Prantik Prabal Roy
Gary Oldman, the British thespian extraordinaire, is a name synonymous with acting prowess and versatility. With a career spanning over four decades, he has consistently delivered outstanding performances that have earned him critical acclaim and an Academy Award.
Gary Oldman has been hailed as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and rightly so. His ability to transform himself into a wide array of characters is a testament to his immense talent. Whether he’s portraying a villainous drug lord, a legendary British Prime Minister, or a charismatic spy, Oldman’s dedication to his craft is always evident. And an actor of his caliber and stature even had “stage fright” in his career. Let’s delve into it.
Gary Oldman’s Standout Performances in One Movie Where He Felt Stage Fright
One of the standout moments in Gary Oldman‘s career came with his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a film that not only earned him critical acclaim but also a much-deserved Oscar nomination.
Directed by Tomas Alfredson and based on John le Carré’s espionage novel of the same name, the film is a slow-burning, intricate thriller set in the Cold War era. Oldman’s portrayal of George Smiley, a retired British intelligence officer called back to uncover a mole within the agency, is nothing short of mesmerizing.
However, before filming, the actor had felt “Bone-crushing stage fright.” During The Hollywood Reporter‘s Actor Roundtable, the actor was asked about his Oscar-nominated role in the movie. Oldman reflected on the moment and said:
“I had bone-crushing stage fright. It was really debilitating. I think also it was trying to slay the dragon for many people. I’ve since spoken with other actors, and I realized I was not alone. It was like an AA meeting or something.”
In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Oldman’s performance is characterized by its subtlety and nuance. It’s a performance that relies on restraint and quiet intensity, and Oldman delivers it with masterful precision.
Gary Oldman Thought He Couldn’t Do The Role
What makes Oldman’s performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy exceptional is his ability to convey so much with so little. Oldman’s performance in this film earned him critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Meanwhile, the actor once had serious concerns about playing the role of George Smiley. In an interview with Playboy, he said:
“On the other side of that coin, the most stressful role, the most painful to do, was Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. There’s no mask. It’s very exposed. You have to play boring in an interesting way. Not that Smiley is a boring character, but he’s plain. Everything is dialed way down.”
Talking about why had a breakdown, he asserted:
“I understand why Alec Guinness had a kind of nervous breakdown leading up to the shooting of the original Tinker Tailor and wanted out. I had a breakdown too, briefly.”
“Once I signed on, I thought, ‘F**k me! I can’t do this. I can’t pull this off. Everybody’s going to see what a fake I am,” the actor added.
Despite all the self-doubt, Oldman nailed the role and went on to portray an Oscar-nominated performance.
Watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on Starz and Apple TV.
Source: THR Actors Roundtable, Playboy
