In a candid reflection about his career, Academy Award-winning actor Gary Oldman expressed his dissatisfaction with his own portrayal of the character Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” film series. Engaging with listeners on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, the acclaimed British actor described his work on the beloved magical franchise as “mediocre”, a surprisingly humble self-assessment from such a revered figure in acting.
Oldman’s statements during the episode reveal an actor constantly striving for excellence and often his own harshest critic. “I think my work is mediocre in it. No, I do. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan (Rickman, who played Severus Snape), if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what’s coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently,” he postulated, suggesting that a closer understanding of J.K. Rowling’s literary world might have inspired a different approach to his role.
The “Harry Potter” movies, adapted from Rowling’s immensely successful book series, have been a global phenomenon, casting spells over audiences of all ages with entries including “The Philosopher’s Stone,” “The Chamber of Secrets,” “The Prisoner of Azkaban,” “The Goblet of Fire,” “The Order of the Phoenix,” “The Half-Blood Prince,” and the two-part finale “The Deathly Hallows.” In these cinematic adventures, Oldman brought the enigmatic and complex figure of Sirius Black to life, beginning with “The Prisoner of Azkaban,” and reprising his role in subsequent films.
At 65, Oldman has had ample opportunity to scrutinize his expansive body of work. His own verdict on his performances appears to be firm yet tinged with a relentless pursuit of improvement. “I’ll tell you what it is. It’s like anything, I think if I sat and watched myself in something and said, ‘My God, I’m amazing,’ that would be a very sad day, because you want to make the next thing better,” Oldman reflected on his ethos.
Navigating the personal nature of acting, Oldman acknowledges that the audience’s perception can often differ greatly from his own. “It’s so subjective. It’s such a personal thing that you’re looking at that other people are not seeing… It’s not to disrespect someone who says to me, ‘Oh, I really love you in that movie,’ and I’m thinking, ‘I’m terrible in that movie. What are they talking about?’ It’s not that. It’s (that) they’re seeing something else,” he explained, delving into the complex relationship between performer and viewer.
Oldman’s recent appearances have shed light on how roles in major franchises like “Harry Potter” and “The Dark Knight” trilogy, where he essayed the part of Commissioner Gordon, have had a positive impact on his life beyond the screen. Revealing struggles faced as a single father, Oldman divulged on “The Drew Barrymore Show” that these high-profile projects provided financial stability and the luxury to prioritize his family.
“At 42 years old, I woke up, divorced and I had custody of these boys. That, in itself, was … that was hard because there was a shift in the industry,” he recounted. Many productions were moving to international locations, which would have necessitated lengthy separations from his family had he accepted roles abroad. “Thank God for ‘Harry Potter’. I tell you, the two — Batman 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,” Oldman expressed with gratitude.
As fans and cinema-goers digest Oldman’s strikingly forthright appraisal of his work in the “Harry Potter” series, many may find themselves revisiting the films to witness the veteran actor’s portrayal of Sirius Black – perhaps seeing it, much like the character himself, in a new light.
