Aside from talking about his former co-star's method in preparing for a role, 'The Princess Bride' star also discusses his experience working with director Francis Ford Coppola.
- November 29, 2021
AceShowbiz - Gary Oldman slept in a coffin every night to prepare for his portrayal of Count Dracula, according to castmate Cary Elwes.
The Oscar winner played the iconic horror character in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and his co-star has shared the hardcore way his colleague prepared for playing the fictional vampire.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cary said, "Gary was sleeping in a coffin every night; that was how seriously he took it. He was sequestered from us all - by choice."
Francis invited the cast to stay at his home during the shoot, but Gary had to live on his own.
Speaking about the 82-year-old filmmaking legend's method, "The Princess Bride" star, who played Lord Arthur Holmwood in the film, added, "Francis believes that the more time the cast spends together that will translate onscreen. Poor Gary had to live by himself."
"We met him for the first time on set during rehearsals and then we'd never see him again."
Meanwhile, Gary recently revealed he likes a "disguise" when he's working.
The actor feels he can "hide" his insecurities with make-up and prosthetics and feels much more "comfortable" that way, so when he played screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz in "Mank" without any transformation, he initially felt vulnerable before eventually finding the job "liberating."
He said, "I like a disguise because of my own insecurity. When I can hide, it makes me feel more comfortable. I don't know, maybe it comes back to not feeling worthy..."
"So when David (Fincher, director) said, 'I want you as naked as you've ever been, I do not want a veil between you and the audience', it played into my insecurities. He said, 'Trust me'. So you go, 'OK.' And really, it was the best call. Oddly enough, after a couple of days, it was rather liberating."
