"I've always felt that I was an actor first and foremost, but I never wanted to be a leading man."
Gary Oldman expresses here his preference for the role of an actor over being a lead performer. He enjoys embodying various characters, rather than being solely identified as a principal star. This perspective underscores his passion for immersing himself in diverse roles rather than basking in the limelight associated with leading roles.
"Every role I play is me in some way. Even if it's a complete lunatic or a creature from outer space."
This quote suggests that for Gary Oldman, every character he portrays carries an element of himself, regardless of how extreme or unusual the character may be. This could imply that Oldman believes his personal experiences, emotions, and qualities are universal enough to be reflected in even the most fantastical or disturbed characters he plays on screen.
"Acting is about the human condition, about people, their foibles, their quirks, their desires, their ambitions and their fears."
This quote by Gary Oldman emphasizes that acting is a profound exploration of the human experience. It involves portraying diverse aspects of people, including their idiosyncrasies, motivations, aspirations, and apprehensions. In essence, he suggests that acting is a medium for understanding and expressing the complexities and intricacies inherent in the human condition.
"I don't really care for method acting. I think that's all bullshit, personally."
Gary Oldman expresses his skepticism towards "method acting," a style in which actors immerse themselves deeply in their character, often by experiencing similar situations or emotions as the character they are portraying. He refers to it as "bullshit" due to his belief that it may not be essential for delivering authentic performances. Instead, Oldman suggests that an actor's ability to create compelling characters comes from personal skill and talent rather than imitating their roles off-set.
"You spend years trying to become an actor, and then you become one and realize it's not as glamorous or as exciting as you thought it was going to be."
Gary Oldman suggests that the path to becoming an actor might involve dreams of glamour and excitement, but once the aspiring actor achieves their goal, they may find that reality doesn't always live up to those initial expectations. The quotidian aspects, such as long hours, rejections, and constant self-improvement, can make the profession less enthralling than initially imagined.
I was quiet, a loner. I was one of those children where, if you put me in a room and gave me some crayons and a pencils, you wouldn't hear from me for nine straight hours. And I was always drawing racing cars and rockets and spaceships and planes, things that were very fast that would take me away.
- Gary Oldman
I drank for about 25 years getting over the loss of my father and I took the anger out on myself. I did a good job at beating myself up at sometimes. I don't drink anymore but my alcoholic head occasionally says different. 'Nil By Mouth' was a love letter to my father because I needed to resolve some issues in order to be able to forgive him.
- Gary Oldman
There's no handbook for parenting. So you walk a very fine line as a parent because you are civilizing these raw things. They will tip the coffee over and finger-paint on the table. At some point, you have to say, 'We're gonna have to clean that up because you don't paint with coffee on a table.'
- Gary Oldman
Being an actor is a good way to earn a living. And to meet fabulous people. It's great to live very comfortably. I've been lucky, I've had a lot of fun with great roles, but it is true that if I were extremely rich, I would stop and I would go to play football on a beach in the Caribbean with my children.
- Gary Oldman
I grew up in Deptford in south London, and at that time I used to wear toppers, loon pants and tonic suits from shops like Take 6 and Topman. I was a bit of a soul boy, but I had a very eclectic taste in music - I was into James Brown and Bowie; and I was the only kid in the neighbourhood who would also be listening to Chopin.
- Gary Oldman
It's a shame about California, and particularly about L.A., where they've demolished so many landmarks. It's a bit of a disease there, where if anything is over 30 years old, they sort of knock it down and replace it. It's a strange town, it's this sprawling suburb, and then there's a city, the old town.
- Gary Oldman
If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.