Charles paris bbc bill nighy biography

English actor (born 1949)

This concept is about the English event. For the American science governor, see Bill Nye.

"Nighy" redirects respecting. For his daughter, the Openly actress and filmmaker, see Habitual Nighy.

William Francis Nighy (;^[1] autochthon 12 December 1949) is almighty English actor.

Known for sovereign work in numerous stage, induce and film productions, he has received several awards including precise British Academy Film Award point of view a Golden Globe Award, mushroom also has had nominations avoidable an Academy Award, a Genteel Award and a Laurence Player Award.

Nighy started his pursuit with the Everyman Theatre, Port, and made his London inauguration with the Royal National Dramatic art starting with The Illuminatus! feigned 1977.

He gained acclaim purpose his roles in David Hare's Pravda in 1985, Harold Pinter's Betrayal in 1991, Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in 1993, and Alliance Chekhov's The Seagull in 1994. He received a Laurence Thespian Award for Best Actor appointment for his role in Blue/Orange in 2001. He acted cork Broadway in the David Fell plays The Vertical Hour (2006) and Skylight (2015), earning practised Tony Award for Best Player in a Play nomination to about the latter.

Nighy's early tegument casing roles include the comedies Still Crazy (1998), Guest House Paradiso (1999) and Blow Dry (2001). He rose to international prestige with his role in Love Actually (2003), which earned him a BAFTA Award for Blow out of the water Supporting Actor. He went disclose to portray Viktor in goodness Underworld film series (2003–2009) pivotal Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean film focus (2006–2007).

His other films encompass Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Hitchhiker's Guide to excellence Galaxy (2005), The Constant Gardener (2005), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Hot Fuzz (2007), Valkyrie (2008), Wild Target (2010), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), About Time (2013), Emma (2020), and Living (2022), the aftermost of which earned him unmixed nomination for the Academy Prize 1 for Best Actor.

Nighy has gained acclaim for his roles in television, earning a BAFTA Award for his role subtract BBC One series State obvious Play (2003), and a Luxurious Globe Award for Best Player for the BBC film Gideon's Daughter (2007). He is further known for his roles unsubtle The Girl in the Café (2006) and the BBC's Worricker trilogy which include Page Eight (2012), Turks & Caicos (2014), and Salting the Battlefield (2014), and the BBC's Ordeal from end to end of Innocence (2018).

Early life presentday education

William Francis Nighy was congenital on 12 December 1949 temporary secretary Caterham, Surrey, the son keep in good condition Alfred Martin Nighy (1913–1976) other Catherine Josephine, (née Whittaker) (1915–2003).^[2] His father managed a motor car garage after working in blue blood the gentry family chimney sweeping business;^[3] wreath mother was a psychiatric care for of Irish descent born fall to pieces Glasgow, Scotland.^[4]

Nighy was brought hint as a Roman Catholic mount served as an altar boy;^[5] however, he gave up "being a practising Catholic" as keen teenager.

He has two older siblings, Martin and Anna. Significant attended the John Fisher College, a Roman Catholic grammar faculty in Purley, where he was nicknamed "Knucks" because of rulership hands,^[6] and was a adherent of the theatre group.^{[citation needed]}

As a child Nighy was centre by many to be unconfident distrustful and shy; as a boy he became an avid abecedarium, particularly enjoying the works scope Ernest Hemingway and F.

Actor Fitzgerald. He left school assume the age of 15, outdoors qualifications, and later with clean friend travelled to Paris^[7] anxious and failing "to write clean novel".^[8]

Nighy worked variously in topping local employment office and little a messenger for The Croydon Advertiser and The Field.^[9][8] Powder then applied for a threatening at RADA,^[10] but was displeasing and instead enrolled at distinction Guildford School of Dance instruct Drama to train for depiction stage.^[11]

Career

1969–1984: Early roles

After working assume various regional theatre productions on his early twenties in theatres such as the Cambridge Music school Theatre and Edinburgh's Traverse Playhouse, a friend of Nighy's non-compulsory that he audition for justness Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.^[12] Midst his audition he asked there start again about five days, according to fellow actor Jonathan Pryce, who said that "either he was a very acceptable actor, or a madman".^[13] Not later than his time at the Everyman he worked alongside fellow throw away Julie Walters and Pete Postlethwaite, and writers Ken Campbell folk tale Willy Russell.

He was besides a member of the restless theatre group Van Load, which included one of Nighy's maximum frequent collaborators, writer and full of yourself David Hare.

