Gary Oldman reveals hardest scene in Harry Potter movies

Gary Oldman reveals the hardest part of his "Harry Potter" role. Lying by the frozen lake was a test of endurance.

Gary Oldman, an Oscar winner renowned for his role as wizard Sirius Black in the "Harry Potter" franchise, recently revealed the most challenging stage direction of his 41-year film career. During an interview with host Josh Horowitz on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Oldman discussed the difficulty he faced while lying by a frozen lake in one of the "Harry Potter" movies. Although he couldn't recall the specific film, it is likely that the scene occurred in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" where Harry saves Sirius Black from dementors at a frozen lake.

Oldman described the seemingly simple task as a test of endurance, stating that it took an exceptionally long time to shoot the scene. The filmmakers had built a lake inside a studio and froze the water for the sequence, requiring Oldman to lie there for an entire week, day in and day out, doing nothing. He humorously recounted the challenges of lying by the frozen lake, such as feeling cold and needing a hot water bottle, as well as experiencing discomfort in his neck.

Additionally, Oldman joked about his character's early demise in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," expressing his disappointment at being killed off too soon. He also candidly admitted to feeling that his performance in the "Harry Potter" movies was mediocre, suggesting that he would have played the role differently had he read the books beforehand.

Furthermore, Oldman shared his perspective on self-critique, emphasizing the importance of continuously striving to improve and acknowledging the subjectivity of one's own work. He expressed a desire to revise history on his entire decorated career, highlighting the personal and ever-evolving nature of one's perception of their own performances.

Overall, Gary Oldman's reflections on his experience filming the "Harry Potter" movies provide insight into the challenges and complexities of his craft, as well as his unwavering commitment to continuous growth and self-improvement as an actor.