British actor Gary Oldman has already won the "Golden Globe" as the best performer in the film "Dark Times". He told Telenedely what he was worth 200 hours in the makeup chair and why now he prefers serials.

Your interest At one time you were famous for being a professional screen sociopath: Dracula in the film of Francis Ford Coppola, Zorg in the "Fifth Element", Mason in "Hannibal" ... How did you feel when playing the most famous British Prime Minister?.

It's great, because I have great respect for Churchill's role in history. Victory in the Second World War - in many respects his merit. Some consider this politician a grumbling old man who walked in a tuxedo and everywhere scattered ash from his cigar. Out of me, during the filming, another Churchill jumped out. Such a confident character, with a devil's eye. It revealed the audacity inherent in rosy-cheeked schoolchildren.

The makeup artists did a great job - on the screen you are almost impossible to learn. What did you do while you were putting on make-up, an artificial tummy? Read, watched the movie on the tablet?.

Ah, if only! This is the work of both the make-up artist and the actor. They constantly put you in a certain position, they are required to keep steadily and do not move. During the make-up of the face, you could at least sit. I wanted to talk to someone on the phone through the speakerphone, but I was banned because my face was moving. It was a very long and quiet morning.

Why does the Churchill film come out right now, when the nationalism is so strong in the world?.

We started work on the "Dark Times" in early 2016. Trump has not yet been selected, Brexit (Britain's withdrawal from the EU. - Prim. red. ) also did not happen. We had a script about a funny man who in his life broke a lot of firewood, but in the end she did something very right. Churchill was a very atypical politician. For example, he had a title and an estate, it was difficult for him to like others, not to mention the masses of the people. How a very strange, eccentric aristocrat turned out to be the fighter of many nations and how he coped with such a load - in this I saw his interest in this role.

Coppola gave me the sarcophagus is now almost all tipped you to the winners of the Oscar race ... If I am destined to receive "Oscar", then for this film.

It is difficult to imagine, but even the "Golden Globe" is not only your first victory, but also the first nomination in life. How did it happen?.

In the history of the Oscar, I probably will be the first actor who does not have and never had a press secretary. Always believed that I do not need a person who would walk and praise me. I just do my job, and if she wins a prize or not, it interests me a little.

In the interview that you gave before the premiere of the tape "Spy, get out! "You said that if you win a prize, you will send an American Indian instead of yourself, as Marlon Brando once did. Do you still have the same plan?.

Well, I'm joking. Of course, I would go myself. Yes, I enjoyed working on the film, but the cherished statuette could become a cherry on the cake for the whole huge team that was behind the movie.

The Oscar award can affect even the career of such an accomplished actor as you?.

I am in the hands of the film industry. I depend on friendship with directors and producers, their imaginations and how they conduct the casting. Do you understand what I mean? I always say that if I stayed in England, I would never have played Dracula at Coppola. My move to California changed my career very much. I understand: my filmography looks as if I like fantastic roles, as well as makeup and wigs, but this is not at all!.

By the way, about "Dracula": you could then foresee that you will play a character that will become a cult and will remain popular for 25 years?.

It was one of the most difficult films. My Dracula has a very tormented soul. We had a long time immersed in the role, and to help with this, Coppola even gave me a sarcophagus that was kept in my house and into which I could climb to get used to the image. At the same time, I became closely acquainted with the transforming overhead makeup.

I'll take on all the roles that are offered to me You said that you want to make your own movie. It will not be horror and not fantasy?.

I have a melodramatic story, which I wrote and try to put into production. It seems to have found an investor, but the search took more than five years.

Are they afraid to invest money even under your name?.

Large studios believe that people do not want melodramas.

By what principle do you select scenarios?.

Based on the principle of availability. All that we see in the industry today is a huge number of actors and a big shortage of directors and investors. And women-actresses are even more difficult! Here is an example: I recently sat for several months without work, while paying a loan for a house, for a private school for children. Then the agent called me, said: "Matt Reeves wants to offer you a role in the" Revolution ". I thought: "Well, thank God! ". I take on all the roles that offer me. Although relatively worthwhile, of course. If you imagine that I have a stack of two hundred scripts on my desk, and I choose, it's not like that. Why do you think George Clooney advertises coffee makers?.

Very fond of coffee?.

Maybe he loves, but more importantly, his house on Lake Como, which must be kept. Advertising contracts often give actors more than cinema fees.

You did not want to rewrite your melodrama for a TV format, where more money?.

I thought to make a mini-series of it, but now I will try to keep within the existing budget of the full meter. Today, everyone is trying to shoot in different places, where they give indulgences with taxes. My story takes place in California in the 1870s. And work will have, most likely, in Hungary, the Czech Republic or Canada.

I remember a time when people discussed new movies at dinner. Now everyone is commenting on the episode of the next online series. Television enjoys the peak of the spectator interest that the film industry experienced in the 1970s.

I have a sense of style Pirate copies are in both movies and on TV. So, it's not about the pirates..

Television is bolder and fresher. There are new interesting ideas. What do you think about the film industry today?.

There is some stagnation. They shoot a lot of comics, prequels, sequels.

And remakes everywhere. The original scenarios have become a rarity, that's what I see as an actor.

That is, television works for itself and for the film industry?.

It looks like it. Previously, there was a brand of primitive genre on television. In the 1980s, we wrinkled our noses: we are movie actors, and these are just on TV. Now everyone needs a job, the islet of security is getting smaller.

If you were invited to the show, would you?.

Why not?. Call!.

Hearing these confessions, I want to know: advertising Prada points in your career also happened purely for the sake of money or do you really like to dress well?.

I'm warmed by the thought that I have a sense of style. I think I deservedly received an invitation to co-operate. Once even went to the podium at the Prada show.

When it was?.

Oh, many years ago, when I was a popular model (laughs).

Was it easy for you to persuade?.

Miuccia Prada invited me to participate personally in the show. My show lasted about 48 seconds.

Were there other actors?.

Yes, Tim Roth and Willem Defoe. At that moment, I was not terribly busy and said to myself: "Okay, I'll go to Milan and do it purely for fun! ". The case is very revealing for my life. I just let things happen when they are brewing themselves.