Gary Oldman | EXTENDED Monologue

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Gary Oldman | EXTENDED Monologue
Release Date: March 14, 2025

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Introduction

In this vibrant episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delivers his signature blend of humor and insightful commentary, culminating in an engaging extended monologue. The episode features a special guest appearance by acclaimed actor Gary Oldman, providing listeners with an in-depth conversation about Oldman's illustrious career and his latest projects.

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Stephen Colbert’s Extended Monologue

Starting at [01:47], Colbert dives into a series of topical jokes and observations that set the tone for the evening. He opens with concerns about the stock market, humorously questioning the audience's relationship with money:

"Does anyone here enjoy having money? You might need to find a new hobby..." [01:51]

He continues with sharp wit, addressing economic woes such as declining sales in convenience stores and rising egg prices:

"In February, the average American paid a record $5.90 for a dozen Grade A eggs. Which means it may be finally time to switch to grade B eggs." [04:00]

Colbert also lampoons the political climate, particularly focusing on tariffs and international relations:

"Trump responded irresponsibly by threatening to put a 200% tariff on French champagne... Our allies are not thrilled." [06:52]

His monologue seamlessly blends humor with current events, offering a comedic yet thought-provoking take on economic and political issues.

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Interview with Gary Oldman

At [15:46], Gary Oldman joins Stephen Colbert for a rare long-form interview. The conversation delves into various aspects of Oldman's career and personal insights.

Career Highlights and Method Acting

Colbert commends Oldman’s versatility, noting his diverse roles in films such as Dracula, JFK, and Slow Horses. Oldman discusses his approach to character development:

"It depends. It depends. But it's usually that we're vocally... and then you get clues from physical cues on how a character might move." [18:29]

He elaborates on the importance of voice and movement in embodying a character, citing his work in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy where he had to refine his English accent with a dialect coach:

"I had played Americans. I think my Rs, my R became a little harder." [17:45]

Creation of Jackson Lamb

A significant portion of the interview focuses on Oldman's role as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses. Oldman shares the genesis of the character:

"We were sitting on a plane together... he said, what are you laughing at?... It ticked all the boxes. It's ridiculous." [22:35]

Colbert and Oldman engage in playful banter about the character’s distinctive traits, including humorous discussions about Lamb’s notorious flatulence.

Favorite Roles and Performances

Oldman reflects on his favorite performances and cinematic influences. He expresses admiration for Gene Hackman and Francis Ford Coppola’s work:

"The Conversation... it's a master class in storytelling and acting." [27:49]

He also discusses the challenges and satisfactions of his extensive filmography, highlighting how even his past roles continue to resonate with him.

Directing and Future Projects

Touching upon his directing experience with Nil by Mouth, Oldman expresses a desire to direct more:

"Yes, please. I would gladly be the hero." [31:52]

He emphasizes the importance of preparation and collaboration, praising directors like Christopher Nolan for their clear vision and direction.

On-Screen Deaths and Iconic Scenes

Colbert playfully asks Oldman about his favorite on-screen deaths. Oldman recounts memorable scenes, including his portrayal of Lee Harvey Oswald being shot by Jack Ruby:

"State of Grace is my favorite death. It's the way I drop to the... like a doll." [40:38]

The discussion includes amusing anecdotes about filming intense scenes, blending professionalism with lighthearted moments.

Closing Remarks

As the interview wraps up, Colbert and Oldman share a final humorous exchange about acting techniques and memorable moments from their careers. Oldman’s candid responses and charismatic presence make for an entertaining and enlightening conversation.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert offers listeners a blend of sharp comedic monologue and a deep dive into the artistry of Gary Oldman. Colbert's engaging hosting paired with Oldman's reflective insights provide a comprehensive and entertaining listen, enriching fans' understanding of one of cinema's most talented actors.

