Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon
Sir Michael John Gambon CBEis an Irish-born English actor who has worked in theatre, television and film. Gambon has played Philip Marlow in the BBC television serial The Singing Detective, Jules Maigret in the 1990s ITV serial Maigret, and Professor Albus Dumbledore in the last six Harry Potter films after the death of actor Richard Harris...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth19 October 1940
CityDublin, Ireland
best bits books british-actor cut miserable people
People who have read the books get miserable because of all the bits that have been cut out. So I just read the script. That's the best way.
seem wrong
Certainly, I seem to need to do a play a year. I feel wrong if I haven't got one planned.
concerned state work
All actors say they're concerned about the state of the theatre, but what they're really concerned about is that there'll be less work around.
asked dancer died invited kenneth love
When I was doing 'Tales from Hollywood' at the National, I was invited to dinner by the choreographer, Kenneth MacMillan. He told me I had the heart of a dancer and asked me if I'd like to come on at the end of 'Romeo and Juliet' as a friar. I said I'd love to, but sadly, MacMillan died shortly after.
freedom magic quite subtext
There's no subtext in 'Harry Potter,' really; it's all magic - anything can happen. Why do I say this? Because it's a magic spell. It's quite nice in a way. There is a real freedom to it. Doesn't say much for acting, does it?
plays
There are more important ways of earning a living, aren't there? Like being a neurosurgeon. But some plays are very important, aren't they?
funny kids maybe rather sod white
Maybe that is why kids like Dumbledore: because he is funny rather than a miserable old sod with a long white beard.
chest fingers hit masters poking school
My only memories of school are of being beaten, of being hit in the playground, of masters poking their fingers in my chest all day.
classical dried lazy plays
Television has dried up for my generation, so it's plays and films. You get used to being lazy doing films, but classical theatre's going to finish me off.
bit british-actor floating hardly layers lighter pair played richard turned
Richard was in heavy, heavy costume, he could hardly sit, you know, and I turned up and they put me in two layers of silk, so I played him much lighter - you know, floating around in a pair of slippers, a bit of a hippy.
british-actor ease
I just play him as myself, I don't ease myself into any role really. I stick a beard on and play me.
confines love
I'd love to be a comedian. I've done a lot, but always in the confines of plays.
films harry might potter script
I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a 'Harry Potter' book. If you are an actor, all you have is the script you are given. If you read the book, you might get disappointed about what's been left out.
star theater
Theater actors are just tolerated. You have to be a movie star to be a celebrity.