How Bill Nighy learns his lines

In this web exclusive acclaimed film and stage actor Bill Nighy discusses with Rita Braver his tricks for memorizing dialogue, and his superstitions about the process.

[@julienneh8941]

So basically he treats his acting like a regular job. I love him. He is obviously very talented, plus he takes his job seriously. Not a fame driven “actor”. A real one

[@ambermariemalone]

Great comment.

[@michaelknapp8961]

This guy is a master actor!!! I saw him in an interview and he said it bugs him when he sees the younger generation not knowing their lines. You have to do your homework and memorize your lines for a play or movie.

[@baharam98]

I can't get enough of Bill Nighy; he is such a beautiful person. Much love and respect to BN and his family.

[@anandaclaire]

"Learning the lines is the easy part," Bill says here. Yes. He also learns everyone's lines. Yes. Here's a tip for any actors out there watching and reading this: For every scene you're in, record everyone's lines, except yours~and give a LONG pause on the tape for you to say the line (so you can fumble with it or play with it). While rehearsing your lines, play the tape while washing the dishes, mopping the floor, doing the laundry, tidying up... any "chore" that requires no thinking. Not only will you learn your lines, you'll learn everyone else's. You can easily say your line if/when the director changes your blocking. When on stage, you can recover a scene when someone has dropped a line, cuz you can easily improvise yours to include important information that got dropped. And believe me, you'll notice. Try it ;) You'll like it :)

[@blackryn0]

I think this is a great idea. I'm ordering a recorder right now.

[@angelkotilainen]

That's exactly what I used to do when I was in theatre! And thank goodness, because on the first night the guy I was acting with forgot his lines a couple of times and I had to think on my feet and inc his missing info in my next sentence, best thing I ever did was record the whole scenes and play them back on a cheap little recorder =) Def need to learn the other lines too, not just your own. I guess for movies it's not that important compared to theatre.

[@liboningullie5272]

Really? I had to memorize 2-3 notebooks a day on my highschool exams days. If you can't memorize 30-50 pages then something is wrong with you. Yes, you gotta memorize everyone's. Acting is harder then remembering the lines.

[@stabilobrudders]

May I also add this technique automatically will make you ‘listen more’ to the the other players on set. For me personally acting is listening.

[@gettinoveritgettinoverit1062]

😳???@anandaclaire///Can U also do this on a Sunday in front of a WIN🏆doe???

[@LibertyAtYourService]

"Unobserved, uninhibited, private study is the backbone of any fine actor. " - Peter O'Toole. I believe Mr. Nighy would agree.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

Met this guy, terrific dude.

[@rperlberg]

Bill Nighy the actor guy.

[@moondustberries8171]

rperlberg Bill Nighy The Octopus Guy

[@SirJamesthePaul]

Bill Nighy the Actor Guy-y

[@elainepayne7047]

Most men want to know why women find Bill Nighy desirable. I love his voice, loved him in “Love Actually” too. Cant get enough of him in these Brett stories. I listen over and over again.

[@oryb5408]

Would love to see the Brett ‘Charles Paris’ stories on television.

[@zarkadiusz7]

I love this guy

[@michaelknapp9411]

This guy is just simply an incredible actor. I really like him alot! He's classy, and you can tell he prepares for his roles extensively. If you haven't seen him before, check him out. His latest film is getting great reviews !!

[@paulwelch1992]

Check out the Charles Paris radio plays (15 of them available on audio CD) his acting is second to none.

[@AbhilashNoxBaruahnx1ee7]

Bill Nighy, This guy is a LEGENDARY Actor in my books

[@MarcusLeonard307]

In your books..well that means a lot lol.

[@anidiquaojala1804]

my book too!

[@retribution999]

There are a vast range of memorization techniques from antiquity, interesting that simple repetition appears to be the best. I know this works I've used it to memorize poetry for years which once memorized are never forgotten. I would add, saying the words aloud for muscle memory and visualizing the scene. You could also try arm/body movements and facial expressions in addition to saying the words. Another useful technique is to hand write the words, writing each line 3 times.

[@Oxford322]

I love Bill Nighy , his voice is like silk!

[@luckystarpiano]

Now THAT is dedication ❤ what an extraordinary routine 🙏🏻

[@thomassimmons1950]

Absolutely true; take it from an actor, who tried it every which way from Sunday. Know your lines and the sooner the better!

[@luckyyoufilms]

What a great way to learn lines. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@UPEASTHAITIANZ]

This reminds me, Back in Haiti when I was a kid I used to memorize lectures.