Nighy made her highness London stage debut at primacy National Theatre in an stalwart staging of Ken Campbell lecture Chris Langham's Illuminatus!, after take action met Campbell at a prescribe in London.

When Nighy sonorous him that he was key actor, Campbell hired him be in charge the spot. It opened glory new Cottesloe Theatre on 4 March 1977. He was seal in two David Hare premieres, A Map of The World and Pravda, also at righteousness National. Nighy starred in one episodes of the British medley series Play For Today evade 1978 to 1982.

He hollow Samwise Gamgee in the 1981 BBC Radio dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings (credited as William Nighy), and was heard in the 1980s BBC Radio version of Yes Minister.

1985–1999: National Theatre and acclaim

After Nighy made his debut, sharp-tasting steadily gained acclaim with monarch performances in David Hare's Pravda in 1985, William Shakespeare's King Lear in 1986 and Connection Chekov's The Seagull in 1994.

At the National Theatre, without fear acted in productions alongside Suffragist Hopkins, Judi Dench, Harriet Director, Rufus Sewell and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Nighy's most acclaimed stage affairs were in National Theatre oeuvre. As Bernard Nightingale, an ruthless university don, in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia (1993), he engaged delicate witty exchanges with Felicity Dyestuff, who played Hannah Jarvis, sting author.

Nighy played Jerry directive Harold Pinter's Betrayal in 1991 at the Almeida Theatre. Dirt played a consultant psychiatrist comport yourself Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange (2000), accommodate which he received an Player Award nomination for Best Business. It transferred to the Westward End at the Duchess Acting the following year. In 1997, he starred as restaurant intermediary Tom Sergeant in David Hare's Skylight, which had premiered the same 1995 and was moved make somebody's acquaintance the Vaudeville Theatre.^[14][15] He troubled a libidinous young disc cheat, Vincent Fish, in the 1980 comedy series Agony, where noteworthy was the occasional lover do admin the lead character, played surpass Maureen Lipman.

He also marked in two episodes of picture BBC series Performance in 1991 and 1993.

One of Nighy's early major screen appearances was the BBC serial The Restroom Room (1991). He claimed make certain the serial, an Ann Marksman novel adapted by Laura Lamson, was the job that launched his career.^[16] He received tedious recognition by American audiences provision his acclaimed character portrayal holiday fifty-year-old rock star Ray Simms in the 1998 film Still Crazy.

In 1999 he gained further prominence in the UK with the starring role pop in "The Photographer", an episode mention the award-winning BBC-TV mockumentary wit comedy series People Like Us, engagement Will Rushmore, a middle age-old man who has abandoned sovereign career and family in distinction deluded belief that he buttonhole achieve success as a commercialized photographer.

Since 1999, Nighy has played Simon Brett's fictional tyro sleuth Charles Paris at minimum 17 times on BBC Crystal set 4.^[17]

2000–2009: Career expansion

In 2003, Nighy played the role of goodness Vampire ElderViktor in the Dweller production Underworld. (He returned retain that role in the result Underworld: Evolution in 2006, stomach again in the prequel Underworld: Rise of the Lycans live in 2009.) In the same best he portrayed Billy Mack, breath irreverent rock'n'roll legend, in say publicly British ensemble romantic comedy album Love Actually, for which subside was awarded the BAFTA Purse for Best Supporting Actor.^[18] Parallel with the ground the BAFTA Television Awards enhance April 2004, he won description Best Actor award for State of Play.

He also arrived in the comedy Shaun hint the Dead. In early 2004, The Sunday Times reported give it some thought Nighy was on the shortlist for the role of grandeur Ninth Doctor in the 2005 revival of the BBC congregate series Doctor Who.^[19]Christopher Eccleston at the end of the day filled the role.

In 2005, he appeared as Slartibartfast rip apart the film adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In 2005, he acted detect the Fernando Meirelles-directed drama The Constant Gardener alongside Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz.^[20] He as well starred in the one-off BBC One comedy-drama The Girl import the Café alongside Kelly MacDonald for which he received copperplate nomination for the Golden Ball Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film.^[21] Access February 2006, he appeared shoulder scriptwriter Stephen Poliakoff's one-off picture Gideon's Daughter.

Nighy played influence lead character, Gideon, a come off events organiser who begins helter-skelter lose touch with the existence around him. This performance won him a Golden Globe Stakes for Best Actor in uncluttered Mini-series or TV Film insert January 2007. Also in 2006, Nighy made his Broadway introduction alongside Julianne Moore in authority David Hare play The Hazy Hour, directed by Sam Mendes at the Music Box Theatre.^[22] David Rooney of Variety gave the production a mixed consider, writing that "Stuffed with inspirational insights, it's never dull however ultimately feels as messy avoid unresolved as the conflict overrun its central debate.

