Gary Oldman is one of the world’s most revered actors yet has never been nominated for an Oscar. In a rare interview, he looks back over his career and talks about his latest role in Red Riding Hood.

Mention the name Gary Oldman and a slew of, shall we say, 'morally ambiguous’ roles spring to mind. The corrupt cop in Leon, the psycho pimp in True Romance, and Dracula himself are just a few examples of the terror he’s unleashed on screen.

Regarded as an inspiration by his peers, his iconic status was made official at the recent Empire Awards where he was the recipient of the Icon Award.

It seems unfathomable then that he’s never been nominated for an Oscar.

“That’s one of those things,” says a relaxed-looking Oldman.

“I’ve never really given it a huge amount of thought. I’ve not lusted after it,” he says slowly. Very slowly. You sense there’s no rushing Oldman.

After a moment of contemplation, he suggests his lack of a publicist may be a contributing factor for the Oscar omission.

“I like to be in my little hidey-hole, I don’t come out a great deal. I mean did you see Colin Firth’s diary of where he’d been on the road to the Oscars? It’s exhausting.”

A fiercely private actor who hates the notion of celebrity, 53-year-old Oldman has been forced out of self-imposed seclusion in his adopted home of Los Angeles to talk about his new movie Red Riding Hood.

Directed by Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke, the fairytale’s been given a Gothic, romantic makeover in which the wolf’s been turned into a werewolf and the craggy old grandmother is played by the glamorous Julie Christie.

As you’d imagine from the woman who discovered Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, it also boasts a beautiful-looking love triangle in the form of Max (son of Jeremy) Irons, Shiloh Fernandez and Amanda Seyfried.

“Above and beyond anything else I thought it was a lot of fun.

“It’s Little Red Riding Hood on steroids really,” says Oldman who plays the over-zealous Father Solomon, a werewolf hunter in the vein of Dracula’s Van Helsing.

He prefers to think of Solomon “as a man possessed” rather than a villain.

“He has looked into the abyss and is now absolutely convinced of the righteousness of his mission. He truly believes he is the sword of God... and he has a flair for fashion,” the actor deadpans.

Oldman himself is wearing an oddball mix of black frames, beige trousers, a slogan T-shirt emblazoned with Bermuda, a black cardigan and printed scarf.

The look is completed with a moustache and mane of grey-blonde hair, the result of a dye job for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a film he’s been shooting in the UK with John Hurt and good friend Colin Firth.

It’s a surprise to hear Margaret Thatcher gets a name-check as Oldman’s inspiration for Father Solomon – a man as committed to his cause as the Iron Lady was to her Premiership.

“Many, many, many years ago I met her. She’s an incredibly charismatic woman and someone whose mind is... made up, you know?” he explains.

Extra time... Gary Oldman

:: He was born in New Cross, London, on March 25, 1958. His sister Laila Morse plays Big Mo in EastEnders.

:: When he was arrested for drink-driving in 1991 his passenger was Kiefer Sutherland.

:: His directorial debut Nil By Mouth won two Bafta Awards: Best Original Screenplay and the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, which he shared with Luc Besson.

:: Oldman brought up sons Gulliver, 13, and Charlie, 12, as a single dad after he was given sole custody after an acrimonious divorce from third wife Donya Fiorentino in 2001.

:: He’s also been married to actresses Lesley Manville (with whom he has a 22-year-old son Alfie) and Uma Thurman. He is now married to musician Alexandra Edenborough.