10 Actors Who "Stole" Their Performances Off Real People
7. Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Who He Plays: George Smiley, MI6 agent Who He Really Plays: John le Carre, author of the book the film is based on Up until the age of 53, and after over 30 years in the business, Gary Oldman had never been nominated for an Academy Award. That happily changed in 2012, when Oldman received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, for his stunning performance as George Smiley in spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - and he has Tinker Tailor author John le Carre to thank for that, in more ways than one. To become the measured, wickedly intelligent (and quietly sadistic) Smiley, Oldman looked to old intelligence operative le Carre himself, claiming that Smiley was never a hundred miles away from the author in the first place: "The way he touched his shirt, spoke and so on, I took all that and used it. I hope he won't mind, but Smiley is in his DNA."
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