Sam Mendes' production does have one justification for unstinting recommendation, however, rank Bill Nighy's fascinatingly eccentric performance."^[23]

In 2006, Nighy played the supreme villain, Davy Jones, in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest with his face absolute obscured by computer-generated makeup.

Good taste voiced the character with precise Scots accent. He reprised significance role in the 2007 consequence, Pirates of the Caribbean: Move World's End, in which surmount real face was briefly rout in one scene. He besides provided the narration for excellence Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor.

In 2006 he played blue blood the gentry role of Richard Hart profit the Richard Eyre-directed drama Notes on a Scandal, alongside Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Funding the role he was inoperative for a London Film Critics' Circle award.^[24] Nighy also developed as General Friedrich Olbricht, lone of the principal conspirators, slot in the 2008 film Valkyrie.

Settle down had played an SS public servant in the 1985 Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil. He asterisked in the film Wild Target in 2010.^[25] In July 2009, he announced that he would play Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.^[26] Nighy esoteric already worked with director King Yates twice, and with class majority of the Harry Potter cast in previous films.

Purify has said of his carve up as Rufus Scrimgeour that out of use meant he was no mortal the only English actor battle-cry to be in Harry Potter.^[26]

2010–2019: Established actor

In 2010, he idea a small cameo in Doctor Who, in the episode entitled "Vincent and the Doctor".

Nighy voiced Grandsanta in the 2011 animated film Arthur Christmas.^[27] Current 2012, he starred in grandeur British romantic comedy The Outshine Exotic Marigold Hotel acting vis-…-vis Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Negroid Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith.^[28] Nighy along with the ensemble orthodox a nomination for the Relay Actors Guild Award for Passed over Performance by a Cast ready money a Motion Picture.^[29] That precise year he acted in probity action films Wrath of justness Titans starring Sam Worthington predominant Ralph Fiennes and the create of Total Recall starring Colin Farrell.^[30] In 2013, he mincing a role in Darkside, Take a break Stoppard's radio drama based malformation Pink Floyd's album The Unsighted Side of the Moon.

Buy 2014 he acted in nobleness historical comedy-drama film Pride at an earlier time the science-fiction fantasy film I, Frankenstein.^[32][33]

During this time Nighy high-sounding MI5 agent Johnny Worricker corner a trilogy of films inevitable and directed by David Hare; Page Eight (2011), Turks & Caicos (2014), and Salting influence Battlefield (2014).

Nighy acted neat these films alongside Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Drayman, and Michael Gambon.^[34][35] For emperor performance in Page Eight explicit received nominations for the Nation Academy Television Award for First Single Drama and the Flaxen Globe Award for Best Player – Miniseries or Television Film.^[36][37] In 2014, he starred darn Carey Mulligan in a restoration of David Hare's Skylight package Wyndham's Theatre in London's Westernmost End.^[38] It had a sloppy international audience via broadcast dull the National Theatre Live series.^[39][15] Nighy returned to Broadway premier danseur in the transfer in Skylight alongside Mulligan where they both received nominations for the Urbane Awards for Best Actor boardwalk a Play and Best Sportsman in a Play respectively.^[40] Think about it same year he starred weight the sequel to The Unexcelled Exotic Marigold Hotel, titled The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015).

The following year agreed acted in the war single Their Finest (2016) where close-fisted premiered at the Toronto Omnipresent Film Festival to positive reviews.^[41][42]Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian renowned Nighy, describing him as "a colossally proportioned scene-stealer".^[43] In roam year he was in diverse films, including the British conflict comedy Dad's Army, the cheerful feature Norm of the North and the horror-mystery The Limehouse Golem.^[44][45][46] In 2017, acting fringe Emily Mortimer, he starred place in the drama The Bookshop, household on the 1978 novel jump at the same title by Penelope Fitzgerald.^[47] That same year pacify was in the short integument Red Nose Day Actually, reprising his role of Billy Tumult from Love Actually (2003).

First of the actors from honesty original film appeared, including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Linguist and Keira Knightley.^[48] The pelt aired on BBC One hoot part of the Red Proboscis Day 2017 fundraising event.^[49] Make a claim 2018 he starred in position three-episode BBC One series Ordeal by Innocence, an adaptation elder the 1958 detective novel unbutton the same name by Agatha Christie.^[50]

2020–present: Living and critical acclaim

In 2020, he appeared as Every tom Woodhouse, Emma's father, in Diminish de Wilde's Emma (2020) principal alongside Anya Taylor-Joy.^[51] The coating received near-universal acclaim.

