Bill Nighy
Born in Caterham, SurreyBorn on 12th of December 1949
Died in 000
Like many a gifted actor before him, Bill Nighy had to wait for middle age before winning fame, his good looks in youth not as rewarding artistically as his lived-in face now. Born in Caterham to a non-showbiz family, he did his acting training in Guildford before embarking on a stage career that took in parts at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool , The Arts Theatre in Cambridge , and The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh before eventually graduating to The National .
Nighy cites his role in the 1991 BBC drama The Men’s Room as the one which made his name more widely known; but it was as the hilarious Billy Mack in the 2003 movie love actually that he became an instantly recognized star, thereafter winning roles in Underworld and its follow-on productions; along with Shaun of the Dead; The Constant Gardener; Stormbreaker; and Hot Fuzz among many others.
His voice – languid, louche and droll, perfect for his radio work as Charles Paris – is his fortune as much as his pale and gaunt face full of folds, though in one of his most high-profile performances as Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies he chose to use a tone and an accent that meant many failed to recognize him (helped by his character’s features being buried beneath squirming tentacles). And his persona – cool yet approachable – is as attractive for directors as it is for viewers.
Nighy's long relationship with actress Diana Quick ended in 2008; they have a daughter Mary who is also an actress and has directed short films.
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