Gary Oldman is a screen icon and, in terms of blockbusters, the British actor managed to leave a lasting impression on fans after starring in the Harry Potter movies and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy.
Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show, Oldman talked candidly about how important those franchises were for him. He was already a household name when he played Sirius Black and Commissioner Jim Gordon, of course, but the star power those roles gave him came at a crucial time in the actor's life.
"At 42 years old, I woke up divorced and I had custody of [my] boys," Oldman explained. "That, in itself, was...that was hard because there was a shift in the industry where a lot of productions were being [filmed in] Hungary, Budapest, Prague, Australia, you know, all of these places. So, I turned down a lot of work."
"Thank God for 'Harry Potter,'" he continued. "Thank God for ['Batman']. 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 went on to explain that his unique personal situation meant he repeatedly flew between London and Los Angeles in order to raise his children himself.
"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," he says. "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."
Sirius and Gordon are now two of Oldman's most famous roles, and it's refreshing to hear him speak so openly about the part they played in his life (unlikely some actors who would likely say they just starred in them for the money).
It's unlikely he'll return to either of them, though many fans remain optimistic about Oldman taking on another blockbuster role. After all, there are heaps of characters he'd be a good fit for in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now the X-Men and Fantastic Four are on their way back to our screens.
Check out our interview with Oldman for Slow Horses season 2 in the player below.