Interview With G-Force’s Bill Nighy

December 13, 2009 | by Disney Dreaming

In anticipation for the December 15th release of Disney’s “G-Force” movie on Blu-ray and DVD we have received this interview with G-Force actor Bill Nighy that we would like to share with you.

You might also recognize Bill Nighy from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, where Bill played Davy Jones!

What can you tell us about the story of G-Force?
BILL NIGHY: G-Force is a wonderful family movie about some guinea pigs, a mole and a fly. A huge global disaster is looming and nothing stands between the world and total destruction except for these animals.

Can you tell us about the global disaster waiting to happen?
BILL NIGHY: Well, all of the electrical domestic appliances in houses around the world – everything from your coffee machine and vacuum cleaner to your washing machine and hairdryer – are on a course for destruction. In the movie, all these domestic appliances will try to kill you on a certain day, at a signal given by my character, Leonard Saber.

How would you describe Leonard Saber?
BILL NIGHY: He is a ruthless industrialist bent on world domination. He’s a damaged tycoon. Leonard is a very successful, but damaged man – and he was a lot of fun to play.

So why did you sign up for the movie?
BILL NIGHY: What drew me to the project? Everything. The fact that it’s a Jerry Bruckheimer film made me feel very safe because he has such an amazing track record. I’ve worked with him before and I always enjoy the experience. The script for G-Force was also very satisfying. It is funny and exciting at the same time – and everybody who signed up for the movie was very cool. We have actors including Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz and Sam Rockwell, who I like very much. There wasn’t anything about the movie that I didn’t like.

How tough was the film shoot?
BILL NIGHY: Working on G-Force was one of the nicest jobs I’ve ever had. I got to hang out with extremely funny guys like Will Arnett and Zach Galifianakis, which was really good fun. Put those two together and they just riff all day.

What did you think when you saw the movie for the first time?
BILL NIGHY: I was blown away. I loved it. It’s funny, silly, stupid, smart, exciting and gripping. Plus, there are these guinea pigs with some incredible gadgets and vehicles.

Are you a fan of gadgets?
BILL NIGHY: No, not really. I’m a weirdo because I don’t even own a car. However, I like the vehicles that the G-Force guinea pigs travel around in. I think they’re beautifully designed and they look amazing.

Aren’t you a fan of any technical gadgets in real life?
BILL NIGHY: I never got into like electronic things. I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t even own a computer. I don’t have anything electrical, except for an electric kettle and a toaster. Oh, and my mobile phone.

Are you a fan of guinea pigs?
BILL NIGHY: When my daughter was little, she had guinea pigs, so I know what they’re like to have as pets. They’re fun, but the one big drawback about guinea pigs is that they can get out of anywhere. They are escapologists of the highest order and they can get into the floorboards and everything. They’re also very nice pets as long as you can keep them away from the cat. That was always a problem.

Do you have any pets at home now?
BILL NIGHY: No, I don’t have pets at the moment. I did have two dogs called Smokey and Nellie, as well as a cat called Ziggy, but they all passed away. I love dogs and I would love to have another, but I’m just too busy. I don’t think it’s fair to get one right now, although I think they’re great companions.

Is it true you suffer from stage fright?
BILL NIGHY: It is true. I deal with it all of the time – and it gets worse and worse. It’s like an illness. You get a shortness of breath, you get a slight lightheadedness and you feel nauseous. When I do a play, it’s like agreeing to be ill for a couple of months.

How do you get over stage fright?
BILL NIGHY: I acknowledge the fact that it’s absolutely normal and appropriate to be scared. Everyone is scared. I know really, really famous people who are terrified every time they walk onto a stage – but it’s alright because you can operate whilst being frightened. When you’re nervous, it doesn’t stop you from doing what you’ve got to do. Otherwise, no one would be able to do it.

Do you prefer working in the theater to movies?
BILL NIGHY: I guess I like a balance between the two because they’re both very different. When they’re good, they’re both marvelous, although theater is very hard and very scary because you have to do it all in one go in front of a live audience. Anything can happen.

What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
BILL NIGHY: I always say, “Get involved wherever you can.” If you’re young, try out for school plays or act out things at home. That’s what I used to do when I was younger. If you’re at school right now, volunteer for all the plays. If they give you a small part, play the small part. Don’t worry about what size the part is. If your enthusiasm survives your teenage years and exams, I would then look into going to drama school because there really isn’t any other route, unless something extraordinary happens – like a producer sees you in the street and says, “You! I want you for my film.” I think it’s important to go to drama school, but it’s a very tough process because you have to audition and there are thousands and thousands of people going for it.

How tough are auditions?
BILL NIGHY: Auditions can be very taxing, but you just have to get on with them. Learn your part well, speak loud and don’t move about too much. That’s my advice. Don’t turn your back. Don’t mumble. And if you can, choose something funny.

You’re famous for playing Davy Jones in Pirates Of The Caribbean… How often do you get recognized from that movie?
BILL NIGHY: The Pirates movies were so beloved by all ages and I was very happy to be part of them, but I look a lot different to Davy Jones. That means I don’t get recognized as him too often. However, a lot of people put two and two together and ask me about it. I visited a friend the other day and her grandchildren were in the bedroom. We were in the kitchen and she said, “My grandchildren would love to meet you. They’re huge fans of Pirates.” So she went off to get these two little boys from their bedroom and as she went, she said, “Hey boys, Davy Jones is in the kitchen.” They locked the door, which seemed to be a very sensible thing to do. They wouldn’t come out.

They were that scared?
BILL NIGHY: They were. I met them subsequently in the street, where they couldn’t get away – but obviously I wasn’t the squid, Davy Jones. I was just the guy who played the squid, so they were perfectly fine, although they were still slightly edgy. Afterwards, I heard that they said to their mother: “He looks like the president and he talks like Austin Powers.” It was very funny.

Have we really seen the end of Davy Jones?
BILL NIGHY: I don’t know. I heard a rumor that there is going to be a Pirates 4 and that Johnny Depp is confirmed, but I don’t know if that’s a certainty. No one else has been confirmed and I have no idea if I’ll be in it or not. If Davy Jones is in the new movie, I’d be very happy.