Gary Oldman: Batman, Potter let me get most money for least work

Last Updated on December 20, 2023

Poll any 25 movie fans on what their favorite Gary Oldman performance is and you’ll get nearly as many answers (I’ll take Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy). But one that surely connected with a core audience was Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series. And it was those movies – and by taking on James Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies – that helped him find a balance between work and home life.

Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show (via Variety), Gary Oldman said the turmoil following his divorce from third wife Donya Fiorentino put him in a tough situation when it came time to manage his career and bond with his sons. Fortunately, some high-profile projects were on the horizon, with both Prisoner of Azkaban and Batman Begins being released within just about one year of each other. As he told the host,  “Thank God for Harry Potter…Thank God for Harry Potter. I tell you, the two — Batman and Harry Potter — really, they saved me, because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids.” Oldman also noted that he turned down a lot of work that was filming all over the world — citing everywhere from Hungary to Australia — because he had to be at home more.

However, Christopher Nolan’s schedule for Batman Begins allowed Gary Oldman additional room in adjusting to his lifestyle as a single father. “When we did the first Batman…London doubled for Gotham. I did 27 round trips of flying back from LA…I’d fly in for a day. I’d do a shoot a day. To Chris Nolan’s credit…he stayed on schedule. I would go home for three days. Come back for two. Go home for a weekend. Come back for a day…otherwise, I just felt my kids are being brought up by a nanny.”

While Gary Oldman alluded to being tight on money around that time, he seems to be doing just fine in his mid-60s. The Oscar winner even said he would be content retiring once his current TV series Slow Horses comes to a close.

To you, which Gary Oldman performance ranks as his greatest? Give us your pick below!