Gary Oldman shares what drew him to the starring role in ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’

Gary Oldman never had aspirations to play Count Dracula, but Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of the vampire tale reeled him in.

In the latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Oldman was asked if he felt pressure when taking on the starring role in 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which is just one of numerous cinematic portrayals of the vampire over the past century.

“It had never even been on my radar to do it or even consider it or think about it,” Oldman said. “But it was Coppola and I thought that he would do something very interesting with it. And so I felt carried. I didn’t feel that, ‘Oh, I’m up against Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee.’ I felt safe. I felt carried by the master.”

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Oldman also credited screenwriter James Hart for penning a script that pulled him in with its fresh take on the old classic. He recalled reading the Dracula script for the first time while on set for 1991’s JFK.

“I was about to read the script and audition for Francis,” Oldman shared. “And the thing I remember most vividly was, ‘I’ve crossed oceans of time to find you.’ And I thought, ‘God, I’d really like to say that line.'”

While Oldman noted that Bram Stoker’s Dracula received a mixed reception at the time of its release, the film has become a much-beloved adaptation of the novel in the subsequent years. Oldman’s portrayal of Dracula has consistently topped rankings for fans’ favorite versions of Transylvania’s most famous resident, but he said his biggest takeaway from the experience was being able to collaborate with a director he admired.

“What I take away from it is having the opportunity to have worked with Coppola, who is arguably, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest, if not the greatest living American director,” Oldman said.

Listen to Gary Oldman’s full interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast below.