Bill Nighy is an award-winning actor of the stage and screen whose extensive filmography illustrates an illustrious career. Amongst others, Nighy has received a BAFTA Award, a London Film Critics Circle Award, and an Evening Standard British Film Award.
Audiences can expect to see Nighy in THE BOOKSHOP (release date TBC) which is currently in post-production. Nighy has also finished filming HEIDI: QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN where he plays the beloved Grandfather as well as TRIPLE WORD SCORE, a supernatural comedy-drama that follows the story of Nighy searching for his missing son with whom he shared a passion for the board game Scrabble.
Nighy’s iconic turn as an aging rock star in Richard Curtis’s 2003 ensemble comedy hit LOVE ACTUALLY won him his previously mentioned Evening Standard British Film Award. He recently reprised the role in RED NOSE DAY ACTUALLY (2017), a charity special which revisited the much-loved original characters. Nighy has returned to working with Richard Curtis throughout his career, lending his character acting talent to Curtis’ varied scripts.
The Toronto International Film Festival in Autumn 2016 saw the premier of gothic murder mystery THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM, an adaptation of Peter Ackroyd’s 1994 novel which also stars Daniel Mays and Olivia Clarke, and is set for release September 8th, 2017. Also featured during TIFF 2016 was THEIR FINEST in which Nighy ‘on irresistible form’ (Daily Express) starred alongside Sam Claflin and Gemma Arterton in the story of a film crew attempting to boost war-time morale.
2015 saw Nighy reprise his role of Douglas in the hotly awaited sequel, THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, starring once again opposite the stellar cast of the first movie. This was followed by a turn as the iconic Sergeant Wilson in the motion picture production of beloved comedy, DAD’S ARMY.
September 2014 saw the release of PRIDE, a feature film recalling the true story about gay and lesbian activists raising money to support the families of the striking Welsh miners in 1984. Nighy starred opposite Imelda Staunton and Dominic West in the critically acclaimed and widely-lauded film, which went on to win Best British Independent Film at the 2014 BIFAs and received nominations at the 2015 BAFTAS and Golden Globe Awards.
Early in 2013, Bill starred in JACK THE GIANT SLAYER. Following this, Bill once again teamed up with Richard Curtis for his much anticipated time travelling romantic comedy ABOUT TIME, also starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams. In January 2014, Nighy appeared in I FRANKENSTEIN, which was written and directed by Stuart Beatie.
Nighy starred in THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2012) to much critical acclaim. Boasting a stellar British cast including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie and Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel..
Nighy’s incredible list of film credits also includes WILD TARGET (2010), with Rupert Grint and Emily Blunt; PIRATE RADIO; Bryan Singer’s VALKYRIE (2008), with Tom Cruise; Richard Eyre’s NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006), for which he earned a London Film Critics Circle Award nomination; UNDERWORLD and UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION; Fernando Meirelles’ THE CONSTANT GARDENER (2005) which garnered a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) nomination; LAWLESS HEART (2001) which brought him a BIFA nomination; and STILL CRAZY(1998), for which he won an Evening Standard British Film Award. Nighy is unrecognisable as the tentacled pirate captain Davy Jones in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST (2006) and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (2007). He has lent his voice to several animated features, including FLUSHED AWAY (2006). Further roles include the role of Minister Rufus Scrimgeour in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS- PART ONE (2010) and the role of Slartibartfast in THE HITCH HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (2005).
Nighy began his career on the stage and has since earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays, including David Hare’s PRAVDA (1985), SKYLIGHT (1995) and A MAP OF THE WORLD(1983). He has also performed in plays by other leading dramatists, including Tom Stoppard, Harold Pinter, Brian Friel, Anton Chekhov and Peter Gill. He received an Olivier Award nomination in 2001 for Best Actor for his performance in Joe Penhall’s BLUE/ORANGE. On Broadway, he starred in the 2006 premiere of David Hare’s THE VERTICAL HOUR, directed by Sam Mendes. In 2016, for one night only Nighy joined the cast of David Hare’s STUFF HAPPENS as the Narrator, at The National Theatre alongside Alex Jennings and Carey Mulligan.
Nighy returned to the stage in June 2014 for the major West End revival of David Hare’s Olivier award-winning SKYLIGHT. Directed by Steven Daldry, Nighy starred opposite Matthew Beard and Carey Mulligan at the Wyndham’s Theatre. The run’s success was further confirmed when the cast relocated to Broadway in March 2015, for which they received Best Revival of a Play at the Tony Awards. The Tony Awards 2015, also saw Nighy nominated for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Tom Sergeant.
Also well known for his work on the small screen, in 2012 Nighy earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in the BBC television movie PAGE EIGHT, directed by David Hare. Nighy reunited with David Hare in 2014 for the second and third instalments of the THE WORRICKER TRILOGY featuring Nighy as MI5 agent Johnny Worricker. TURKS & CAICOS and SALTING THE BATTLEFIELD, both aired in 2014 in which Nighy once again joined a cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Walken and Ralph Fiennes, among others to conclude the trilogy.
Nighy’s television work includes dozens of series guest roles and long form projects, including the one for which he first gained attention, 1991’s THE MEN’S ROOM. Since then, Nighy has worked several times with director David Yates, including the acclaimed BBC project STATE OF PLAY (2003), for which he won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor. Yates also directed him in the BBC telefilm THE YOUNG VISITERS (2003), and HBO’s THE GIRL IN THE CAFÉ (2005), which brought him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries. Later in 2005, Nighy won a Golden Globe in the same category for his performance in the 2005 telefilm GIDEON’S DAUGHTER.