Gary Oldman recently expressed his enthusiasm for working on the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, describing his portrayal of Jackson Lamb as one of the standout experiences of his acting career. The acclaimed actor discussed how the role offers him both professional fulfillment and personal joy, with the collaborative atmosphere and strong writing making it an exceptional project for him.
Portraying Jackson Lamb: A Gruff Spy with Depth
Oldman embodies the abrasive and often underestimated Jackson Lamb, department head at Slough House, a unit for MI5’s outcasts. The character is at once ill-mannered, unapologetically miserable, and yet demonstrates sharp intellect and cunning—a unique opportunity for Oldman to blend humor with depth in his performance. The role calls for a balance of physicality and psychological nuance, as Lamb oscillates between berating his team and revealing glimpses of loyalty and wisdom from his days as a respected intelligence operative.
The Team Bringing Slough House to Life
The ensemble cast features Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Kadiff Kirwan, Freddie Fox, Chris Reilly, Joanna Scanlon, and Jonathan Pryce. Season four welcomes new faces like Tom Brooke, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, and Hugo Weaving, further enriching the narrative. Oldman is quick to credit the show’s environment and crew for much of his enjoyment.
“We often laugh actually, while we’re doing it. We crack up and then and do retakes,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“It’s been an extraordinary show to work on, not only because the material is very good and obviously the character is just a dream. But it’s been really made all the more special because of the people working on the show. And that is really across the board from makeup, costume, DP, camera operator, clapper loader, although they’re not really clapper loaders anymore,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“I love regrouping after a break and then getting back and seeing everyone. The set is very easy to work on in that respect. Just an incredible bunch of people and that really has made it, I think, one of the highlights of my career.”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
Building Layers: The Evolving Mystery of Jackson Lamb
Based on Mick Herron’s novels and adapted by showrunner Will Smith, Slow Horses follows the misfit MI5 agents relegated to the monotonous world of Slough House. Each season introduces a fresh self-contained case, keeping the plot dynamic and suspenseful while slowly revealing the complex backstories of its central characters. Oldman speaks to the unique writing process and the joy of discovering more about his role as the narrative progresses.
“If the source material is good, then it dictates what you do. It’s a psychological and an emotional map that you follow. When you come up against bad writing, that’s when you feel that you’re working too hard for it. If you’re breaking a sweat, then you know that you’re not in the hands of a very good writer. It’s a joy to speak this stuff and to navigate, both physically and psychologically, through the world of these people in this character,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“As the seasons go on and incrementally more is revealed of Jackson, you as an actor are forming a more complete picture of him. And then of course we have Season 5, and that pulls back another layer of the onion to his character and really why he is the way he is,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“It works in a way as a defense mechanism. He’s not gonna let you in. You’re not going to really get to know him. And that really is part of his skill also, because by doing that, he has an edge over you. I mean, we’ve said it before; people around him are playing checkers and Jackson Lamb is playing chess.”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
A Unique Approach to the Spy Genre
Unlike traditional spy thrillers, Slow Horses offers a grounded take on espionage, focusing on characters whose lives involve as much routine hardship as intrigue. They struggle with everyday issues—workplace frustrations, mortgages, relationship problems—making the series stand out against the backdrop of more glamorous representations of intelligence work. Oldman reflects on this realism as central to the show‘s appeal.
“We’re so used to glamor and the world of James Bond and tuxedos, martinis and casinos that I think the appeal of it is it’s these very dysfunctional and often ordinary people who have to deal with all the stuff in their life who go to the launderette, who may have to make their car payments, have problems in their relationships and are dealing with a mortgage,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“They’re dealing with all the problems that we all deal with. They’re ordinary people who do this extraordinary thing for a living. That’s a part of its appeal. It’s a spy show, but they are the every man. And of course, some of the things that come out of Jackson Lamb’s mouth, I think maybe secretly we watch the show and think, we may have in our time had a bullying horrible boss and you think sometimes, ‘Oh, I wish I could have a comeback like that.’ He doesn’t give a flying monkeys, you see? He’s seen it all and can’t track with the bureaucratic side of it all, of the Park and all of that crap. He’s, he’s been there, seen it, and he has no, uh, time for it. I think the kindest thing that Jackson can do is make life so miserable for the people that work for him, so that they get out of the game, because they don’t wanna end up [like him]. I think that’s probably the kindest thing that he can do. And yet, for all of his rough edges and bullying, he’s incredibly loyal and would take a bullet for them.”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
Short Seasons, Strong Impact
One of Slow Horses’ signatures is its tightly packed six-episode seasons, which deliver dense stories without overstaying their welcome. This structure keeps audiences consistently engaged, with no lengthy hiatuses to dilute their anticipation for the next installment. Oldman appreciates the commitment to quality and viewer satisfaction that this approach enables.
“As far as making the next one as good, if not better, you can’t drop the ball,”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
“There’s a lot of people involved that come together. We have a standard. The audience are expecting something from us and we cannot disappoint. That’s part of the reason why we do six episodes with a short break, and then we do another six, because who wants to invest their time in characters in a show and then wait two or three years for it to come back? We are very conscious of making the next one as good, if not better. So that’s the first thing; audiences come back to the show and they’re not disappointed.”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
The Value of Recognition and Camaraderie in the Industry
Gary Oldman, a winner of both Oscar and BAFTA awards, is well respected by colleagues in the entertainment world. He reflects modestly on receiving admiration from peers and notes the importance of expressing such appreciation himself, mentioning his habit of reaching out to fellow actors to acknowledge their work.
“I think it’s very flattering. It doesn’t occupy my thought process a lot, but it’s always nice to hear that someone says something nice about your work. I’m a big one for, if I run into someone and I like their work or I like a performance, I’ll say so. I even will drop a note to people and write them how much I liked their performance or their work. Less than a week ago I dropped a note to Tom Hardy and I said, ‘I really like your work in MobLand.’ I’ve written to different people over the years. I think it’s a nice thing. I think it’s a nice thing when a colleague likes your work. It’s a lovely thing.”
—Gary Oldman, Lead Actor
What Awaits Fans and Viewers
Slow Horses is set to return for a highly anticipated fifth season on September 24, following the critical acclaim and audience enthusiasm for its fourth installment. The compelling blend of sharply written characters, intricate storytelling, and the standout performance of Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb ensures the series continues to capture the interest of viewers and critics alike. With writers, creators, and cast committed to upholding and advancing the show’s high standards, Slow Horses seems poised to cement its legacy as a fresh, relatable take on the spy thriller for years to come.
