Gary Oldman is back on our screens with the latest series of Slow Horses, and it's impossible to deny that the Dark Knight star has had an incredible career. Away from the cameras, the star has taken to stage and recently received a knighthood for his services to drama, which he said was "mind-boggling". Also did we mention he is not the only family member in he spotlight? Here's all you need to about the 67-year-old's life as season 5 of the gripping spy thriller drops on Apple TV+..
His career
Gary was given a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours on June 13 for services to drama, to which the star said he was "gob-smacked" and he found "mind-boggling". In an official statement Oldman released alongside the news of his knighthood, the star wrote, "to be included in the long lineage of extraordinary actors, artists, and others who hold this title fills me with indescribable humility and pride".
The born and bred Londoner has had an extensive acting career. He started out on the stage at the York Theatre Royal performing in theatre productions, and has recently treaded the boards in a staging of the Samuel Beckett play Krapp’s Last Tape. From theatre to film to TV, the film star is known for his versatility and has portrayed a range of figures, from former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious, and even Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black.
He is now well-known as veteran MI5 agent Jackson Lamb in Apple TV’s Slow Horses, based on the Slough House book series by British writer Mick Herron. Gary plays the role of rude yet quick-witted agent Jackson Lamb in the hit show, and has said he loves playing the character, which he described as his "dream job".
© Variety via Getty ImagesIn an interview for the Los Angeles Times, he said "I’m a fan of long-form TV. I love being in these different worlds, with these different characters every week. Sometimes I’d watch with envy and think, “wouldn’t it be great to be a recurring character who intersects with the same people, rather like a theatre company, where you keep coming back and developing these stories and characters?”
Famous sister
Gary is the youngest of three siblings, and his eldest sister, Laila Morse, also has a job in the showbusiness world. Laila's most notable role is as Big Mo on soap opera EastEnders, a role she has periodically played since 2000. Laila has also had roles in The Bill, Great Expectations and Hellboy. She also played Janet in Nil by Mouth, which marked her younger brother's directorial debut. Laila's stage name came about because of her younger brother. The moniker was suggested by the Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, who Gary dated during the 90s. "Laila Morse" is an anagram of "mia sorella", which is Italian for "my sister".
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© InstagramChildren
Gary is a doting father to three sons: Alfie (b. 1988), who he shares with ex-wife Lesley Manville, Gulliver (b. 1997) and Charlie (b. 1999), who were welcomed into the world during his marriage to American model Donya Fiorentino. Alfie has started following in his father's footsteps and in 2019 he made his acting debut in Compos Mentis, a student short film. Alfie has worked behind-the-scenes on major films including Maleficent, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hitman's Bodyguard.
Although he and Lesley co-parented Alfie, Gary raised his sons Gulliver and Charlie after being awarded sole custody of them following his split from Donya. Gulliver is an aspiring photographer, while Charlie works as a model and has walked the runway for brands like Dolce & Gabbana.
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© Barry KingEx-wives
Gary has walked down the aisle five times during his life, including with famous actress Lesley Manville and Uma Thurman. In 1987, Gary married The Crown star Lesley, with the pair welcoming their son a year later. However, things didn't last and the duo divorced in 1989.
© Scott GarfittThere has been no bad blood between former couple and in 2018 after the pair were both nominated for Academy Awards, Lesley said on BBC Radio 4: "His sons from his other partner and my son are all very close, so it's a family evening. And that's what it's felt like. And Gary and I are friends, so it's been very good and been very nice for our son."
Gary and Uma married in 1990, but divorced just two years later in 1992. Reflecting on their relationship in 1996, Uma told Vanity Fair: "He was 12 years older. It was a crazy love affair that ended as it needed to. He was my first love. I had no prior experience."
© Jim SmealGary later started dating Isabella Rossellini, who was his co-star in Immortal Beloved, and although the couple became engaged, they called the wedding off in 1996. Gary's third marriage was to model Donya Fiorentino, with the pair marrying in 1997. The couple divorced in 2001. In 2008, Gary married singer Alexandra Edenborough, however they divorced in 2015, with the singer citing "irreconcilable differences". The actor is currently married to writer Gisele Schmidt, with the pair walking down the aisle in 2017.
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