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Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert [01:51]: "Does anyone here enjoy having money? You might need to find a new hobby..."
• Stephen Colbert [04:00]: "In February, the average American paid a record $5.90 for a dozen Grade A eggs..."
• Gary Oldman [18:29]: "It depends. It depends. But it's usually that we're vocally..."
• Gary Oldman [27:49]: "The Conversation... it's a master class in storytelling and acting."
• Gary Oldman [40:38]: "State of Grace is my favorite death. It's the way I drop to the... like a doll."

Listeners are encouraged to watch Oldman’s latest series, Slow Horses, available on Apple TV, and follow The Late Show on YouTube for more exclusive content and clips.

Transcript

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[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome, welcome one and all in here. Althal. Mr. And Mrs. American, all the ships at sea. Welcome to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Hey, I got a quick question. I got a quick question here. It's kind of a personal question. Does anyone here enjoy having money? You might need to find a new hobby cause y'all know the dao, the place where they keep all. They store all the Dow points and every day they count all the dowlings. And then that twitchy money line goes beep. Well today it went boo down another 537 points. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been a bit of a run. It's so bad down on Wall street. The bull just applied For a job at Chipotle. Yeah, he's hoping to get an internship as a taco. There are far more troubling indicators out there than the Dow. We are getting disturbing reports that sales are down at convenience stores for Doritos, Twinkies, Heath bars and cigarettes. Then what the hell are people having for breakfast? Now convenience store shoppers are also buying less ice cream and cigarillos. No, not cigarillos. Not our precious Dutch Masters and our Swisher sweets. Now, how will we smell like that forever? To tempt the people to purchase the curbside crunchables, the finest minds in snack science are innovating, leading the way as usual. PepsiCo is developing mini meals like Doritos loaded with warm nacho cheese and other toppings. And you know Americans can't resist their favorite flavor. Other inflation. Inflation is also hitting actual food. According to the Department of Agriculture, egg prices will remain elevated as Easter approaches. And I believe on Easter, they'll rise again. Crispy anesthesia prices are already getting up there. In February, the average American paid a record $5.90 for a dozen Grade A eggs. Which means it may be finally time to switch to grade B eggs. You know their slogan, do they all have to be from chickens? One thing driving prices up is Trump's wonder wheel of random tariffs. So far, he's hit most of our major trading partners, including the eu, who yesterday clapped back by announcing tariffs on American made bourbon jeans and Harleys. That is going to make it so much harder for European men to have a midlife crisis. You can't outrun your mortality on a Vespa.

[Gary Oldman]

Another joke.

[Stephen Colbert]

Can't remember the other joke. Something like that. Made another joke. So in response to their response, Trump responded irresponsibly by threatening to put a 200% tariff on French champagne. Yeah, meaning from now on, we'll have to christen our ships with bottles of ketchup. Bon voyage. Anybody got a knife? Anybody got a knife? I use the mustard. It's not just champagne. Because in his announcement, Trump said the US will shortly place a 200% tariff on all wine and alcoholic products coming out of the other EU represented countries. This will be great for the wine and champagne business in the US So get ready to toast the next New Year's with America's finest sparkling beverage, Champagne Code red. Here's the weird thing. Carbonated, caffeinated champagne. Why not? Here's the weird thing, y'all. Even though Trump keeps kicking Europe right in the grapes, the EU is still our ally. And yesterday, Trump hosted One of their leaders, Michael Martin, who is Ireland's prime minister, or as they call it over there, and I hope I'm pronouncing this correctly. Hochtooh. During. I think that's it. I don't speak Irish. During. During a press conference, reporters pushed Trump on why he thinks EU countries like Ireland deserve punishing tariffs. Is Ireland taking advantage of the U.S.

[Gary Oldman]

Of course they are. I can't. You know, I have great respect for Ireland and what they did. And they should have done just what they did.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, they should have. They took. They took advantage of us and I have great respect for that. Game C Game. You should rip off any sucker dumb enough to trust you. By the way. Announcing a new limited edition golden Trump brand Reacher grabber. The only Reacher grabber with the full text of the constitution on the reacher and the lyrics to YMCA on the grabber. All proceeds will go to charity or whatever that stripper's name was. The ginger. Cheyenne Bubbles. Trump did have some kind words for one particular Irishman who he could almost name. Who's your favorite Irish person?

