Following the investiture, Oldman said he was “deeply moved” by the honor:

“It was emotional. Very emotional. We only spoke for a minute, but I could hardly find my voice. I feel honored, humbled, and flattered — all at the same time. Nothing compares to this. It’s truly unique. I thought winning the Oscar was the pinnacle, and I don’t mean to diminish the Academy, but this eclipses everything. It was wonderful.”

According to Hello! UK, Oldman revealed that during their brief conversation, Prince William told him he was delighted to be the one to bestow the honor — and admitted he’s a fan of Slow Horses, the Apple TV+ spy drama in which Oldman stars.

A Legendary Career

Renowned for his extraordinary ability to embody a vast range of characters, Oldman has portrayed figures as varied as Prime Minister Winston Churchill — a performance that earned him his Academy Award for Darkest Hour (2018) — and punk rocker Sid Vicious.

More recently, he has impressed audiences as the gruff MI5 agent Jackson Lamb in the acclaimed series Slow Horses, based on Mick Herron’s novels.

His illustrious filmography includes roles such as Lee Harvey Oswald in Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991) and the iconic vampire in Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). He made his directorial debut with Nil By Mouth (1997), a semi-autobiographical film inspired by his difficult childhood, which went on to win two BAFTAs.

In 2011, Oldman earned his first Oscar nomination for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Seven years later, he claimed the coveted statue for his transformative performance as Churchill in Darkest Hour, which swept the 2018 awards season.

Other Honourees

Oldman wasn’t the only figure recognized at Windsor. BAFTA-winning actress Samantha Morton and England footballer Rachel Daly — part of the squad that won Euro 2022 — also stood out among the recipients, according to The Independent.