Gary Oldman’s transformative performance in Joe Wright’s war drama film Darkest Hour was exceptionally brilliant. Not only was the actor able to dazzle moviegoers with his on-screen metamorphosis, bearing a striking likeness to the late Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, but he was also able to bring the character to life in subtle but appreciable ways.
Some prominent aspects of Oldman’s depiction of Churchill that effectively engaged the audience were his gestures, mannerisms, and a strong, English accent. Accents, as we all know, are frequently utilized in acting. They can be used as a sign to distinguish a skilled actor from a substandard one. Maintaining an accent different from yours can always pose a challenge! However, what Oldman encountered in his acting career was rather unconventional and intriguing.
Have a look.
Playing Winston Churchill Was Gary Oldman’s Hardest Acting Job
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Oldman revealed how he was able to embody the transformative character. The experience often left the actor feeling intimidated. The Oppenheimer alum recalled spending over 200 hours in the makeup chair for the challenging part. He also devoted numerous hours to researching the late Prime Minister. This procedure included reading biographies, watching video material, visiting Churchill’s house at Blenheim Palace, and interacting with Churchill’s family members.
Mentioning the uncertainties that bothered him about playing the character, Oldman stated:
“This was the hardest job I’ve ever done as an actor. It was scary. There were days when I thought, ‘What have I let myself in for?’ Not only the physical nature of the role, but he is such an iconic figure. There was fear. Once I started to find out who the man was, I never enjoyed anything so much in my life.”
When it came to replicating Churchill’s voice, Gary Oldman collaborated with an opera singer and a dialect trainer to master the statesman’s cadence and inflection. We can state that an amalgamation of skills was being utilized by the actor simultaneously to portray the role. With professional assistance, he was able to embellish the Joe Wright-helmed endeavor.
There’s no wonder that the Hannibal alum was able to secure the Best Actor Oscar for his electrifying, eerily accurate depiction of Winston Churchill.
Gary Oldman Took English Lessons To Master His English Accent
The actor was born in New Cross, London. Despite being English, Gary Oldman worked alongside a dialect coach to guide him on his English accent. He made this revelation while making an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. To say the talk show host was surprised would be an understatement. The actor would go on to explain the reason behind needing such assistance:
“I’ve lived in America for so long. I live in California. My kids are American. That’s what I hear around me all day. So, I have little things that I don’t notice that sort of slip in. So, I had a voice coach. I had to brush up my English. […] I needed to have English lessons.”
Staying in a specific environment for a long duration ought to influence your speech, vocabulary, and accent in some way or another. Oldman still harbors a distinct accent. However, he needed a dialect coach to assist him with the proper articulation and enunciation of the spoken language.
At the end of the day, Gary Oldman’s efforts were rewarded. Darkest Hour (2017) received widespread acclaim and several awards for the actor’s depiction of Winston Churchill. In the face of a narrative that faltered frequently, Oldman’s performance instilled a sense of revitalized enthusiasm in those who saw the picture. It went on to gross $150.8 million at the box office against a budget of $30 million.
The English lessons were worth it, after all.
Source: Vanity Fair and The Graham Norton Show
Read also: Harry Potter Star Gary Oldman Rejected Starring in Johnny Depp’s Greatest Cult-Classic
