Bill Nighy admits the Love Actually cast were surprised by the cult success of their festive movie as he jokes ‘I’m more famous at Christmas’ for playing hapless rocker Billy Mack

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Bill Nighy has had a long and successful acting career, but he says he’ll likely always be remembered for playing the clumsy rock star in the popular holiday film, Love Actually.

The well-known actor became famous for his role as aging singer Billy Mack in a film by Richard Curtis. The movie follows nine different love stories and is set during a busy Christmas season in London.

Released in 2003, the heartwarming movie starred Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, and Emma Thompson. It was a huge financial success, earning an impressive £186 million globally on a budget of just £30 million.

Bill Nighy, 75, says everyone involved with the film Love Actually was surprised by how quickly it became popular and how much of a lasting impression it made on culture.

He said he’s still delighted that something so positive and uplifting has become a common phrase, as he shared on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware.

We had no idea while filming that it would become a Christmas movie, but given that, it’s not surprising people watch it during the holidays.

The film has really become part of people’s lives – it’s rare for a movie to have that kind of impact. I’ve had so many people share personal stories with me, like how it helped them get through cancer treatment or even that they got married to its music.

There are many different events, like costume nights where people dress as the characters. I really enjoyed being a part of it and never got tired of it.

‘And it’s fabulous that it carries on. I mean, I am more famous at Christmas. There’s no question!’ 

Oh my god, Billy Mack is just… everything! Seeing him fight his way back from being totally forgotten to actually getting to number one at Christmas with ‘Love Is All Around’ – the Troggs song, can you believe it?! – it was amazing. But the best part? He actually learned something about himself in the process. It was like, all that success finally humbled him. I was honestly so proud, it was the most beautiful thing ever!

However, the actor confessed that a significant line from the movie, delivered as his character—an older rock star—ended up sticking with him after the film came out.

You know, it’s funny looking back. When Love Actually first came out, I had the most adorable neighborhood kids running after me, yelling at the top of their lungs! They’d shout, ‘Hey, don’t bother with drugs! Become a rock star – they give you stuff for free!’ It was such a sweet, unexpected reaction to the film, and it always makes me smile when I remember it. It just goes to show you never know how something will resonate with people!

I remember once crossing the border from Canada into the US around four in the morning. The hall was empty except for me, and there were three officers behind the glass booths. One of them had a large, dark mustache.

Oh my god, I’ll never forget it. I was just hoping, please don’t let him point at me. And then he did! He actually looked right at me and said, ‘Hey, listen up! Don’t waste your money on drugs, kids. Become a rock star! They just give them to you, right? Isn’t that the truth?’ It was…it was everything.

‘I was like drugs, no, no, no, no, I don’t know drugs!’

The famous opening line goes: ‘Hey kids, this is Uncle Bill with a serious message: stay away from drugs. If you become a rock star, people will give them to you!’

In a 2022 interview on the show This Morning, Bill Nighy shared that playing the character of Mack had a profound and lasting impact on his life.

He joked that if he were to pass away, that famous line would definitely be included in his obituary. He recalled how children in his district used to playfully chase him, yelling the phrase.

This experience was a major turning point in my career, and I still enjoy discussing it today. It fundamentally altered how I approach my work.

Throughout history, people have turned to this for comfort and support during difficult periods. It’s become a global tradition, enjoyed by audiences everywhere, especially during the Christmas season.

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2025-11-26 14:34