[Gary Oldman]

Oh, there's so many. Are you kidding me? I do happen to like your fighter. He's got the best tattoos I've ever seen. I don't know if I'm a big. But that is it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Conor McGregor, Joe Biden. Conor. Boy, you have.

[Gary Oldman]

Conor's great, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

He clearly could not think of a single Irish person. Oh, God. Oh, yeah. There's so many. There's Shaquille O'Neal. Big guy. Kathy Ireland. I love Kathy. Kathy Ireland. Of course. The green. Mm. I tell you, she's a hot number. I wouldn't kick her out of bed for containing a peanut. Our allies are not thrilled. And today we had to go meet with a bunch of them in Quebec for something called the G7 summit. Because Trump doesn't have the shamrocks to go himself. He sent Secretary of State and star of the new CBS sitcom Young Schumer, Marco Rubio. That works. That works. I'd watch that. It's a bit awkward that the meeting is in Canada, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex. But it's all cool, baby, because Rubio says the Canada takeover won't be on the G7 agenda. Though it's possible it might in one of the pre meeting icebreakers. Something you might not know about me is that my boss wants to bomb Ontario. Okay? Tossing the beach ball to France. It's not just the economy. Trump also, and I want to be fair, is ruining everything. For instance, his epa. His EPA is an Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to repeal dozens of the nation's most significant environmental regulations, including more than two dozen protections against air and water pollution. I mean, just even hearing that stresses me out. I need a drink, man. There you go. Oh, my God. That's water. The EPA is also going to overturn limits on soot from smokestacks and restrictions on emissions of mercury. Mercury poisoning is back, baby. Pretty soon your horoscope is going to read. This month, mercury is in retrograde and also in your brain. The changes also include getting rid of something called the good neighbor rule, which requires states to address their own pollution when it's carried by winds into neighboring states. Getting rid of the good Neighbor rule is really going to change those commercials.

[Gary Oldman]

Like a good neighbor.

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My lungs get out.

[Gary Oldman]

I'm dying. You lied to me, Jake. State farming's there.

[Stephen Colbert]

This new. We love Jake. We love Jake. From State Farm. This. This new highway to a Mad Max hellscape was announced by EPA administrator and Humpty Dumpty after Ozempic. Lee Zeldin. Zeldin claims that getting rid of these regulations is in the service of the agency's mission, which he said is to, quote, lower the cost of buying a car and running the business. No, it's not. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect the environment, not to sell cheaper cars. That's the mission. Selling cheaper cars is the mission of Lee Zeldin's used auto worlds. Stopping today to buy Zell or lease Trump destroying everything we love all on his own. He's getting a big assist from Tesla, CEO and guest of the White Lotus, undressing that corpse with his eyes, Elon Musk. That has led to a lot of protests around the country at Tesla dealerships. Now, I want to be clear. I do not condone violence or vandalism of any kind. That is a deeply held belief of mine that comes from the bottom of of my CBS legal department. With that in mind, I find it interesting that there's a growing trend of cybertrucks being vandalized and used as skate ramps or covered in garbage.

[Gary Oldman]

Interesting. That's interesting.

[Stephen Colbert]

To be fair, to be fair, that might not be vandalism. That might just be a simple mistake, because they do look a lot like a dumpster. Tesla owners, Tesla owners are facing backlash everywhere they go. Recently, somebody stole the wheels from every single Tesla in a Texas parking lot. Whoever did it, I do not condone this, but I do appreciate your tireless efforts. What's this, the Nobel Prize for puns? Thank you so much. We got a great show for you tonight coming up.

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Gary Oldman.

[Gary Oldman]

Wow.

