Nighy stole Shakespeare book for drama audition

Bill Nighy, the acclaimed actor known for his Oscar-nominated role in “Living,” has revealed a cheeky backstory about his journey to drama school: he once “stole” a complete collection of William Shakespeare’s works from a library to prepare for his audition. Nighy, now 74, candidly shared this anecdote during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s “This Cultural Life.”

The story begins with a youthful infatuation; Nighy had applied to the Guildford School of Acting to impress a girl. To secure his spot, he needed to prepare two audition pieces—one from a modern playwright and the other from Shakespeare. Rather than borrowing the texts like most aspiring actors, Nighy and an older friend succumbed to a moment of mischief. “We stole the complete works of Shakespeare and the complete works of George Bernard Shaw, which we thought was sort of modern,” he recounted, reflecting on their questionable decision. “We could have borrowed it like everybody else, but for some reason, we were sort of developing a criminal mentality.”

While preparing for the audition, Nighy found himself inadvertently memorizing female roles during his pub outings with his friend. He ultimately chose to perform Eliza Doolittle from Shaw’s classic play “Pygmalion,” alongside the character Cesario from Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Unbeknownst to him, Cesario is actually a disguise for the female character Viola, which made his choice of material particularly unconventional. Nighy noted that the audition panel seemed “a bit confused” by his interpretation but nonetheless invited him back for a second audition with “more suitable material.”

Nighy’s charm and determination paid off; he was accepted into the drama school. He recalled that the girl he was attempting to impress had initially written a letter to the school on his behalf to secure the audition. “She could have said astronaut and I would have given it a shot,” he admitted, showcasing the lengths to which he would go for love.

Throughout his illustrious career, Nighy has indeed tackled Shakespeare on stage, performing in two major productions. His first was “The Taming of the Shrew” at the Gateway Theatre in Chester, followed by a performance as King Lear alongside the legendary Sir Anthony Hopkins at the National Theatre in London. However, Nighy eventually decided to step away from Shakespearean roles. “I retired from Shakespeare sometime after that,” he explained. “Nobody took a blind bit of notice, but I just thought, ‘I can’t go through this any more because I don’t have any particular interest in the delivery of Shakespeare.'”

Despite acknowledging Shakespeare as “the greatest poet the world has ever known,” Nighy expressed his preference to leave the performance of such works to others who possess a deeper passion for it. His career has spanned decades, showcasing his versatility and depth as an actor in a range of roles beyond the Bard’s canon.

Bill Nighy’s story serves as a humorous reminder of the unconventional paths that can lead to success in the arts. His cheeky admission about “stealing” books, driven by youthful ambition and a desire to impress, reflects the kind of risks many artists take in pursuit of their dreams. As he continues to shine in his acting career, it’s clear that Nighy’s journey has been anything but ordinary, marked by both mischief and remarkable talent.