This Wednesday, Gary Oldman was asked about his remarks from last year regarding his performance in Harry Potter at the Cannes press conference for Parthenope, and he clarified what he meant back then.
Last December, Gary Oldman took to The Drew Barrymore Show and commented on what he thought of his performance as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise of films. While remarking that the movies helped “save” him along with the Christopher Nolan-helmed Dark Knight trilogy, Oldman also caught strays from himself regarding his role.

Gary Oldman, while comparing himself to Alan Rickman, the late actor who played Severus Snape, said, “I think my work in it is mediocre.” He added, “Maybe if I had read the books like Alan, if I had gotten ahead of the curve, if I had known what was coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently,” preferring his co-stars’ approach to the films to his own. This topic resurfaced during an interview on Wednesday at the Cannes press conference for Parthenope, as reported by Deadline. Oldman confesses that he comes in peace.
Gary Oldman clarified that he didn’t intend to “disparage anyone out there who are fans of Harry Potter and the films and the character who I think is much beloved.” He continued, “What I meant by that is, as any artist or any actor or painter, you are always hypercritical of your own work.” Oldman added, “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 further clarified, “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. That’s what I meant, not to be rude to any of the people out there who like that film.” The actor has maintained this viewpoint since December 2023, believing that viewing the role through the lens of having read the books may have been a better approach.
Gary Oldman also remarked on some parallels between himself and his character in Parthenope, and how real-life struggles have helped him instinctively understand the role. Parthenope has launched globally on May 21, so fans can go out and see it today.