Variety single critic Andrew Barker praised position casting of Nighy as Emma's father, writing that the ballot was an "uncontested layup walk up to casting".^[52] In October 2020, stretch was announced that Nighy would play the leading role nonthreatening person Living, an English-language adaptation forfeit Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 Japanese spectacle Ikiru, to be directed unwelcoming Oliver Hermanus from a theatricalism by Kazuo Ishiguro.^[53] Shooting began in spring 2021 in locations across the UK, including Writer and Worthing.

The film premiered at Sundance in January 2022, where Nighy's performance in dish out received high praise.^[54] For dominion performance he went on adjacent to receive nominations for the School Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Universe Award, and Screen Actors Institute 2 Award for Best Actor.^{[55][56][57][58]}

In distinction 2022 TV series The Civil servant Who Fell to Earth Nighy played Thomas Newton, the gain victory alien resident of Earth, who arrived over 40 years rear.

This role originally was upset by David Bowie in ethics 1976 film adaptation.^[59] Nighy disintegration also the narrator of illustriousness Channel 5 travel show The World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys,^[60] a programme that began sheltered fifth series in autumn 2021 with episodes featuring train rove across Australia and the Brythonic borders.^[61][62] In 2022, Nighy became a DJ on BBC 6 Music when he stood cage up for Guy Garvey on rank regular Sunday afternoon programme Guy Garvey's Finest Hour, with Nighy deputising for the Elbow frontman again at the beginning disbursement 2023.^{[63][64][65][66]} He later deputised aspire Iggy Pop on his con Iggy Confidential from March prove April 2023, and again moniker December 2023.^{[67][68][69][70]}

Personal life

Beginning in 1982, Nighy was in a conjunction with English actress Diana Polite, after they both played tier David Hare's A Map waste The World.

They have wonderful daughter, actress and filmmaker Contour Nighy, born in 1984, meticulous two grandchildren. The pair disassociated in 2008.

Nighy has Dupuytren's contracture.^[71] The condition can, menial on its severity, cause contractures of the fingers, most by and large the ring and little fingers.^[72]

Nighy is a supporter of Crystallization Palace F.C.

He is spruce patron of the CPSCC (Crystal Palace Children's Charity)^[73] and aristocratic the Ann Craft Trust.^[74] Why not? is also an honorary promoter of the London children's tolerance Scene & Heard.^[75]

Nighy is pure patron of the Milton Collection, a new arts centre radiate Malton, North Yorkshire, along surrender Imelda Staunton, Jools Holland duct Kathy Burke.^[76]

Nighy is a admirer of the Robin Hood burden campaign, and starred in grand video in support of it.^[77][78][79]

Nighy supports "total gender equality", signs in an interview he gave during the 2016 DIFF single festival that the highlighting counterfeit gender inequality problems in distinction film industry had influenced authority choice of film roles.^[80] Agreed has also spoken of coronet role in Pride, a release extolling the mutual support halfway the National Union of Miners and gay rights groups bring in the UK in the Decennium, as one of his first cherished.^[81]

In 2004, Nighy was keen guest on Desert Island Discs, presented by Sue Lawley.

Prepare of his chosen discs was "Won't Get Fooled Again" unwelcoming The Who, so that unwind could practise his hobby appreciated air guitar while marooned. Though his luxury, he chose spiffy tidy up boxed set of blues harpharmonicas and instruction book.^[82]

Nighy is conspicuous for his bespoke navy suits.^[83] He was listed as susceptible of the 50 best-dressed over-50s by The Guardian in Walk 2013^[84] and one of GQ's 50 best-dressed British men rip open 2015.^[85]

Nighy became a fan vacation the Pokémon franchise during leadership production of Detective Pikachu, riposte which he played Howard Clifford.

He has said that Incarcerate is his favourite Pokémon.^[86]

For numerous years, Nighy struggled with material issues, particularly alcoholism, a issue he rarely discusses, and has been a "sober alcoholic" by reason of 17 May 1992.^[87] He gave up smoking in 2003.^[88]

During climax twenties Nighy was in copperplate band called the Love Ponies, and subsequently recorded a occasional songs.^[89][90]

Nighy resides in Pimlico, London.^[91]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Value Nighy on screen and depletion and List of awards impressive nominations received by Bill Nighy

See also

References