Bill Nighy, 76, is barely recognisable in his new movie & Sons, where he plays Andrew Dyer, a scruffy and reclusive alcoholic author. Known for his clean-shaven look, foppish hair, and immaculate tailoring, Nighy sports a Santa Claus beard and wears trackie bottoms or shorts for the role.
Nighy said he never thought he would appear in a major motion picture in shorts. "I have never been seen public in shorts. Never since I played rugby at school," he said. He also finds the sport luxe green tracksuit bottoms amusing: "The idea of old people in exercise gear. Most people who wear that stuff are not going to exercise anytime soon."
No Preparation and a Gruelling Shoot
Nighy admits he never prepares for his roles, though he was well qualified for this part, having been sober since 1992 and having openly discussed earlier battles with drink and drugs. The shoot was demanding: "It almost killed me. The director Pablo Trapero, his English is pretty good, but it did not include the word 'cut'." He described one take where he had to look in the mirror for 27 minutes.
Based on the novel by David Gibert, the film sees Andrew Dyer trying to explain an affair to his ex-wife (Imelda Staunton), claiming his 17-year-old lovechild and third son (Noah Jupe) is the result of a wacky human clone experiment. He also reunites with his two estranged sons (George MacKay and Johnny Flynn) over fears he is about to die.
Ageing Positives and Eccentric Home Life
In real life, Nighy sees more positives than negatives in getting older. "I made a mess of being young. I like my head not being a war zone anymore," he said. Success means he has ditched his washing machine: "I don't have a washing machine. I'm decadent. I send it out." He also has no cooker, only a small grill/oven that has never been turned on.
Nighy, who lives in Pimlico, south west London, relishes his laundry service: "My laundry comes back sheathed. It's so glamorous to me. I have a deep relationship with the laundry service and with dry cleaning. If it stands still for six seconds, I dry clean it."
Style Icon and Wardrobe Rules
Nighy's style icon is late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, whose penchant for playing drums in a three-piece suit he calls "radical." Recalling their only meeting on Bond Street, he said: "The fact that Charlie Watts knew that I was called Bill was kind of thrilling. He leant forward and he took my lapel... He felt my lapel and he said, 'you're an actor, you're supposed to be skint.' I said, 'well, things looked up'. And he said, 'I'm glad to hear it'."
His love of stylish dressing means some clothing is off-limits. "I run my wardrobe like a fascist state. I haven't been in swim attire or owned swimming trunks this century," he said. He avoids talking about Speedos: "The thought of me in Speedos is apparently unsurvivably funny."
Being style-conscious made his hirsute appearance in & Sons stressful. The director wanted him to shave his head, but he refused and grew a beard instead. After filming finished on a Friday, he was outside Geo. F. Trumper the barbers the next morning for a full shave with extract of lime tonic.
Nighy, whose credits include Shaun of the Dead, Notes on a Scandal, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, shared a fond memory of working with Imelda Staunton: "I was her boyfriend once on television and I lied to get the job. I told her I could play the guitar and I couldn't."
Despite his success, Nighy remains modest. One admirer asked, "What is it like when they hand the Oscar to you?" He replied, "I have never had one. I should have shut up."
Bill Nighy's new movie, & Sons, is released in cinemas August 21.
