Fresh from his appearance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Gary Oldman sat down and discussed his lengthy career in show business. The actor made his movie debut in Colin Gregg’s 1982 film Remembrance, but it was his performance in 1984’s Sid and Nancy that propelled his name in the industry.
While those titles do not essentially ring a bell to younger fans, they would most likely remember the actor for his roles in the Batman and Harry Potter franchises. Like most celebrities who have done iconic roles, Oldman is either known popularly as Commissioner James Gordon from The Dark Knight trilogy or Sirius Black from J.K. Rowling’s novel.
Gary Oldman Confesses Fans Know Him More In The Dark Knight Trilogy
In a video interview with Esquire’s episode of Explain This, Hannibal star Gary Oldman talked about previous movie roles and revealed that he was not usually recognized in the streets. For a very famous actor who leads a private life, that would be a huge relief. Though, he shared that when people did notice him in public, they mostly remember Oldman as either Commissioner James Gordon or Sirius Black.
While Oldman has a significant role in Harry Potter, he confessed that most fans recognize him from The Dark Knight movies. Even a die-hard Potterhead would only call him “Commissioner Gordon.” He shared:
“I was glamping years ago in El Capitan, and I ran into my dentist who said, ‘My son’s over there, and he would love to meet you. He loves Sirius Black.’ It was a bunch of kids sitting around, and I said, ‘I’m Sirius Black.’ He looked at me, and this kid at the end said, ‘No you’re not. You’re Commissioner Gordon!’”
The kid is a huge Harry Potter fan, but he won’t acknowledge Oldman as his character in the fantasy film; instead, he insisted on meeting Commissioner Gordon. Whether the kid was fooling around or just did not catch the Sirius Black vibe in Oldman, perhaps because he was not in costume, it was clear that the actor is more famously recognized as Gotham City’s agent of justice.
Solid Fans Admit Not Recognizing Gary Oldman In The Harry Potter Movies
Speaking with Paul Fischer via Female, Oldman talked about the arc his Batman character was given when he did the film for the second time with director Christopher Nolan:
“He is the very moral center of it. He’s absolutely, when you talk about a good guy, they don’t talk better than Jim Gordon. Incorruptible, virtuous, strong, heroic, but understated. So I was thrilled, and Chris said I’d love for you to come back and do it, there’s more to do, and I think you’ll have a great time.”
Just like Batman, Commissioner James Gordon was a face of justice commonly associated with the Caped Crusader. Children grow up admiring the superhero, which is probably why the kid automatically linked Oldman with Commissioner Gordon.
In fact, many viewers do not recognize the actor in Harry Potter. Despite Oldman claiming the franchise expanded his fan base, some had no idea he was in the film. A Reddit user named UrdnotChivay said, “It took me forever to realize that he also plays Sirius Black” while another user named MyDadIsYourDad confessed going through “phases of shock, denial and eventually acceptance” when they found out he was also in Harry Potter.
Gary Oldman’s prolific career goes beyond his roles in the two famous franchises. His other highly-rated movie credits also include True Romance, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and State of Grace.
The Dark Knight is available to watch on Netflix.
Sources: Esquire, Female, Reddit
