Gary Oldman Was More Unrecognizable Than Ever in This Horror Sequel — and He Went to Incredible Lengths To Make Sure of It

Gary Oldman wore heavy prosthetics for his portrayal of Mason Verger in Hannibal, and went uncredited to be more unrecognizable than ever.

Apr 21, 2025 - 01:45
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Gary Oldman Was More Unrecognizable Than Ever in This Horror Sequel — and He Went to Incredible Lengths To Make Sure of It

Few actors are as chameleon-like as Gary Oldman. From Sid and Nancy's Sid Vicious to the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's Dracula, from The Dark KnightTrilogy's Jim Gordon to Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, Oldman is, as they say, "like a box of chocolates" — you never know what you're going to get. What's most impressive about Oldman is how, in his performances, he's so adept at developing the look and presence of a character to such a degree that even if you know which character he's playing, you soon forget it's him. And if that's true, then how much more stunning would it be to not know which character Oldman is playing, or, for that matter, that he's even in the film at all? It's the ultimate challenge for an actor, to be so hidden within a character that the audience literally has no idea it's you. And in one film, Oldman does just that, without his name in the credits or press material until the end credits roll.