BAFTA-winning actor Bill Nighy has criticized the new generation of actors for whom it has become trendy not to learn their lines. He has described their behavior as a discourtesy to their fellow professionals. He made these comments while addressing an audience at Cheltenham Film Festival.
Young performers in both film and theater have come to believe that not learning their lines will in some way enhance their performance. It is Nighy’s belief that they need to focus their efforts on preparing for their performances properly. In his opinion, this trend has only started because some people do not want to do their homework and put in the time and effort to prepare for a role.
The actor’s own career has been very different to that of the young actors today. Now aged 67, he left school with just two O-Levels. He trained at the Guildford School of Acting before beginning his acting career on stage first in Liverpool and then in London.
He went on to act in many television series but credits ‘The Men’s Room’ with launching his career. Nighy has also established himself as a successful film actor with notable roles in movies such as ‘Love Actually’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Underworld’, and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’. He won a Golden Globe for his performance in ‘Gideon’s Daughter’. Much of his work is critically acclaimed.
Using his own vast experience, Nighy has some words of advice for young actors. He says that regardless of whether you are performing on stage or starring in a film, you must always learn your lines backward. You should know each and every word before you even set foot in a rehearsal room or film set. This may seem obvious, but it is not currently the fashion to do this. As a result, actors’ creative choice not to learn their lines has led to them being discourteous to those with whom they are working.
Nighy argues that you can’t just turn up and sit trying to learn your lines quickly with a book in your hand. Nor can you wait at the side of a film set hoping you will know your lines before the camera turns on you. He is adamant that the only way to learn your lines properly is to rehearse them over and over again. The actor went on to explain that lightning doesn’t suddenly strike and all of a sudden you know your words; you simply have to practice.
The mistake that young performers make, according to Nighy, is thinking that rehearsing is the enemy of spontaneity. He argues that this simply isn’t true. In his opinion, repeating your lines so many times will eventually give the impression that the words have not been spoken before and make them seem spontaneous.
He argues that the situation with young actors and the fashion that has emerged for not learning lines is so bad that professionals are actually teaching young actors not to bother with learning their lines. Therefore, this ethos is instilled in them right at the start of their career.
Bill Nighy also spoke about the fear and anxiety he has always faced when performing. He confessed that there were many occasions when he had to force himself on stage. He would overcome his fear by simply standing still and keeping a straight face. The actor explained that this would convince the audience that his character was in deep thought. His final comment was that other entertainers had made millions while using this method.
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