No it’s not Bill Nye the Science Guy, this is Bill Nighy, one of the best actors that’s been seen to come out of England, EVER. When he’s onscreen he can be a bit stodgy and even stiff but it’s usually the character he’s given and as it happens he turns in one of the best performances of anyone. When he’s paired with other actors that are being paid to act unruly and out of sorts he’s kind of like the guiding light or the wall that brings people back to square one and that’s great. He’s the actor that’s so good at what he does that can be counted on for just about anything, though he’s had a few roles that were less than great more or less because of the dialogue or the directing. His part in such projects however has managed to shine through like a beacon and really pull the attention to him more than anyone since he’s just that good.
Here are a few things you might not have known about him.
10. He played Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean.
So yes, a lot of people probably know this by now but it seems a bit presumptuous to think that everyone knows. After all the only thing you could really pick him out by was his voice and that one moment in At World’s End Calypso transformed him back into his human self. But he brought this character to life in a way that was absolutely great.
9. He played Samwise Gamgee in the original radio production of Lord of the Rings.
This was of course when he was a bit younger and probably didn’t sound quite as distinguished as he does now but to think that he played a part in such an epic tale is pretty awesome and, at this point in his career, hardly surprising.
8. He’s a big fan of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.
It can’t be just because he’s English since people all over the world tend to love these performers and have managed to create their legendary status by lifting them up on pedestals. But he does have good taste in music at least.
7. He was in Shaun of the Dead.
Honestly in would seem that he and Simon Pegg have great chemistry together despite the fact that they play opposing roles in a couple of movies. In fact despite what happens later in this movie it would appear that they really can’t stand one another.
6. He was in Hot Fuzz.
His role in this movie is pretty short but while he does act civil you can tell that his character doesn’t like the character that Simon Pegg is playing. This seems to be a constant theme between these two when they show up together and it works perfectly.
5. He was the first narrator of the show Meerkat Manor.
For a show like this his voice sounds a little antagonistic at times but it still manages to punctuate the very real dangers that the critters face. Eventually however the role of the narrator would be taken over by Sean Astin, which is funny since he played Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings while Bill played Sam on the radio.
4. He was in Underworld.
Viktor really seemed like he had more potential since he was one of the elder vampires and as such was immensely powerful. After all he took down one of the older, more hardened lycans with his bare hands and snapped his neck like a toothpick. But against Selene and Michael he should have been able to put up more of a fight.
3. He initially wanted to be a journalist.
It’s interesting to learn that some actors wanted to pursue a different course in life than what they would eventually become known for. Some of them simply fell into acting while others made a compromise and became actors.
2. He admits to being a procrastinator.
It’s kind of funny that he’s stated he became an actor because he was waiting for the longest time to become a writer. You might have to be a writer to figure that one out but the moment you do you’ll probably laugh too.
1. He’s in the film Time Flies.
This was a very fun and underrated film to be honest since it involves time travel without the mess that so many movies insist on throwing at the audience so as to explain why time travel is so dangerous. While the butterfly effect is mentioned it’s never really seen to be that devastating since the life of one person might affect others but there’s nothing to say that it will be so increasingly negative.
Bill Nighy is definitely one of the better actors around and one of those that’s worth paying attention to.
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