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What's up?

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Gary Oldman]

Mm.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, have you checked out that spreadsheet I sent you for our dinner? Options Finance your car with Carvana and experience total control financing subject to credit approval.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Folks, folks, I get. Let me tell you, on this show, I'm a lucky man to have this job. I get to do a lot of fun things with this gig. And last month I went to London to sit down with Academy Award winning actor Gary Oldman. Oldman. I agree. Oldman, who rarely does long form interviews, has been delighting moviegoers for over four decades in films like Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy, Prick up youp Ears, True Romance, the Professional and the Fifth Element. He has portrayed iconic characters like Dracula, Sirius Black, Commissioner Gordon, Lee Harvey Oswald, Sid Vicious, Winston Churchill, and Beethoven in Immortal Beloved. He's so good. He also played Beethoven in Beethoven, who's one of the greatest actors of your generation. Yes you are.

[Gary Oldman]

Juju Boo Choo.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now he can be seen in the Apple TV series Slow Horses. Yes, I agree. It's about a unit of misfit British spies led by Oldman's Jackson Lamb, a grouchy schlubby spy known for his boozing and constant, and I mean constant flatulence. With Slow Horses about to enter its fifth season, Gary Oldman was kind enough to invite me to London for an extensive conversation about his life and his work. I am here with renowned actor Gary Oldman. Gary, thank you so much for sitting down with me today.

[Gary Oldman]

Thank you, Stephen.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you enjoy doing interviews, or do you. Do you dread them? Should we establish, like, a safe word before we go in? You could just say, like, if I get into a question, we just go, pumpkin patch, and I'll know to ease off.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, Pumpkin patch. They. I guess they. They're a necessary sort of evil, really.

[Stephen Colbert]

How much acting will you be doing in this interview? I seem like it would. You're. You're enjoying it.

[Gary Oldman]

You're gonna get. I promise you. I promise you, you'll get the raw unedited.

[Stephen Colbert]

The raw, Gary.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. And the fact that you are a good actor means that I don't know whether or not I'm gonna get the real thing.

[Gary Oldman]

Hopefully you won't be able to tell.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're in London, not far from the set of your amazing show Slow Horses. How far are we right now from where you grew up in London?

[Gary Oldman]

Oh, probably about seven miles.

[Stephen Colbert]

Seven miles. Okay. And I don't know London very well. I'm an American. So is that closer to, like, Buckingham palace or where the urchins and the chimney sweeps live?

[Gary Oldman]

Well, right now where we are, we are closer to Buckingham Palace. Where I grew up, it was chimney sweeps. Chimney sweep.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're famously adept at accents. Count Dracula, Lee Harvey Oswald, Beethoven, Winston Churchill. Is it true that when you were doing Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy, that you had to have a dialect coach reacquaint you with your English accent?

[Gary Oldman]

That's very true. Yeah. I just. I lived in America for so long, and I had played Americans. I think my Rs, my R became a little harder.

[Stephen Colbert]

How important is finding the voice for you to find a character? Is that what you start with, or do you start with something else, like.

[Gary Oldman]

Depends. It depends. But it's usually that we're vocally. The character was sit. Yeah. And then you get. You get clues from physical clues from that, too, of how. How a character might move.

[Stephen Colbert]

You get those clues from the voice.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, you can. I mean, if you look at. If you think of a New York accent. I mean, if you think of I. I did a. A movie many years ago in the 90s called State of Grace, and it was about the sort of Irish Helskitchen gangs. That accent still has echoes of the hills of Ireland. It has a sort of echo of the landscape still in the accent, because it all goes up so it's got like this upward inflection, you know, like. And it's got like an energy to it and then that can dictate the way that you might move. And if you've got Italian New York, it sort of always goes down. It's always like that. It's a fallen thing, you know, forget about it. Where an Irishman might say, hey, forget about it.

[Stephen Colbert]

You sound like Jackson Lamb, though. Like, Jackson Lamb is like an amplified version.

