Alcoholism hell went through Gary Oldman: “I used to sweat vodka and my tongue was black”

Gary Oldman You can still remember to “sweat the vodka” before you got sober 24 years ago. The prestigious 62-year-old English actor has spoken candidly about the side effects of addiction, admitting that “he would not wish it on his worst enemy”.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, the Oscar winner for the film “Darkest Hour” said: “I used to sweat vodka. It becomes such an important part of you. My tongue would be black in the morning and I would blame the shampoo. “.

“I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to be in their clutches. It’s hell “added the movie star who quit drinking almost three decades ago. He was arrested for impaired driving in 1991. Three years later, in 1994, Oldman entered rehab.

The performer noted that he initially “idealized” his addiction and associated it with inspiring artists such as Ernest Hemingway. “People romanticize her, and even I romanticized her. All my heroes were opium drinkers or addicts, and you go crazy about these poets, playwrights and actors who were heavy drinkers, ”he explained. “I am turning 24 years of abstinence in March, but I can remember all the things that made me want to drink.”

The actor has revealed how he is using his own experience as a recovering alcoholic for his role as screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz in the new Netflix film, “Mank,” under David Fincher and that he could earn a new nomination. at the Hollywood Academy, which will be released on Monday, March 15.

Oldman says he generally feels like he can ‘hide’ his insecurity with makeup and prosthetics and feels a lot more ‘comfortable’ that way, so playing screenwriter Mankiewicz without any transformation. , he first felt vulnerable before finding the “liberating” job.

“I like a costume because of my own insecurity. When I can hide, I feel more comfortable. I don’t know, maybe it will make me unworthy again, ”he added.

“So when David said, ‘I love you as naked as you’ve ever been, I don’t want a veil between you and the audience ‘, played on my insecurities. He said, “Trust me. . So you say “OK”. And really, it was the best decision. Interestingly, after a few days it was quite liberating. “

In 1997 Gary Oldman made his writing and directing debut with the semi-autobiographical film “Nil by Mouth”. After writing the screenplay, the actor recalled that he had serious difficulty funding the production, and even his agent considered it “professional suicide” due to the sheer amount of profanity and heavy content.

“I did not find a penny from anyone in England“, He said. “No one wanted to do it. “

However, Oldman was determined to make the film and ultimately landed a producer, even though he had to put millions out of his pocket.

The film, which received generally positive reviews, depicts a South East London family’s experiences with domestic violence and drug addiction, which Oldman based on his own struggles. As he later reflected after the screening of “Nil by Mouth” at the Cannes Film Festival: “I think I am the only alcoholic to have passed his fourth or fifth stage in the competition.”

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