Bafta Awards Feature with The Style King – Mens Fashion and Clothing Online Magazine
In the January 1987 issue of The Face magazine a new British acting movement was named. Bringing
together Bruce Payne, Tim Roth, Paul McGann, Colin Firth, Spencer Leigh and Gary Oldman, the
group was labeled by the cult magazine as ‘The Brit Pack’ – a group actors that were changing the
face of British cinema. Gary Oldman, hailing from Deptford, South East London, was at this heart of
this new group of rising British stars – a versatile actor with an inarguable talent.
Over the course of his long career his star continues to rise – with a Best Actor nomination for a
British Academy of Film and Television Award, as well as a coveted Oscar nod for his role in Tinker
Tailor Soldier Spy, Oldman has maintained his acting and box office prowess.
Style wise, Oldman deserves just as many plaudits. Continuing to serve up simple, effective outfits,
all with an eccentric British touch, Oldman’s fashion sense has spanned several eras of style. In his
films his style has been versatile – often dramatically reinventing himself for a role. This sense of
transformation began with his first major role as Sid Vicious in the 1986 film, Sid and Nancy.
Transforming himself into the punk icon, Oldman gained critical acclaim for his role as the hard living
punk star. And the transformation centered around a physical one – in the best of 1970s fashion
Oldman was the spitting image of the Sex Pistols front man, losing so much weight that he was
reportedly hospitalised. He was playing a pop cultural icon – and was thoroughly successful.He
continued to make critically acclaimed films into the 1980s. Earning a BAFTA nod for his role in Prick
Up Your Ears, a biopic of the life of playwright Joe Orton, Oldman cemented his status as one of the
most exciting actors in Britain. Roger Ebert, perhaps the most famous and influential film critics of all
time, declared him ‘the best young British actor around.’ A string of successful films followed – from
football hooligan Clive Bissel in The Firm and to a starring turn alongside his hero Alan Bates in We
Think the World of You, Gary Oldman constantly transformed himself – consistently producing iconic
film looks in the process.
But his big Hollywood break came in the Oliver Stone directed film, JFK. It was a role that brought
him to American prominence – an important role in a controversial movie. His assault on Hollywood
continued with his take on Count Dracula in Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula. With this, he found a
new niche – the villain. Playing the nasty guy roles with aplomb, Oldman began to take on some of
the most challenges characters of his career. From a pimp in True Romance to a variety of corrupt
corporate characters, Oldman has a charm and a glint in his eye that makes him the perfect choice
for a villain. In Leon, he played Norman Stansfield, widely accepted as one of the best villains in
modern cinema.In the early 2000s Gary Oldman’s career stagnated a little. But this was all part of
the story, and as with any great actor, a comeback was inevitable. It took J.K Rowling’s juggernaut
Harry Potter film series to draw the spotlight back to Oldman – playing Potter’s mysterious
godfather Sirius Black. The misunderstood Black was the perfect comeback role – it reminded
audiences of what they had been missing. He also took the part of James Gordon in Christopher
Nolan’s Batman series, proving his blockbuster potential.
Most recently, Oldman has been back to his best. Ever since the release of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,
much of the substantial buzz around the film focused on his performance. With a steely eyed
determination he plays George Smiley, a veteran MI6 agent forced out of semi-retirement to
investigate an undercover double agent within MI6′ s ranks. Lauded by critics for a subtle
powerhouse performance – this is the second coming of a true icon of cinema. And this is all acted
out done in an impeccably cut 1970s wardrobe – never did a trench and thick rimmed glasses look so
appealing.
Whether or not he wins the BAFTA or Oscar over the coming months, Oldman is securely back on
the Hollywood radar – proving himself the perfect ambassador for British cinema and style this
exciting awards season.
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