[Gary Oldman]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Of your voice.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah. It's sort of Gary with. With. With a bit of English on it, you know, a bit of spin.

[Stephen Colbert]

A little mustard.

[Gary Oldman]

A little mustard.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is this the character that's closest to your natural speaking voice?

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you go into it knowing that you were going to do that or is that something you discovered?

[Gary Oldman]

It's something I discovered. There's a story here how it really all came about. I have a sort of manager, producing partner, Douglas Ivansky, and I have been a fan of Long form tv and I would look with, sometimes with envy and just admiration. These shows. Best directing, best cinematography, some of the best writing, certainly the best acting. Far better than what we're mostly seeing on the big screen. So here's this golden age of television. And I said to him, God, wouldn't it be lovely to just sort of do a show and like, repeat a character? And I said, but it would have to be very well written of a high pedigree. I said, I don't really want to wear a wig. I've worn too many wigs. I don't want to wear prosthetic makeup because I want too much of that. I said, so I don't want to sit in the makeup chair very long. I said, and I want to kind of wear some. I don't want a big elaborate costume. I want something, you know, that's kind of easy. I don't really want to do an accent. I'd like something closer to my own voice. And. Oh, and if it could be in the spy world, you know, like the, like Le Cara or something, that would be even better. And then we're sitting on a plane together and he's chuckling over a script he's reading. And I said, what are you laughing at? I said, is it that good? And he said, well, I'm reading a character who is just about to become your best friend. And he fell from the sky and ticked all the boxes. It's ridiculous.

[Stephen Colbert]

Can you essentially roll out of bed and be Jackson Lamb? Do you even go in the makeup chair?

[Gary Oldman]

Sometimes when I Wake up. I don't need to, but I still do. I like. I like them, you know, I pop in.

[Stephen Colbert]

But do you eat noodles that loud? If you.

[Gary Oldman]

No, I don't eat noodles. I don't eat anything that loud. No.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's difficult to watch sometimes.

[Gary Oldman]

I know. I don't pass wind that loud.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, here we are. Sir, I must ask you about your fart work.

[Gary Oldman]

Please do.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's a Jackson Lamb trademark. You're known for going deep and immersing yourself in characters.

[Gary Oldman]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

So, Gary Oldman, I ask you, do you do your own stunts? Can you fart on command, sir?

[Gary Oldman]

No, I can't.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's so disappointing.

[Gary Oldman]

And you. I know. And you want me to be honest here?

[Stephen Colbert]

Of course.

[Gary Oldman]

No, I. I cock a leg.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh.

[Gary Oldman]

And then. And then they. And then they.

[Stephen Colbert]

You indicate.

[Gary Oldman]

I indicate.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Gary Oldman]

And then they.

[Stephen Colbert]

So the kind of actor you indicate rather than. It doesn't come from within.

[Gary Oldman]

You're not supposed to indicate really, are you? As an actor, that's a terrible thing to do.

[Stephen Colbert]

Anything in drama school prepare you for this? Was there any. Any sort of exercise, animal spine, anything that you.

[Gary Oldman]

I. I've been doing this for almost 47 years. Nothing in drama school prepares you for any of it. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I wish they'd teach you things like how to eat a bacon roll without it dripping on your costume. I mean, like, real practical stuff.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you think any of your. Do you think any of your previous characters, any of those performances could have been improved by passing gas? Because I. I have here an example. We. We took some of our favorite performances of yours and added that undefinable Jackson Lamb quality here. Here we go.

[Gary Oldman]

And I bid you welcome, Mr. Harko, to my house.

[Stephen Colbert]

Come on.

[Gary Oldman]

I want you to listen to me very carefully. Harry, that's brilliant. That was fantastic.

[Stephen Colbert]

Get off my plane. Any regrets of holding out this long before adding that je ne sais quoi to certain characters?

[Gary Oldman]

Oh. Oh, God. Yes, Very.

