Gary Oldman Feels He Made a Mistake By Not Following Alan Rickman’s Acting Method For His Harry Potter Role
The Harry Potter movie franchise, derived from J.K. Rowling’s renowned novels, stands as one of the most beloved and iconic fictional universes in cinematic history. Among the myriad of notable performances that grace these films, Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Sirius Black emerges as a standout. Interestingly, despite the acclaim his performance received, Oldman himself expressed reservations about his acting in the series.
Oldman surprisingly attributed his performance’s shortcomings to inadequate preparation, admitting he didn’t delve into J.K. Rowling’s novels to truly understand Sirius Black. He notably looked to Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Snape, a character that deeply impacted the series. Oldman seemingly drew parallels between his acting approach and Rickman’s, hinting at Rickman’s commitment to fully embodying Snape by exploring the source material more profoundly.
Exploring Gary Oldman’s Regrets for Skipping Rickman’s Approach in Harry Potter
Gary Oldman‘s portrayal of the enigmatic Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series stands as a notable contribution to the magical world on screen. Recently, in an interview, Oldman offered insights into his perspective on his performance within the beloved franchise. Surprisingly, he expressed a belief that he could have delivered a stronger portrayal of the framed magician.
Comparing his acting to the iconic performance of Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Oldman acknowledged a significant disparity in preparation. He candidly admitted that, unlike Rickman, he hadn’t adequately immersed himself in J.K. Rowling’s original books to fully comprehend the nuances of his character, Sirius Black. Oldman told Happy Sad Confused Podcast,
“I think my work is mediocre in it. No, I do. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan, if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what’s coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently.”
Oldman’s journey as Sirius Black commenced with his debut in the third film of the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004. He continued to breathe life into the character in subsequent installments, reprising his role in Goblet of Fire in 2005 and Order of the Phoenix in 2007 until the storyline led to his character’s demise. Despite Sirius Black’s tragic end, Oldman made a final appearance in the franchise through a cameo in the seventh and concluding film, Deathly Hallows Part 2.
Also Read: Gary Oldman is His Own Worst Critic, Says It’d be a “Sad Day” if He Starts Liking His Performances
Gary Oldman’s Unending Quest for Artistic Evolution
Gary Oldman stands as a distinguished figure among English actors in Hollywood, yet he remains entrenched in a habit of self-criticism regarding his performances. This critical lens extends across a spectrum of roles, be it his portrayal of Sirius in the Harry Potter series, his rendition in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, or his character in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Remarkably, the actor refrains from embracing positive opinions about his performances, a trait that positions him as his own toughest critic. Oldman remarkably quips that any day he praises his own performance would be his most disheartening day. Oldman told Happy Sad Confused Podcast,
“I’ll tell you what it is. It’s like anything. 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’s perspective, while unconventional, has a certain rationality. He prefers self-assessment as a means to constant improvement, acknowledging that relying solely on external opinions about his work might not serve his goal of delivering better performances. His stance underscores his commitment to continuous growth as an actor, driving him to constantly strive for excellence by evaluating and critiquing his craft.
