by There’s an argument that you’re the person James Bond matures into: women still want to sleep with you and men want to have you. What is your secret? MarcoPoloMint
I do not know. I don’t achieve much and I don’t connect with whoever they are talking about. I used to say I could be James Bond’s grandfather and I always wanted to say: “The name is Nighy. Bill Nighy.” I’m very happy to hear, but it’s a stretch for me to understand.
When you were younger, you traveled to Paris to write a book, but you never finished it. Will you ever be put down your great unfinished novel that achieve your literary ambitions? VerulamiumParkRanger
I had a very romantic idea – a walking cliche I had in my 20s – to run off to Paris to write the great English short story. The pathetic thing is that I went and stood in the Trocadéro, outside the Shakespeare and Company bookstore and under the Arc de Triomphe, hoping to catch some vibes. I sat down for an hour in front of a blank page and drew a margin, like at school, for the teacher’s comments, but the doorbell rang or the phone rang and that was the end of my literary career.
How do you deliver dialogue without words as loud and better every time? Turning 27
I’m not sure, because I don’t look at anything I’m into. I mean, I’m there when it’s happening. I keep acting until someone says “stop”, whether I have lines or not. I am glad to hear that my silence has spoken, but I cannot comment further.
Thank you for it Pride. A great movie. One of my favorite scenes is you and Imelda Staunton making sandwiches. What is your perfect sandwich? plates
Decent bread, not soggy, with butter, plenty of Marmite, cheese, cucumber and salt and pepper. That’s what I call a sandwich. I’m not very good at food. I eat a lot, but I don’t eat very sophisticatedly. I’ve made entire movies on toasted cheese sandwiches and Snickers bars.
I was surprised to read that you are from a chimney sweeping family. Did you clean a lot of chimneys when you were younger? Catupatree
It is true that I did a lot of chimney work as a boy, but there was a bittersweet moment for all the Nighy children when they realized they were too tall. Generally there is a family party at this point, it is a happy occasion, but it is also sad, because it is goodbye to chimney work; those were good times, good years. You can find a lot of information about yourself up a chimney.
You are sung as Ray Simms from Strange Fruit Still Crazy, Billy Mack really in love and Dylan in the Magic Carousel. Would you welcome the opportunity to sing as yourself? VerulamiumParkRanger
I think the days of me being a singer are gone. A few films required me to be in a recording studio and, I have to say, they were some of the happiest times of my life. It’s amazing to watch musicians together. I listen to music throughout the day: when I get up in the morning; in the car on the way to work; in the hotel room; in the trailer. I dance alone at home, which is one of the greatest pleasures of living alone. me at you naked dance in the privacy of my front room, but you really need shoes to spin.
Related: ‘I think about death 35 hours a day’: Bill Nighy on sex, social media – and still managing to sleep
Do you get a lot of mail addressed to Mr. Nighty? TopTramp
Mail is addressed to me – and people approach me in the street as – Mr Nighly. The first time I was ever reviewed in a newspaper, I was Bill Nickby. People I’ve known for a long time still call me Nickby. I get Mr Nightly, which is longer and more complex. Night All kinds of things. Someone sent me a newspaper complaint with six or seven names that are leaving the language, one of which is mine. So there you go.
Considering your grumpy old man roles, what makes Bill Nighy grumpy? Turangaile 2
I don’t think I’ve ever played a grumpy old man. I played some cheerful old men, some sad old men, but not particularly grumpy. But let’s assume that I am. I blush easily. And what makes me grumpy is people telling you that you are blushing. Those who are blushing have no doubt that they are blushing. No one needs to say they are blushing and there is no attractive reason to show it.
Do you still have a particular role to offer that you would like to play? Sagarmatha1953
I want to start my acting career. I’m not kidding. I watched my movie on Netflix or Prime the other day. They give you “five other movies you might want if you like this one” and they all involved people dying. I thought: “I think I have died as much as I want to do.” I’m grateful to be the man they come to die for, but from now on, if I’m going to die, I don’t want to die in a drip in my pajamas – I want to die in a hail of gunfire or jump out of a plane at 30,000 feet. When there’s a scene where you have to wear pajamas, I always try to find a funky alternative, because I always feel too exposed. It’s a terrible thing for an actor to say, but let’s go there.
Custard: thick or thin? billocean
When I was a boy, my Sunday duties were gravy and custard. I never had many complaints. You don’t want it to be too thick. There has to be some movement. Thin custard is a depressing thought. So, somewhere between the two – fluid consistency that can honor the pudding.
I love your work and would watch you read the phone book. How would you play such a role? Chile88
I would put in a lot of pauses, looking into the middle distance to highlight certain names. There would be a special graphic when we come to names that are dying, like Nighy. I would speed up points and slow down inexplicably with some of my – so to speak – trademark non-spoken dialogue. I would change outfits a few times, in a set of lounge suits. I might have some music playing in the background. Maybe I want to dance – but not reveal. And I will die in my pajamas at the end, unless you insist.
• The First Omen is in UK cinemas from 5 April