[Stephen Colbert]

It could have been. Could have helped a few.

[Gary Oldman]

Could have been.

[Stephen Colbert]

Could have helped a few. Okay, when we come back, Gary and I talk about one of his favorite actors, Gene Hackman. Today at T Mobile, I'm joined by a special co anchor. What up, everybody? It's your boy, Big Snoop. Do double G Snoop. Where can people go to find great deals? Head to T mobile.com and get four iPhone 16s with Apple Intelligence on us, plus four lines for 25 bucks. That's quite a deal, Snoop. And when you switch to T Mobile, you can save versus the other big guys. Comparable plans plus streaming respect and we up out of here. See how you can save on wireless.

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[Stephen Colbert]

We now return to Gary Oldman already in progress. Does it ever upset you that people don't take your comedy seriously enough because you prick up your ears? Rosencrans and golden turned dead. Very funny. You've done, you know, I would say Jean Baptiste, Emmanuel Zorg. That's a comedic character.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Jackson Lamb's funny.

[Gary Oldman]

Jackson Lamb's funny. Yeah. People say to me, you know, you know, can he do comedy? And I, I'd say, look at Dracula, let's camp his thing out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Gary Oldman]

You know, but yeah, they have to see you do it. They have to, you know, you have to hit him on the head with it.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, do you have a favorite comedy?

[Gary Oldman]

I would say off the top of my head, being there.

[Stephen Colbert]

What movie do you think you've seen the most? Is there a movie you go back to like, this is my comfort food.

[Gary Oldman]

The Conversation.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Gene Hackman. Yeah.

[Gary Oldman]

Coppola is finest.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is it about the Conversation?

[Gary Oldman]

Oh, just the level of artistry that's on display. From storytelling to photography to sound and sound editing. Hackman is, you know, I mean, God, if we could all be as good as Gene Hackman, a close second, another Coppola film would be Godfather Part 2. You know, dialogue writing, storytelling, acting, it's just, it's just a master class in the across the board Taxi Driver. I've seen that a few times. Yeah, but I saw Raging Bull. I saw it up here in the West End and I saw a matinee performance and came out and was so stunned by it that I bought a ticket and went and had a sandwich and then went back and watched the evening performance. I watched it, yeah, twice in a back to back.

[Stephen Colbert]

Last year when I talked to Christopher Nolan, who he's worked with many times, he told me that he was a big fan of The Fast and Furious franchise. Do you have a film series that people might be surprised you enjoy or a film like that people might be surprised you've named some classics? Are there any non classics that you enjoy a great deal or even like trash tv?

[Gary Oldman]

When we. In the first season of Slow Horses, it was during the pandemic and it was that very weird thing. You probably experienced it. Lax, empty on the plane. There's three people on the plane with you. You get to Heathrow, empty. The roads are empty. And the hotel, the Dorchester, for the first time in its career, in its existence, had closed. I, along with Doug, we were the only two people at the Dorchester Hotel. It was like. It was. It was like the Shining. It was like the Overlook, you know, it was a very creepy thing and they had a very small staff and various people would come in and, you know, make scrambled eggs for us or we'd order in. And that is all we did. We watched Below decks and married at first sight.

[Stephen Colbert]

Speaking of Nolan, you worked with him on three of his Batman trilogy and appeared as Harry Truman and Oppenheimer. What do you like about him.

[Gary Oldman]

Fast? The Vision. He knows what film he's making. You know that the captain.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's not discover as you go.

[Gary Oldman]

No, no. He's incredibly prepped, really knows what he wants. And he gave me one of the greatest notes a director has ever given me. I was doing a scene.

[Stephen Colbert]

Which movie?

[Gary Oldman]

One of the Batmans. I was doing a scene and he. He said, okay, cut. And he came up to me and he said, a little more at stake. And I went forward. Yeah, got it all right. And made the adjustment and we got it and we moved on. I just thought a good director to me should know when not to say something.

