Even a Hollywood legend like Gary Oldman can’t resist the urge of a good reality TV marathon. The Oscar-winning filmmaker and actor just opened up about his love of the genre. He watches Below Deck and Married at First Sight Australia. Believe it or not, he practically made history with one iconic binge session.
Gary Oldman would watch Below Deck and MAFS Australia through the pandemic
During a recent appearance on Virgin Radio UK, Gary reflected on the reality TV binge he did while filming Season 1 of Apple TV’s Slow Horses. It was during the pandemic, so he didn’t have anything better to do in between filming scenes.
“I was with one of the producers of the show, Doug. We were at The Dorchester and were the only two people in the building,” Gary recalled. “For the first time in its history, it closed.”
If you’re not familiar, The Dorchester is a luxury hotel in London that has been open for nearly 100 years. Tons of famous people have stayed there over the years, and it even served as a resting place for Dwight Eisenhower during World War II. Legend has it he was drafting up plans for the Invasion of Normandy while staying there.
When Gary and the show’s producers had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the only guests in the hotel, he said it felt like The Shining. However, he didn’t spend his days hunched over a typewriter. He was propped up in his room, watching reality TV like the rest of us.
“All we did was watch reality TV,” Gary said of his stay at The Dorchester. “My dinner would come up, the staff would have the mask on, the whole thing, and the sanitizer, and my meal would arrive and Doug’s meal, and I would call his room and say, ‘The food’s here, and Below Deck’s about to start.’”
Gary continued, “And then we would watch that, and then it’s what’s next? I’d say, ‘Oh, well, Australia Married at First Sight.’ We would just sit there in this empty hotel watching reality TV.”
Of course, Gary isn’t the only Hollywood A-lister who loves a little reality TV. Fellow Oscar winners like Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep have also gone on record as reality TV fans. It’s no longer a guilty pleasure at this point. It’s high art.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED BY GARY OLDMAN’S REALITY TV PICKS? DO YOU THINK HE HAS A FAVORITE BELOW DECK FRANCHISE?
