Bill Nighy, the 76-year-old actor celebrated for romantic comedies like Love Actually and About Time, has expressed a desire to pivot into action films, calling it a 'belated action career'. He stars in the new Amazon Prime series Ride or Die alongside Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer, playing a character named The Director who leads a mysterious assassination agency.
Embracing Action in Ride or Die
In Ride or Die, Nighy portrays a hitman, a role that allowed him to use firearms on screen. 'I played a hitman. It was the only other time I’ve ever used a gun, I think, until I got to this one, where I do actually shoot a pistol at one point. I’m always pleased for that, and I’m looking to do more of that. I want a very belated action career,' he told Metro.
He described the series as 'a kind of introduction to that world, to the world of romantic action comedy, you might say. So, I’m in the right world. I’m in the genre world. I like being in the genre world. I like it as a thing; I just find it kind of benign. Those kinds of films are beloved, and I like to be a part of it.'
From Rom-Coms to Pirates
Beyond his rom-com fame, Nighy is also known for his role as Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Reflecting on his diverse roles, he said, 'If the writing is good, I’m always interested, whatever the part is. I’ve taken relatively small parts in things that I just wanted to be in, because I thought they were great projects and good things in the world.'
He acknowledged the challenges of smaller roles: 'But it can be hard when you play smaller roles, where you come in halfway through the shoot and you only have three scenes to make your mark on the film. You’re not going to get more opportunities, so you feel like you’ve got to get it right first time.'
Gratitude and Balance
Nighy expressed gratitude for his career: 'I’ve been unspeakably lucky. I've been incredibly fortunate to have worked with great people and then work with them again on numerous occasions.' Despite his frequent appearances, he insists he takes ample breaks: 'It looks like I’m never off a film set, but I do get a lot of time off. I easily say ‘no’ more than I say ‘yes’, and in fact spend quite a lot of time loafing about.'
