Harry Potter star Gary Oldman recently confessed he had a sobering realization about his age after working with Tom Hardy on the 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Oldman starred as espionage veteran George Smiley while Hardy played a young spy, bringing a stark generational contrast.
The $81 million Cold War thriller marked a changing of the guard for Oldman. Seeing fresh-faced Hardy in a significant role made Oldman reflect on how the industry had shifted.
Witnessing Hardy’s Meteor-like Ascent
Oldman said witnessing Tom Hardy‘s rise close while filming Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was an eye-opening experience. He saw Hardy’s obvious talent and star power in the cerebral spy drama.
The British actor admitted feeling his age opposite the then-33-year-old Hardy. It underscored that Harry Potter and other iconic projects were firmly in his past.
Stark Generational Divide On-Screen
Seeing Hardy’s magnetism and youth was a reality check for Oldman about his longevity in the industry. The stark age gap between seasoned veteran Smiley and young rebel agent Ricki Tarr drove the point home.
“Gary Oldman is my absolute complete and utter hero.He’s the f***ing man. I look at him and I want to be like that for my generation — I want to have that same quality. He’s incredible. And there is a definite ‘hang on a minute’ [moment], but I’ve got past the star-struck part now.”
Oldman said acting with Hardy made him realize his time as a leading man was winding down. He would need to transition into more mature mentor roles befitting his decades in the business.
Time Waits For No One in Hollywood
For Harry Potter star Gary Oldman, collaborating with the force-of-nature talent Tom Hardy on 2011’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy offered clear proof he was ageing out of conventional leading man parts. Witnessing Hardy’s ascent up close marked a changing era that Oldman knew he must embrace, shifting his sights to more veteran roles. The torch had been passed to fresh-faced actors like Hardy, relegating Oldman to elder statesman status.
Gary Oldman’s experience acting alongside Tom Hardy gave the Harry Potter star a symbolic passing of the torch moment. Seeing Hardy’s rise first-hand put Oldman’s mortality in the industry into perspective. Though jarring, it signalled a transition into more mature roles befitting his esteemed status and longevity in Hollywood.
Source: Independent
