Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • News

Bill Nighy speaks about acting, playing older roles, and the Robin Hood Tax

by Sophie Reid · March 8, 2014

Bill Nighy (Rufus Scrimgeour) has spoken to The Big Issue and ShortList Magazine in a couple of recent interviews. Bill graces the cover of The Big Issue this week, and in an interview with the magazine, he spoke about the way he approaches acting. He said,

You don’t have to be creative to be an actor […] No! Not at all. I’ve never ever become someone else.”

He further said,

I don’t see any link between actors whatsoever. You’ll find the same range of people in biochemists and tap dancers. Nah. If you want erratic behaviour, look somewhere else. The stakes are too high.”

In the same interview, Bill also spoke about the Robin Hood Tax, which is a “Europe-wide banking transition tax” that the British Government wants to oppose. Bill has appeared in a number of videos in support of the tax, and he said,

“The phrase ‘the money never gets through’ has entered the language. And ‘There’s a lot of corruption’. These are catchphrases.

“I’ve been there when the water pumps arrive. I’ve been there when the grain barn is built, and they don’t have to walk 10 kilometres for a bag of maize at the risk of their child not making it back through the return journey.

“I also get, ‘You’re just another celebrity looking for publicity’. I need publicity like I need a gun in my mouth quite frankly.”

Bill has reprised his role as the banker in the videos for the campaign. Bill stars alongside fellow Potter actress Clemence Poesy (Fleur Delacour). The video, which is set ten years in the future, considers the impact of the tax being imposed. You can watch the full video here. To find out what else Bill had to say, check out the full interview with Bill in this week’s edition of The Big Issue.

In his interview with ShortList Magazine, Bill spoke about playing more mature roles, citing his role in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,

“‘A bunch of old people go to India’ shouldn’t really be box office dynamite, but in fact it took quite a lot of money. As a result, you were allowed, for a while, to explore the stories of people who were not 35.”

Bill also spoke about his role in Pirates of the Caribbean and being involved in huge franchises such as Harry Potter:

“It’s great, it’s a revelation. Pirates was a great part, great script, and those movies are beloved from kids to grown-ups. I don’t mind what genre, as long as it’s not going to be a nuisance in the world and there’s some dignity in it for everyone. If you call being a quid dignified. Which I do.”

Check out what else he said here.

What do you think of Bill’s view on acting? Let us know!

Social:

  • Next story Sir Kenneth Branagh’s “Macbeth” gains wins at Manchester Theatre Awards
  • Previous story Win a signed “Gravity” poster and goody bag

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

July 2025

Sun, Jul 20

Jeff Rawle's birthday
Recurs yearly

Amos Diggory

Stephenie McMillan's birthday (Set decorator - RIP)
Recurs yearly

Set decorator – RIP

Mon, Jul 21

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book
Recurs yearly

2007

Tue, Jul 22

Rhys Ifans's birthday
Recurs yearly

Xenophilius Lovegood

Wed, Jul 23

Daniel Radcliffe's birthday
Recurs yearly

Harry Potter

Nicholas Hooper's birthday (Composer)
Recurs yearly

Composer

Thu, Jul 24

Letters from Hogwarts begin to arrive at number four, Privet Drive
Recurs yearly

1991

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Minerva McGonagall’s mother kept her own magical heritage a secret from her Muggle husband for years, which made her life very sad and difficult.

Potter History

July 7, 2011 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 premiered in Trafalgar Square in London.

Potter Quote

“You’ve gone middle head!”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.