Gary Oldman has said he proposed to his wife while dressed as his latest film alter ego, Winston Churchill.

The British actor – currently garnering awards buzz for his performance as the Prime Minister in Darkest Hour – said he got “the urge” to pop the question to Gisele Schmidt while he was made up and in character.

Oldman, 59, said on Jimmy Kimmel’s US chat show: “There was a break in the filming and we had talked about it and I just felt the urge.

“We were down in the war rooms and I took her into the map room as Winston I said, ‘Will you marry me?’ and she said, ‘Yes’, and then someone said ‘Gary, we’re ready for you’.”

Kimmel joked: “So you did not get the chance to consummate at Winston Churchill?”

Oldman replied: “It’s funny you should say that because my wife has often said she went to bed with Winston Churchill but woke up with Gary Oldman!”

The couple got married last year.