My first introduction to Bill Nighy came via the vaguely lecherous “washed-up pop star” he so expertly plays in the backbone of the British Christmas canon, Love Actually . I was probably (definitely) too young to understand any of the jokes, but since that first fateful viewing, I’ve watched it enough times to recite the script start to finish—a limited-use party trick that’s not particularly enjoyable for whoever’s watching it with me. And, though my repertoire of comfort films has grown, Nighy has remained a constant: whether I’m hysterically crying through About Time or rewatching Emma and Chalet Girl for the millionth time, his unique breed of British stoicism and understated style is always there.

Beyond his extensive acting credits, Nighy has become quietly famous for his

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