Bill Nighy
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Bill Nighy is an award-winning British character actor. He was born William Francis Nighy on December 12, 1949 in Caterham, Surrey, England, to Catherine Josephine (Whittaker), a psychiatric nurse from Glasgow, and Alfred Martin Nighy, who was English-born and managed a garage in Croydon.
At school, he gained 'O'-levels in English Language and English Literature and enjoyed reading, particularly Ernest Hemingway. On leaving school he wanted to become a journalist but didn't have the required qualifications. He eventually went on to work as a messenger boy for the Field magazine. He stayed in Paris for a while because he wanted to write "the great novel", but he only managed to write the title. When he ran out of money, the British consul shipped him home.
Nighy wound up training at Guildford School of Dance and Drama in London, and has since then worked consistently in film, television, and on stage.
Nighy is perhaps best-known to international audiences for his memorable performance as washed-up pop singer Billy Mack in Yêu Thực Sự (2003), which won him a BAFTA for best supporting actor. He has also made appearances in major franchises: he played vampire leader Viktor in Thế Giới Ngầm (2003), Thế Giới Ngầm 2: Tiến Hóa (2006) and Thế Giới Ngầm 3: Người Sói Nổi Dậy (2009), did the performance capture and voice for Davy Jones in Cướp Biển Vùng Caribê: Chiếc Rương Tử Thần (2006) and Cướp Biển Vùng Caribê: Nơi Tận Cùng Thế Giới (2007), and made a brief appearance as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter và Bảo Bối Tử Thần: Phần 1 (2010).
Nighy's recent film credits include roles in I Capture the Castle (2003), Giữa Bầy Xác Sống (2004), Đường Đến Dải Ngân Hà (2005), Cái Giá Của Công Lý (2005), Cuốn Nhật Ký Phản Chủ (2006), Siêu Cớm (2007), Điệp Vụ Valkyrie (2008) and Chiếc Thuyền Âm Nhạc (2009). He has also provided voice work for many animated movies in the past few years including Chuột Đào Tẩu (2006), Siêu nhí Astro (2009), Tắc Kè Nhát Gan (2011) and Giáng Sinh Phiêu Lưu Ký (2011).
With supporting turns in Khách Sạn Diệu Kỳ (2011), Sự Phẫn Nộ Của Các Vị Thần (2012) and Truy Tìm Ký Ức (2012), 2012 was a busy year for Nighy. There are no signs of slowing down either, as he next appeared in Jack và Đại Chiến Người Khổng Lồ (2013), Đã Đến Lúc (2013), and Chiến Binh Frankenstein (2014).
Nighy has also had an active career on the small screen, beginning with Agony (1979), and his first widely-recognized role was in 1991 mini-series The Men's Room (1991). He has also made a habit of working on television with Harry Potter director David Yates: projects together include State of Play (2003), The Young Visiters (2003), The Girl in the Café (2005) and Trang Số Tám (2011). Nighy won a Golden Globe for his performance in Gideon's Daughter (2005).
Nighy actually began his career on the stage, and has earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays including "The Vertical Hour," "Pravda". "A Map of the World", Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in 1993, and David Hare's Skylight. He received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 2001 play "Blue/Orange."
Bill's partner was actress Diana Quick (he asked her to marry him but she said: "don't ask me again"; he called her his wife because anything else would have been too difficult). They have a daughter, Mary Nighy, who is studying at university and contemplating an acting career. She has already begun to appear on TV dramas and radio programs.
At school, he gained 'O'-levels in English Language and English Literature and enjoyed reading, particularly Ernest Hemingway. On leaving school he wanted to become a journalist but didn't have the required qualifications. He eventually went on to work as a messenger boy for the Field magazine. He stayed in Paris for a while because he wanted to write "the great novel", but he only managed to write the title. When he ran out of money, the British consul shipped him home.
Nighy wound up training at Guildford School of Dance and Drama in London, and has since then worked consistently in film, television, and on stage.
Nighy is perhaps best-known to international audiences for his memorable performance as washed-up pop singer Billy Mack in Yêu Thực Sự (2003), which won him a BAFTA for best supporting actor. He has also made appearances in major franchises: he played vampire leader Viktor in Thế Giới Ngầm (2003), Thế Giới Ngầm 2: Tiến Hóa (2006) and Thế Giới Ngầm 3: Người Sói Nổi Dậy (2009), did the performance capture and voice for Davy Jones in Cướp Biển Vùng Caribê: Chiếc Rương Tử Thần (2006) and Cướp Biển Vùng Caribê: Nơi Tận Cùng Thế Giới (2007), and made a brief appearance as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter và Bảo Bối Tử Thần: Phần 1 (2010).
Nighy's recent film credits include roles in I Capture the Castle (2003), Giữa Bầy Xác Sống (2004), Đường Đến Dải Ngân Hà (2005), Cái Giá Của Công Lý (2005), Cuốn Nhật Ký Phản Chủ (2006), Siêu Cớm (2007), Điệp Vụ Valkyrie (2008) and Chiếc Thuyền Âm Nhạc (2009). He has also provided voice work for many animated movies in the past few years including Chuột Đào Tẩu (2006), Siêu nhí Astro (2009), Tắc Kè Nhát Gan (2011) and Giáng Sinh Phiêu Lưu Ký (2011).
With supporting turns in Khách Sạn Diệu Kỳ (2011), Sự Phẫn Nộ Của Các Vị Thần (2012) and Truy Tìm Ký Ức (2012), 2012 was a busy year for Nighy. There are no signs of slowing down either, as he next appeared in Jack và Đại Chiến Người Khổng Lồ (2013), Đã Đến Lúc (2013), and Chiến Binh Frankenstein (2014).
Nighy has also had an active career on the small screen, beginning with Agony (1979), and his first widely-recognized role was in 1991 mini-series The Men's Room (1991). He has also made a habit of working on television with Harry Potter director David Yates: projects together include State of Play (2003), The Young Visiters (2003), The Girl in the Café (2005) and Trang Số Tám (2011). Nighy won a Golden Globe for his performance in Gideon's Daughter (2005).
Nighy actually began his career on the stage, and has earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays including "The Vertical Hour," "Pravda". "A Map of the World", Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in 1993, and David Hare's Skylight. He received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 2001 play "Blue/Orange."
Bill's partner was actress Diana Quick (he asked her to marry him but she said: "don't ask me again"; he called her his wife because anything else would have been too difficult). They have a daughter, Mary Nighy, who is studying at university and contemplating an acting career. She has already begun to appear on TV dramas and radio programs.