[Stephen Colbert]

In 1997, you wrote and directed Nil by mouth. Did you enjoy that? Do you want to direct again?

[Gary Oldman]

Yes, please.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, please. Yes, please. He asked nicely, would director Gary Oldman find directing actor Gary Oldman appealing? From what he heard of working with Gary Oldman?

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah. Yes, I would. I would. Because Gary Oldman turns up on time and is prepped and knows his lines and knows and has done his homework. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And what more can you.

[Gary Oldman]

So I. What more could you. It's page one. Please turn up on time and have some idea of know what you're doing. So, yeah, the Gary Oldman director Gary Oldman would like Gary Oldman, the actor. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a break right here, but right back with more. Hey, I'm trying to throw to commercial. We'll be right Back with more Gary Oldman. Hey everybody, let's get right back to me and my new best friend, Gary Oldman. I do, I do want to get to Leon the Professional because this has become its own moment in cinema history. This is a meme. People love this. I'd like you to walk me through after I show it to you. Walk me through this take. This is a big choice. Benny, bring me everyone.

[Gary Oldman]

What do you mean everyone?

[Stephen Colbert]

Everyone. Tell me about that.

[Gary Oldman]

I did a couple of takes. Bring me everyone. You know, everyone. And to make Luc Besson laugh as just as a joke, I went to the sound guys and I said, I'm gonna be really, really loud. So, you know, and I did that. And he kept it and put it in the film. That was just an outtake. It was just me having a laugh.

[Stephen Colbert]

People love it.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, I love it. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he walks away. And your eyeballs are still vibrating.

[Gary Oldman]

None of my eyes stay to the spot.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like you were never looking at him to begin with.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah. Do you know we were shooting that film only in New York. We had closed down. I forget where it was, but it was like a main artery of somewhere in New York. And we blew up that building. I mean, the explosives that he used with that blast, when I opened my hand, there was a huge crowd watching us film. And at the same time there was a bank robbery of the bank across the street from where we were filming.

[Stephen Colbert]

An actual bank.

[Gary Oldman]

An actual bank robbery. Yeah. And the whole crowd turned and they watched the bank robbery and the police and then they turned back and watching us filming ever since. And I wasn't actually in the building. I was back on the, on the corner to watch this explosion because Luke said, it's going to be fantastic. It's going to blow right out across the street. And they were setting it all up in this crowd. And then you like, what the hell? And there's a bank robbery. And I just thought at the times, oh my God. I mean, God, New Yorkers are fantastic. I was about to say they didn't even. Yeah, didn't even blink.

[Stephen Colbert]

In the 90s you had a bit of a run as the go to villain.

[Gary Oldman]

Oh yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

How did you feel about the fact that casting directors ago. We need evil. Who seems evil? Gary Oldman seems like a psychopath. Let's go with him.

[Gary Oldman]

Well, it's. I mean, look at me. Honestly.

[Stephen Colbert]

Uh huh.

[Gary Oldman]

You know, I don't know how it happened. Yeah. I was sort of the, the poster boy wasn't. I forgot villains. Yeah. And I put a stop to It. So I just deliberate.

[Stephen Colbert]

I just said, no more.

[Gary Oldman]

Well, they. They're more expensive villains. I charge more.

[Stephen Colbert]

But at a discount. You'll be the hero at a discount?

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah. I'd gladly be the hero.

[Stephen Colbert]

You play evil. Well. Okay. You're playing it. I'm not saying you're evil. How quickly can you or how easily can you shift into that mode? Is it possible you, right now, without saying a word, can visibly become an evil character? Evil people don't laugh.

[Gary Oldman]

Well, I got. There's a little trick which is from James Cagney. If you. If you not necessarily evil belief, you want to look tough, you bring the head up first, then the eyes.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice.

[Gary Oldman]

You like that?

