came as a financial boon for the actor:
“Thank God for ‘Harry Potter.’ The two ‘Batman’s and ‘Harry Potter’ really they saved me because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids.”
Filming ‘Batman’ Made it Easy For Him To See His Kids
Oldman also noted the logistical ease of working on ‘The Dark Knight,’ where London doubled for Gotham. This setup enabled him to manage a travel schedule between LA and London:
“The two ‘Batman’s and ‘Harry Potter’ really saved me because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids. Actually, it was when we did the first Batman, London doubled for Gotham, and I did 27 round trips of flying back from LA. I’d fly in for a day; I’d do a shoot a day. I said [to Christopher Nolan], ‘Look, I’m in the car going back to the airport. If there’s anything wrong, then I’ll turn the car around, but you know where I’m going. I’m in the car to the airport.'”
It also ensured he spent enough time with his children without compromising his professional commitments:
“To his credit, he stayed on schedule, and I would go home for three days, come back for two, go home for a weekend, come back for one day, go home for a week, and come back for 4 days. Otherwise, I’d just felt they were being brought up by a nanny.”
Gary Oldman’s Recent Endeavors
Oldman gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Sirius Black in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, beginning with ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban’ in 2004. His role was well-received by both critics and fans, but he recently revealed that he has a self-critical view of his performance in these films:
“I think my work is mediocre in it. No, I do. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan [Rickman], if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what’s coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently.”
His portrayal of James ‘Jim’ Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, starting with ‘Batman Begins’ in 2005, was praised as well. For instance, film critic Mark Kermode highlights his performance in ‘The Dark Knight,’ saying ‘the best performance in the film, by a mile, is [by] Gary Oldman.’
In 2023, Oldman participated in the ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’ special and took on a minor role in Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, portraying President Harry Truman. Besides, Oldman is set to star in Paolo Sorrentino’s upcoming film, a tribute to Naples, and is involved in projects such as ‘Slow Horses,’ ‘Parthenope,’ ‘Star Citizen,’ and ‘Squadron 42’.
You can watch the full interview with Drew Barrymore below.