[@LikwidAyshun]

One of the reasons I love Bill is he put my record , Koochie Ryder , as one of his Desert Island Discs. Cheers guv.

[@roybatty2030]

In one of his films (Love Actually) his “forgetting” his lines was hilarious when he said, “Ant or Dec”

[@rayunited2010foryou]

One of my favorite actors of all time.

[@mangalapalliv]

I have begun to memorize lines from Shakespeare.... it is difficult ... but it was more difficult when I started... it is getting better but I do not think it will ever be easy for me given my lack of talent. What propels me though is my love for the bard's work.... Knowing Shakespeare is part of what constitutes for me "good, meaning and fulfilling life"

[@stephenreeds3672]

We all learn lines differently. I learn on chunks, esp as a lot of the work I do involves monologues, which are much easier. No one relies on you, you can get into the skin of the character, you can (heresy) improvise and free wheel more esp if you understand the character that you are presenting.

[@svbarr]

I knew a real old character Actor who was hired by the late great Charles Laughton to run lines in Hollywood. Laughton bought a tiny Theater not far form Paramount and this process was so similar to what Nighy talked about. The guy I knew said he was in his 20's and he'd show at 9AM and Laughton would say every line in order . Then Laughton would say every line, in order - then he would quite mechanically stress every word in the line - such as (stresses in caps) "TO be or not to be- that is the question". Then "To BE or not to be - that is the question"...next "To be OR not to be - that is the question" etc...for every line his character would say - always in order...They'd break for lunch and then work until about 5PM, Come back the next morning and plod forward. The guy was in his 70's when he told me this - he said Laughton would usually have the role memorized by the third or fourth complete go round of the entire script.

[@sofiajimenez7612]

El trabajo es importante, y la voz en un actor es muy importante

[@charlinewattiez8797]

I like this actor

[@queenk2738]

Insightful words with British humor 😂

[@markorollo.]

I'm not sure who would agree but i think my favourite role of his has to be Ray Simms in Still Crazy, that film will always be in my top 5.

[@1776Historyfan]

It is so funny to me that the sweet sounding British man, could summon from inside him a character like Davy Jones.

[@l.a.3479]

That's when you know they're great actors, IMO.

[@martabcfilms]

Brilliant!

[@EllenMurphy-c1u]

Good actor. Love his Davy Jones scary as f.

[@stevemorse108]

The girl in the cafe is a great film!

[@janetmackinnon3411]

So perceptive!

[@silverjay4455]

Good man

[@jacquesrivette2956]

He gets a lot of vampire roles. Any role live or anime vampire movies, he s in.

[@Xxxxxrrr6464]

Thanks

[@KyloRen4238]

Happy Birthday Bill Nighy. UR amazing legend. I loved Underworld Rise of the Lycans, 1, and 2 Evolution. I watch all of them. Underworld is awesome and romantic...! Underworld remind me of Resident Evil. Its complicated. Shaun of the Dead is great. Zombie movies r awesome. Pokemon Detective Pikachu is super awesome, I love Pokemon, I seen Pokemon, long time ago. Shows and movies. All of them. And Flushed Away is incredible. Seriously! UR great. May the Peace be with u Bill Nighy. From Harlingen Texas. December 12, 1949 December 12, 2023 through December 12, 3023

[@Xxxxxrrr6464]

Wow thanks

[@SuperJimbell]

Best part??Auf wiedersehen pet..brilliant actor full stop.

[@LeToile9]

Who is the interviewer?

[@savythepope6133]

The greatest villain actor ever!!

[@sovietninja6865]

Kotal Careless He doesn’t play a villain. He plays a protagonist with opposing views.

[@Sam-gc5un]

That’s what I do!

[@SunitaDe]

I'm so superstitious too! I get it Billy.

[@joshuagarbett]

I’d be a phenomenal actor But Can’t cry on cue

[@damongipson-dg8pc]

Him in Lynn Whitfield bout to be villains vampire anginst each other

[@mesohano9477]

❤

[@antoinettepontecorvo3115]

💜

[@perryrobles4750]

wasn’t he in UNDERWORLD?

[@themanwhoknewtoomuch6667]

*Not to confuse with Bill Nye the science guy...

[@seidenschnabelfederflugel5441]

I learn excactly like that. 😊

[@l.a.3479]

But you haven't learned to spell *exactly.

[@petermilne1943]

This is how Hemingway wrote.

[@indiabliss]

Rote learning

[@joshuagarbett]

The joker 🃏

[@josephlawson9950]

bill nighy the science guy

[@peekeyeseek]

Learning by wrote. Or banging it out.

