HIS WEEPIEST HOUR
Oldman’s tears as Churchill role wins him another prize – and puts first Oscar in reach
GARY OLDMAN broke down in tears after winning his latest best actor award for his stirring performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.
The Screen Actors Guild prize makes the British star an even hotter favourite to go on and win the Oscar that has so far eluded him despite an illustrious career of almost 40 years.
Oldman, 59, was visibly shocked as he beat Hollywood heavyweights Denzel Washington and James Franco to the award.
He received a kiss from his fifth wife, art curator Gisele Schmidt, before making his way to the stage in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
He told the audience packed with celebrities including Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman: ‘I’ve become emotional. I am honestly and truly thrilled and overjoyed to be in this room tonight.’
He ended his speech with a quote from Churchill, saying: ‘Churchill reminds us we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give and you have given enormously tonight and I am so deeply, deeply honoured and proud to receive this magnificent award.’ Darkest Hour tells the story of the early days of the Second World War when the fate of Western Europe rested on Churchill who had just become Prime Minister.
Oldman had already won Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe best actor awards, which are also often pointers to Oscar glory, for his role in the film.