[Stephen Colbert]

We'll be right back with more Gary Oldman, everybody. Welcome back, everybody. And now for the dramatic conclusion of what many critics are calling my interview with Gary Oldman. Do you catch your own performances? Like, if you're ever flipping through TV channels and then you see yourself, will you stop and watch for a bit? Is there a movie that'll make you stop?

[Gary Oldman]

Rarely is there a movie that will make me stop.

[Stephen Colbert]

One of your own movies, they go like, okay, I'll watch a bit of this. I'll watch a bit of Dracula, jfk. Jfk, okay. Oh, Lee Harvey.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is it about that performance?

[Gary Oldman]

Well, not necessarily. I don't have to be on the screen. If I just flick through and it's JFK playing. Okay, I'll stick with it. I stick with it for a while. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why that more than the others? You've done some pretty good movies. Yeah.

[Gary Oldman]

I mean, if Mank was on, I probably stop for a while and watch, but I think it's one of Oliver's best films. I just. I couldn't quite. I couldn't quite. As a young actor, when I first went to the very first screening of it, I couldn't believe I was in. Was like, holy. I'm in this. You know, it was sort of.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now.

[Gary Oldman]

Now I go, I'm in this.

[Stephen Colbert]

When you look at your IMDb page, is there a part you go, I'd love another crack at that.

[Gary Oldman]

All of them, really? Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, John Lennon, he said that he would just. It would burn it all.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, really?

[Gary Oldman]

And then start all over again. Yeah. I mean, yeah. You'll always find new colors, new flavors. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do they tend to be your younger performances?

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, yeah. And it's also. It is. It's old work. I think that's partly what it is. You look at it, it's Like, I don't know, a painter. I don't know. It's like Schnabel who stuck saucers to a canvas, you know, and then the evolution or whatever. Picasso, starting where he started and then moving into abstraction and absurdism. You know, I just think it's. I look at it and go, I was very young, very naive. Yeah, good effort.

[Stephen Colbert]

Brad Pitt, among others, has credited you as the person who dies best on screen. What's your favorite on screen death performance of yours?

[Gary Oldman]

My favorite on screen death. Well, I've had a stake through the heart. I've been decapitated. I've been strangled by a parachute. I've fallen from building. I've done all sorts of. Yes, I've done all sorts.

[Stephen Colbert]

Been shot in the stomach by Jack Ruby.

[Gary Oldman]

I've been shot in the stomach by Jack Ruby. State of Grace is my favorite death. It's the way I drop to the. I fold. I sort of like a. Like a sort of doll. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Seems realistic.

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah, just like the. It's like the strings are cut and I just drop. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Can you walk me through your process of a death scene while dying? And the reason I ask is that. Oh, gosh, I have a. I have, I have. I have a knife. Okay. Yeah, I have a knife. Okay, so I'll stab you and you act a death scene. Are you good with this?

[Gary Oldman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, great. Ready?

[Gary Oldman]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Are we all right? Are we rolling? Everybody speed. And just at your own pace. I'm not gonna call action. And.

[Gary Oldman]

Steven, now the blood's filling up in one of the lungs. So the voices like. And then the makeup person would come in and give me something, you know, so I'd spit. I'd make the spit look really, really good. And I suppose really you'd want to go. Your final moment would be with your eyes open. So you just go like so. And the air leaves you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hold that. Don't move. I'm just going to add one thing to it. I'm telling you, cuz that I'm sure that's. That's realistic.

[Gary Oldman]

That's the button.

[Stephen Colbert]

Gary. I've really enjoyed it, so thank you. We never got to the safe word, so I guess I played this too safe.

[Gary Oldman]

No, I think you passed the audition.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you, Gary.

[Gary Oldman]

Thanks for coming on this light of pleasure.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thanks again to Gary Oldman. If you haven't seen him in Slow Horses, you can go check out all four seasons on Apple TV right now. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives. With the American Express Platinum card, you can unlock over $1,500 in value annually with statement credits on select purchases and other benefits so you can access more.

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[Stephen Colbert]

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