As the flatulent, uncouth and routinely unkempt Jackson Lamb he’s both offended and impressed in equal measure across six hugely successful seasons of Slow Horses.
And Sir Gary Oldman says the character’s notoriously appalling habits and poor personal hygiene has even affected the highest echelons of British royalty, notably the Prince Of Wales.
The legendary actor, 67, was welcomed by Prince William while accepting his knighthood for services to drama at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, and he admits the second line to the throne – an unlikely fan of the Apple TV show – took the opportunity to share his own thoughts on Lamb.
‘He said that he was, I think, William and Kate are fans of the show and he watches the show,’ he recalled during an appearance on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with the National Lottery.
‘But he says every time I see you on the screen, he said, I just want to give you a good wash. That’s quite right, by the way.’
Despite his slovenly onscreen appearance, Oldman insists he actually smells far better than he might appear while filming scenes as Lamb.
Sir Gary Oldman says Slow Horses detective Jackson Lamb’s poor personal hygiene has affected the highest echelons of British royalty, notably the Prince Of Wales
As the flatulent, uncouth and routinely unkempt Lamb (pictured) he’s both offended and impressed in equal measure across six hugely successful seasons of Slow Horses
He said: ‘I smell better. I do actually smell better than I look, than I appear. The thing that you want as a performer, as an actor, the thing you lust after is good writing.
‘Good writing informs the choices. They’re signposts. It’s like your map. And an instinctual writer will lay it out for you and then you follow it and you interpret it.
‘When you have not so good writing, you’re always searching for the organic. You’re always looking to make it… You know, there’s something lacking.’
Already a hugely respected star, Oldman has won a new legion of fans through his portrayal of Lamb on Slow Horses, a serialised TV adaptation of the bestselling Slough House novels by Mick Herron.
And Oldman adits the author’s ability to create authentic, believable and uniquely British characters made it easy for him to embody Lamb and his unappealing character traits.
‘Huge credit to Mick Herron, because he has created this universe and these people,’ he said. ‘ You take something from a book.
‘Of course, I’m a living, breathing human, walking through space. I give it my own bit of something. I put a bit of English on it, you know? Fair thing.
The actor was welcomed by Prince William while accepting his knighthood at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, and he admits the second line to the throne shared his own thoughts on Lamb
Oldman poses with his medal in the ground of Windsor Castle following his Investiture
‘He says every time I see you on the screen, he said, I just want to give you a good wash. That’s quite right, by the way,’ Oldman recalled of his meeting with the Prince
Oldman was knighted as fellow actor Samantha Morton received an OBE for services to drama and to charity
‘But the creation of him is Mick. And it’s all there for you. So you take the clues and you sort of… and then run with it.’
After being awarded the knighthood, Oldman said: ‘It was emotional. Very emotional. We spoke (for) a minute, but I almost couldn’t find my voice.
‘I think I feel very honoured, very humbled and flattered, I think in equal measure. It compares to nothing else. It’s a singular event, that is what it is.
‘I thought the Oscar was a big deal. No disrespect to the Academy, but it sort of pales in comparison to this. It’s just been wonderful.’
Of his conversation with the prince, he said: ‘He mentioned The Fifth Element and Churchill of Darkest Hour.
‘He said he was very happy that I was here today and that it was him that had the opportunity to present me with (the honour).’
The actor said receiving the knighthood ‘was emotional. Very emotional. We spoke (for) a minute, but I almost couldn’t find my voice’
Despite his slovenly onscreen appearance, Oldman insists he actually smells far better than he might appear while filming scenes as Lamb (pictured)
Oldman was knighted as fellow actor Samantha Morton received an OBE for services to drama and to charity, an the actor admitted he was delighted to cross paths with her following the investiture.
‘I think it’s an incredible honour,’ he told Evans. ‘And also, Dr. Samantha Morton was there, who I’ve, I’ve, never worked with, but run into and, in fact, worked with her ex when I did, when I did – Charlie Creed-Miles, when I did Nil by Mouth.
‘But I didn’t recognise or know many of the people who were receiving honours. But they’re people who are not in front of the camera. They’re not, they’re not entertainers.
‘They’re not, they’re people that we don’t know or we’ve never heard of, who were doing incredible work.’
Listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery on Virgin Radio UK, weekdays from 6:30am.
The actor shows off his medal for services to drama while posing alongside a bust of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
