The Cannes Film Festival is currently the hotspot for stellar celebrities from all over the world to reflect on their new experiences as well as the old. One celebrity who used the event to set the record straight is Gary Oldman.
The ‘Harry Potter’ actor clarified his earlier remarks about his performance as Sirius Black in the film franchise during the Cannes press conference for his new film, ‘Parthenope’. Speaking on Wednesday, the actor seemingly did some damage control after describing his portrayal as “mediocre,” which drew attention from fans of the series. Here’s what he said.
Gary Oldman Justifies His Criticism Of His ‘Harry Potter’ Character
Gary Oldman, who played the character of Sirius black in the ‘Harry Potter‘ franchise, had trashed his own acting in the popular films. However, trying to explain his comment at the Cannes Film Festival, he said, “What I meant by that is, as any artist or any actor or painter, you are always hypercritical of your own work”.
“If you’re not, and you’re satisfied with what you’re doing, that would be death to me. If I watched a performance of myself and thought, ‘My God, I’m fantastic in this,’ that would be a sad day,” he added. He further said that his criticism was more about his personal artistic process than a judgment on the film or his character’s role in it.
The actor also opened up about the challenges he faced while playing Sirius Black, noting that the secrecy surrounding the ‘Harry Potter‘ novels limited his understanding of his character’s full arc.
“When I started ‘Harry Potter,’ all I had was the book, ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban,’ and that one representation of that man. One book in the library of Sirius Black. And that’s kind of what I meant by it. It’s not me looking at the movie and saying it’s a terrible film or I’m terrible, I just wish it had been under different circumstances,” he explained.
In case you missed it: Was Dumbledore’s Decision To Reject Petunia’s Request To Join Hogwarts In ‘Harry Potter’ Harsh?
Gary Oldman Says He Feels Connected With His ‘Parthenope’ Character
Gary Oldman was speaking during the premiere of his film ‘Parthenope‘ at the Cannes Film Festival. Written by American writer John Cheever, the film is directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Speaking about his film, Oldman also discussed the personal connection he felt with his character, particularly regarding his own experiences with alcoholism.
“Age, there’s nothing we can do about it, is there? That’s for sure. But I’m the happiest I’ve been. I think I’m more comfortable now in my own skin than I was when I was younger. I have a terrific family, who are supportive and creative. There was chaos and drama and a lot of pain in my life when I was younger,” the actor said, adding that he recently celebrated 27 years of sobriety.
‘Parthenope’ has been described as a love letter to Naples. The film received a 9.5-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the Cannes. Director Sorrentino expressed his gratitude for the applause. “For me, this movie is a celebration of the journey of my life,” he said, further thanking Cannes general delegate Thierry Fremaux for supporting his career.
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