Gary Oldman - Acting Style

Acting Style

Oldman was almost immediately typecast as a criminal in his film career. The necessity to express villainous characters in an overtly physical manner led to the cultivation of his 'big' acting style, which hearkened back to his classical theatre training and would become his trademark; this encompassed "playing everything" via layered performances that vivdly express each character's emotions and internal conflicts. While this approach has garnered Oldman much acclaim during his career, it has on occasion led critics to dismiss his performances as overacting of a superfluous nature. Of his acting, Oldman has said, "t's my influence on those roles that probably they feel bigger than life and a little over-the-top. I mean, I do go for it a bit as an actor, I must admit." Oldman's proficiency with accents has been praised, and his on-screen diversity has brought him critical acclaim.