[@l.a.3479]

*rote

[@chdd99]

Discipline

[@scottpalmer1023]

Her voice is not great for interviewing. Thankfully, he did most of the talking.

[@foljs5858]

What a stupid question...

[@davidmacey5422]

Bill is one of my favourite actors, (whispered) but I have seen him forget lines on set proving that nobody is perfect. In fairness to him, he took the job late on when the actor he replaced was diagnosed with cancer and he did share his crisps with me at lunch. As a person he is such gentleman and a pleasure to have met. One of the best!

[@seidenschnabelfederflugel5441]

When you learn your lines at home and then step into character the first time, its very common to forget lines sometimes. Its natural.

[@davidmacey5422]

@@seidenschnabelfederflugel5441 Dont I know it LOL!

[@SirJamesthePaul]

Was the person he replaced Alan Rickman?

[@davidmacey5422]

@@SirJamesthePaul Yes. It was on Limehouse Golem

[@SirJamesthePaul]

@@davidmacey5422 Have you seen the Galaxy Quest documentary Never Surrender? There’s a hilarious/sad anecdote about that.

[@angelkotilainen]

Do you have the full interview please? This was so interesting, in fact every interview Bill does is fascinating! =)

[@ThisisClassic316]

He is the best , not only as actor he is the better man , actor and maybe friend

[@globalspiritualrevolutionmedia]

Mr. Nighy is a Great Teacher for all actors like myself! Mr. Nighy way of learning and memorizing lines is the best way for me!

[@tauceti8341]

1:55 man I can resonate

[@user-xn2hf9re8r]

youngsters and lazy people need to watch this - I get sick of teaching lazy kids from lazy parents

[@jimjimmyjames59]

What a tedious, awful way to get lines into your head. I'm so thrilled that we have that in common!!

[@colleenminahan2478]

What he said! So true. Delaying is horrific

[@learner2075]

Agreed, homework is everything.

[@madnez93]

The Speaker 😂

[@Derriqueen]

Wow 😮 much respect 🫡

[@notsurex]

i agree the most difficult part is how to say the lines

[@johnfraraccio99]

Excellent. The possibly apocryphal story goes that when cast in The Bridge on the River Kwai the actor Sessue Hayakawa not only memorized the lines for his character but purposely read nothing else. Keep this in mind when you view the final 10-or-so minutes of his performance, for I can't help but think David Lean not only knew that but took full advantage.

[@premsaggar]

Genius and honest

[@jvallas]

That's probably the way I should have practiced the piano.

[@oryb5408]

It’s about time this man was knighted.

[@joshuagarbett]

However I can laugh 😂

[@edmmitch]

No. You write it down longhand while speaking it aloud. And every other day you repeat that with the lines of yesterday. Former Theater actor here.

[@l.a.3479]

Different strokes for different folks.

[@LysanderLH]

Bill is one of my Desert Island Actors.

[@anodyne57]

Basically the same technique for learning by heart, a speech you are to give. But then the hard part comes, which in a speech may be...how to make it interesting (via delivery, presentation).

[@peterkirby7546]

I think I remember hearing that Anthony Hopkins has a similar approach. He goes to work knowing his lines inside and out - to the point where he doesn't have to think about them.

[@bitcoinski]

I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday....

[@IBeJaMz]

Always be scary as Victor in Underworld movies

[@queenk2738]

Without the phone on Just go right into it - longer wait creates “more suffering”

[@amandastevens1117]

Can confirm from school projects that memorizing what to say is the easy part 🤪

[@CalBarnes3]

Hard Money

[@beebee4095]

Any time we meet he is just himself, Bill and what you see is what you get. Love ya 💋

[@zohrehrostami9683]

Couldn't agree more

[@ditherdather]

Love this guy

[@scoobydoo4087]

It sound so boring.

[@lucidocean7430]

Legend

[@copywrite9120]

💯💯💯

[@nuchareewanchimsukh6085]

First, My nickname Catt I want o know why? world of Victor not middle just like I think My fathos. JOHN said " ''incurable'' Finally we are good or bad I'm free job free learn Because world not balance with every people not matter we from PALACE or from FARMER[HOUSE} ThxYou.

[@lindsaycrone757]

.?

[@mosartsoares5298]

He is one of the best actors of the word

[@l.a.3479]

*world

[@laschubacabras4711]

Que abuelo tan groso!

[@l.a.3479]

Not at all

[@thelasvegaskid]

Makes since

[@l.a.3479]

*sense

[@thelasvegaskid]

@@l.a.3479right