We caught up with Gary Oldman, who plays The Dark Knight's righteous Lt. Jim Gordon, during the film's recent press junket in Los Angeles and he confessed to us that it was nice to play a non-psycho. But he also told us that he loves director Chris Nolan's non-slave-driving work ethic.

Whether you love Oldman or not, you have to admit he's got an insanely diverse range as an actor. Thinking that the same guy play Sid Vicious as Lt Gordon is worth more than just a chuckle! Next up, the prolific actor plays what he calls "a progressive rabbi" in Unborn and we got Gary to talk a little about that new role and what drove him to be an actor in the first place! And of course we got the inside scoop on his relationship with the late Heath Ledger and what Oldman thinks caused his untimely demise.

Was it fun working with Christian Bale and Heath Ledger and can you compare the two as actors?
Christian is darker than Heath. I know that sounds kind of weird but Christian pretty much kept to himself.  I never really get to work with Christian as Bruce Wayne, but I would just say he is very quietly intense. Heath was very different. Between takes he very much wanted to laugh. I know that people - not you guys (the media) - but out there people are trying to look for a darker story in the Heath story. I know people want to read he was "contaminated by the Joker role" and that he couldn't sleep, but I did not see any of that.

So Heath was a fun guy to hang with?
He was! I would like to think that there was a friendship there or the potential for a friendship there. I think that what happened to Heath was just a silly sort of accident - it was just one of those things...what I call the cosmic sh*thammer (smashed over his head). That's just it. It just happened and there you are.

Is sh*thammer one word or two?
Whatever you like! (Laughs.) Hyphenated. (Laughs again.)

Do you think the acting has to be somewhat over the top in a Batman movie?
The director in a way sets the tone. He is the real barometer of how you play a character. There is realism to Batman, but it is slightly pumped up - Chris does not want that realistic sort of acting. You are not working for Ken Loach, you know? You've got to know the style of the piece that you are in because that dictates (how you are going to act); John Gielgud once said that style is knowing what play you are in.

I hear your next movie is a dark movie. How was it doing Unborn with David Goya?
It is a dark movie - it is a horror movie - it is an exorcist movie. I play a rabbi. I do not know how it is going to turn out. I am a very progressive rabbi and I perform an exorcism on a girl thinks she is possessed.

What inspired you as a little kid to believe in yourself and become an actor.
Nothing inspired me, it wasn't like that, I just wanted to get out. I just thought as a kid growing up in a poor neighborhood that there was something more (to life) than just the end of my street. I used to think about stuff too much but I got to a point where you say, "F**k art, just live." I do not contemplate my own navel.

I guess I had this drive in me. But as you get older, you lose the drive - there are other priorities. I have to admire Chris Nolan - he is not a lunatic that makes you work 17 hours a day. I do not want to work with someone like that. I want to get my weekends off and go home to have dinner and get to tuck my kids into bed - and Nolan facilitates that. That was the reason to be in Batman 2 - I like that guy plus I get to be home for dinner! (Laughs.)

Courtesy Planet Syndication