In the animated family comedyArthur Christmas, actorBill Nighyvoices the rather naughty Grandsanta.
What did you think when you found out that they wanted you to voice Grandsanta?
BILL NIGHY: Well, it gave me pause.
Hes a great character, and I was very happy.
How fun is that?
NIGHY: I love it!
I played a stoned-out rabbit, who sang You Really Got Me by The Kinks, inThe Magic Roundabout.
I like it when things get a little daft.
Obviously, you get to play parts that you would never get to play anywhere else.
Image via Aardman Animations/Sony Animation
How did you go about finding your inner-Grandsanta?
Was there something you did, in figuring out how to play this character?
I walked up and down my apartment floor, doing funny voices for a few days.
Image via Aardman Animations/Sony Pictures Animation.
Similarly for the director, Sarah Smith, she knew what she didnt want.
I wanted it to be unique to this movie.
In terms of anything Id done, its dissimilar and I hope Ive avoided cliche.
Was it fun to play a character who turned out to be so naughty?
Its a very rich arc.
He gets busted, half-way through, as a self-seeking status freak, but he recovers well.
And, he has a good finish, albeit that hes out of his mind.
Its amusing for the kids.
Kids like him because hes that naughty grandpa.
NIGHY: I have never owned a computer.
I am one of those weirdos.
Ive never needed a computer.
Im lucky that I have a job where Im not required to use one.
Ive never owned a laptop, or anything.
So, I gave it away.
I had it for six days, and I just waited for the red light to go out.
I really dont want a computer.
But, now I have an iPhone, so I think the game is up.
So, Ive joined the human race.
But, I dont want a computer.
I never go on the net or the web, or whatever its called.
I just simply make phone calls.
NIGHY: InJack the Giant Killer, I am the giant.
Im 22 feet tall and I eat people.
It was very good fun.
There are a bunch of very, very good English actors in it.
Ewan McGregor is in it, Nicholas Hoult is playing Jack, and Stanley Tucci plays the troublesome Roderick.
Hes a brilliant man.
It was a very nice experience, although it was quite difficult to keep a straight face.
Its not a good look.
But, after the first couple of days, they run out of jokes.
You just have to not look at the other giants because otherwise youd laugh.
But, it was a very cool experience.
InClash of the Titans 2, I play Hephaestus, who is armorer to the Gods.
I make all the weapons, I live in a cave, and I fell from Mt.
Olympus because he was lame, and he fell for seven days, which didnt improve his limp.
Its a very nice character and we had a very good time.
It was quite an experience.
I think its in very, very good hands.
Ive worked with Len Wiseman before, on theUnderworldseries, in which I was a vampire.
The first two of those were his first two films.
And, I admire him beyond measure.
I think hes tremendous, as a man and as a director.
Its a cliche, but he can really tell a story.
WithDie Hard 4, he did a brilliant job.
The script is fabulous.
I like those kinds of backgrounds.
And, its a cracking script.
I look forward to seeing that, even though Im in it.
If you hate watching movies that youre in, what are your thoughts on 3D?
How is it to also see yourself in 3D now?
NIGHY: Thats very, very spooky.
I do think 3D has seriously improved, since I was a boy.
How often do people want to talk to you aboutShaun of the DeadorLove, Actually?
Those are both very different films, but very much beloved by their fans.
NIGHY: Yeah, Im a lucky guy.
Well, all the time.
Im quite big with the under 9’s, in various projects.
And then, youve got everybody covered withPirates of the Carribean.
And, usually any male between 17 and 29 is aShaun of the Deadfan, or aHot Fuzzfan.
Apparently, theyre not allowed to like it.
Were you ever a bit nervous that you werent going to get the call to do it?
No, Id given up.
I was trying to invent it as a distinction.
Well, I had to do something cause they never called.
And, I had even tried out for it.
Originally, I tried out for it a long time back and didnt get the part.
But, actually, I was very relieved.
I got in, just under the wire.
How much fun was it to make that, and is that a character youd like to play again?
I love working with David Hare.
Ive worked with David Hare, all my life, since we were young.
He is a great man.
He is a great writer.
Ive worked with him in the theater, a great deal.
It was my ideal situation.
Rachel Weisz came, along with Ralph Fiennes, Sir Michael Gambon and Judy Davis.
Its a marvelous cast.
And, we are going to make more.
David laughingly refers to them asPage NineandPage Ten.
And then, at some point, they will be shown, back-to-back, in 2013.
So, the answer to your question is that I love playing that character.
I love delivering David Hares dialogue.
I love the way that he writes.
I think he is one of the greatest writers, currently working in the world.
You may have gathered by now that Im rather keen on him.
Its like Bob Dylan.
I dont want him to die because theres going to be a Bob Dylan-shaped hole in the world.
I hope he lives forever.
And, I feel exactly the same with David Hare.
Hes one of those people.
You cant say that about too many people.
Were mostly dispensable or repeatable.
But, with David Hare, thats not the case.
He is a great man, and its wonderful that hes back making movies.
Do you know what youre going to be working on in 2012?
NIGHY: I dont actually, no.
We spent two months in India, making that.
I had to learn to ride a motorcycle and I had to put Judy Dench side-saddle on the back.
If you hurt Judy Dench, you cant go home anymore.
It would be worse than hurting the Queen.
You could hurt the Queen and maybe go home.
If you killed the Queen, okay, youd have to stay overseas.
But, if you killed Judy Dench, its the end of your life.
The guy who hurt Dame Judy Dench.
I woke up screaming, every morning, Dont hurt Dame Judy!
But, I didnt.
Shes still in one piece.
And, she was great.
She pretended not to be scared.
You have to factor in the side-saddle element.
Thats what makes it even freakier.
The balance is a different thing.
On very small motorcycles, you’re able to get a family of six.
There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds ofmotorcycles.
The rush hour in Jaipur is insane!
They drive on the horn, all the time.
Its unreal, but its very exciting.
The ladies cant sit regularly or stride it because theyre wearing a Sari.
They dont even hold on.
Thats the next thing thats coming out.
