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There are unpleasant managers, and then there is Jackson Lamb: untidy, malodorous, demoralizing, and somewhat dishonest. However, for followers of Slow Horses, the Apple TV+ show adapted from Mick Herron’s spy novels, this is a character who consistently exudes a captivating, sticky shine. Similar to a day-old doner kebab.
Gary Oldman portrays Lamb, a scruffy and well-executed character for television, who is a lackluster spy chief inexplicably given control of a forgotten group of retired agents.
Lamb, under the guidance of Oldman, bears the weight not only of his own shortcomings but also those of the entire audience. He indulges in alcohol, profanity, flatulence, and undermines his employees. For Lamb, every morning is tainted with negativity and every joke holds a dark reality at its center, thanks to the sharp dialogue written by showrunner Will Smith, previously of The Thick of It and Veep.
Oldman’s role in the box-set has gained him a supportive fanbase, although it may not be as large as his role as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter movies. Playing Lamb has also allowed the actor to tap into his extensive career of eccentric and often unsettling performances. He portrayed a football hooligan in Alan Clarke’s 1989 TV film The Firm, playwright Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears, Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy, the notorious assassin in Oliver Stone’s JFK, and Dracula for Francis Ford Coppola in 1992.
Over the years, Oldman has gained popularity in Hollywood and is now a well-respected figure. He has made multiple appearances as Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies and had a nearly unrecognizable role as President Truman in the director’s newest film, Oppenheimer.
Oldman has received widespread recognition in the entertainment industry for his performances as two distinctly British heroes. He portrayed George Smiley, a meticulous master of the secret service, in the film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and then took on the role of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. His portrayal of Smiley earned him an Oscar nomination, while his portrayal of Churchill earned him the coveted award. Additionally, he received his third Oscar nomination for his titular role in Mank, a David Fincher film that pays tribute to the golden age of American cinema.
Each actor changes their appearance with the help of costumes and props. However, for Oldman, this is particularly appealing. While filming a previous season of Slow Horses in England, he admitted to enjoying disguises. He found it difficult to let go of the fake elements while working with Fincher on Mank. Oldman explained that he enjoys hiding, but in this case, it was difficult because the character’s struggles and emotions were his own. When Fincher asked for no barriers between Oldman and the audience, it made him nervous because even George Smiley had his signature glasses as a form of disguise.
Oldman is most likely referring to his troubled upbringing and past struggles with alcohol as part of his personal baggage. He has also been through four unsuccessful marriages, including one to British actress Lesley Manville, who is the mother of his eldest son Alfie, and a short-lived marriage to actress Uma Thurman. Additionally, he had a romantic involvement with Isabella Rossellini.
Many people believe that the film Nil By Mouth, written and directed by Oldman in 1997, effectively explores the sorrows of his childhood. However, Oldman has made it clear that the gritty story is not based on his own family life. Critic Nick James considers the film, which takes place in Oldman’s hometown of south London and portrays a violent father, to be a standout achievement. In 2014, James stated, “He’s a hero to me solely because of that movie. Put aside all his acting accomplishments, he is still the one who has created the most genuine working-class Cockney film.”
In 1958, Oldman was born in New Cross. His father, Leonard, was a welder and ex-sailor who left his wife Kathleen and their son at the age of seven. As a teenager and fan of Millwall, Gary was initially interested in pursuing a career in music. However, after seeing Malcolm McDowell perform on stage, he became drawn to the theatre and attended drama school. He later appeared at the Royal Court and with the Royal Shakespeare Company before gaining television roles, such as in Mike Leigh’s film Meantime and Clarke’s highly praised football gang drama.
Actors in films inevitably develop their own unique style and characteristics throughout their lengthy careers. The characters they have portrayed on screen become significant, regardless of the varying props and ability to transform. As they accumulate a repertoire of work, a visual and emotional connection is formed, which becomes associated with them whether they desire it or not. Skilled casting directors are aware of this and may purposely cast an actor against type, causing a villain to become a hero or vice versa. However, an actor’s public image can also be influenced by their personal life and associations. In the past, film studios were well aware of this potential harm and worked diligently to protect their stars’ reputations.
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During the 1990s, there were rumors in the media about Oldman’s excessive drinking and disruptive actions. In recent years, he has also had to confront allegations of violence towards his third wife, Donya Fiorentino, who is the mother of his two younger sons, Gulliver and Charlie. However, he refuted her accusations, which were brought up during an interview while he was receiving praise for his role in the film Darkest Hour in 2018.
In 2014, Oldman publicly expressed remorse for causing offense to the Jewish community. He had made comments in an interview with Playboy magazine where he sympathized with Mel Gibson, who had previously made antisemitic remarks during a drunk driving incident in 2006. Oldman clarified that he deeply regretted his words and had only intended to call out societal hypocrisy. He also emphasized his strong personal connection and admiration for the Jewish people, both in general and those in his own life.
The chance to pick up a fresh set of props and a new, rich identity could become addictive for an actor with a “past”, whatever the audience might think they know of them. Oldman certainly appreciates the plum parts he has enjoyed down the years. “Some of the roles that I’ve played, I look back and think, you know, I was very lucky – I’ve done pretty well,” he has said. “I’ve had a few special ones come in and land on the desk.”
Film lovers can only hope that good scripts keep dropping down in front of Oldman. And if the desk he is sitting at when they land is the one Lamb occupies inside the set of grotty Slough House in Slow Horses, it will, fans know, be covered in dead whisky glasses and cigarette butts.
Source: theguardian.com
