Quotes from Bill Nighy

It's probably healthier to find fame later in life.

In life, if you have an enthusiasm for what they call 'good manners,' sometimes people don't quite believe you. I've had that once or twice before, where they assume you can't be for real.

The great thing about animation is it's like the radio. I used to do lots of radio when I was a kid, and you get to play parts you would never get to play ordinarily.

I wanted to be a journalist, I thought it was glamorous and that I'd meet beautiful women in the rain.

I have nothing against romanticism. I'm all for it. I'm helpless in the face of romance.

I know really, really famous people who are terrified every time they walk on to a stage.

I don't spend a lot of time with anybody.

I'm not good at watching myself which I think is perfectly natural. I don't give myself a hard time about it. I am the worst critic.

I've always slightly worried the kids who play football around my house. They know I'm an actor, but felt sorry for me because they'd never seen anything I've done.

One of my great regrets, and I don't have many, is that I spent too long putting people's status and reputation ahead of their more important qualities. I learned far too late in life that a long list of letters after someone's name is no guarantee of compassion, kindness, humour, all the far more relevant stuff.

When I do a play, it's like agreeing to be ill for a couple of months.

My dad had a personal style which was very attractive. It was quite reserved and quite elegant, and it was infectious.

It can't be overstated how wonderful it is not to have to audition any more. Any actor will tell you, it's like Christmas.

Actors always talk about taking their work home and I always think: 'What are you on? You just turn it off. You are at work and then you go home.'

When you have a family, or even when you're just seeing a girl, it's difficult to be skint.

I'm not famous for my back story investigations I'm lucky that I work with good writers and it's usually in the script.

I don't seem to be able to learn from experience or anything useful. History doesn't help me. Precedents don't inform my experience.

I don't even own a car.

I'm not a royal family watcher.

I know really, really famous people who are terrified every time they walk on to a stage.

Anyone who can do the splits and come back up on the backbeat, as James Brown and Prince can, has my eternal respect. Prince, who is a genius of the highest order, can come back up while singing and playing the guitar.

I like being in kids' movies, and I like being in family movies.

I love playing half squid/half crab guy because you can get away with a level of acting that if you tried it anywhere else they'd arrest you for crimes against acting.

My dad had a personal style which was very attractive. It was quite reserved and quite elegant, and it was infectious.