Context:

Sir Gary Oldman candidly discussed his role in the film Tiptoes, which is often criticized as one of the worst films ever. At the time, Oldman was facing personal and financial difficulties, having recently gone through a divorce and struggling with financial instability. Despite the film's poor reception, he took on the role out of necessity to support himself and his family. Oldman also reflected on the positive aspect of the film, noting that it provided work for several actors with dwarfism during a challenging period for Hollywood. Additionally, he shared his mixed feelings about another past project, The Fifth Element, and mentioned his subsequent success, including his role in the Harry Potter series and receiving a knighthood for his contributions to drama.

Dive Deeper:

• Gary Oldman starred in the 2003 film Tiptoes, widely regarded as one of the worst films, due to personal and financial challenges he faced, including a recent divorce and a lack of work, which compelled him to accept the role.

• During the interview, Oldman revealed that he never actually watched Tiptoes and described the time as particularly difficult due to an actors' strike that compounded his need for employment.

• In Tiptoes, Oldman portrayed a character with dwarfism, requiring him to use prosthetics and spend much of the filming on his knees, which he now views as a decision made under desperate circumstances.

• Despite the film's negative reputation, Oldman acknowledged a silver lining: the project provided jobs for several actors with dwarfism, including Peter Dinklage, at a time when work was scarce for them.

• Oldman also discussed his mixed feelings about The Fifth Element, explaining that his wife has helped him view the film more favorably, despite his discomfort with his character's appearance in the film.

• Following the release of Tiptoes, Oldman achieved significant success, notably with his role as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series and winning an Oscar for Darkest Hour.

• Recently, Oldman was honored with a knighthood by King Charles, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of drama, an accolade he was the last in his category to receive this century.