Veteran actor Gary Oldman, who was recently awarded a knighthood, admitted he felt “very moved” as he received the honour from Prince William.
The 67-year-old Oscar winner described the moment as deeply emotional, sharing in a video on Instagram: “When it was time to approach, it was hard to find my voice, really. I was very moved by it. You know, you think the Oscar is a big deal and then you come here.”
Oldman, honoured for his contribution to drama, credited good fortune as a major factor in his career. He reflected: “I’m fortunate to do what I do. I personally think it’s the greatest job in the world. I’ve had diabolical good luck. I did about ten years of theatre and then a few TV films before I was kidnapped by the movies. It was all an accident, none of it was engineered or planned. Acknowledgement of the work is a bonus and the very last thing you’re thinking about.”
During the ceremony, Prince William revealed he was a fan of the actor’s work, referencing The Fifth Element and his portrayal of Churchill in Darkest Hour. Oldman told ITV: “He said he was very happy that I was here today and that it was him who had the opportunity to present me with the honour. He’s a fan, yeah.”
Reflecting on the accolade, the London-born star said he felt “very honoured, very humbled and flattered” in equal measure. Comparing the moment to his Academy Award win for Darkest Hour in 2017, he added: “It compares to nothing else. I thought the Oscar was a big deal – no disrespect to the Academy but it pales in comparison to this. It’s just been wonderful.”