November 2nd 2024.
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life, the beloved actor Bill Nighy shared a humorous story about his audition for drama school. Nighy, now 74 and an Oscar-nominated star, revealed that in his youth he had quite the unconventional approach to preparing for auditions - he stole books.
Nighy explained that he had applied to the Guildford School of Acting and was asked to prepare a monologue from a modern play and a Shakespeare play. Admitting that he only applied to impress a girl, Nighy was determined to do whatever it took to nail the audition. So, he and a friend decided to steal the complete works of Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, which they deemed "modern."
When asked why they didn't just borrow the books like everyone else, Nighy joked that they were "developing a criminal mentality" and stealing just felt right at the time. As it turns out, their material choices caused quite the confusion during the audition. Nighy ended up learning two female parts, Eliza Doolittle from Shaw's play Pygmalion and Cesario from Twelfth Night, not realizing that Cesario is actually the female protagonist Viola dressed as a man. Despite the mix-up, Nighy was invited back with "more suitable material" and ultimately earned a spot in the drama school.
However, Nighy confesses that his path to becoming an actor was somewhat accidental. He only pursued it to impress a girl, stating that if she had said astronaut, he would have given that a shot instead. Yet, he has certainly made a name for himself in the industry, earning his first Oscar nomination for his role in Living last year.
Nighy also shared his thoughts on getting into character, or lack thereof. He admitted that he has never really "been in character" and views acting as just a job. He explained that while some actors may use cerebral methods to get into character, for him it's about "bogusly triggering" his sensibility to give the appearance of someone going through something.
In a previous interview with Metro, Nighy also revealed that he never developed a taste for Shakespeare after his theft of the poet's work. He retired from performing Shakespeare after only his second professional role, stating that he didn't have a particular interest in the delivery of his work.
But despite his unconventional methods and lack of interest in Shakespeare, Nighy has certainly made his mark in the acting world. And as he continues to share his unique perspective and humorous anecdotes, it's clear that his love for the craft shines through.
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