Bill Nighy Refuses to Watch Himself in ‘& Sons’ Ahead of Toronto Premiere
Bill Nighy is stepping into one of the most emotional roles of his career — but don’t expect him to ever watch it.
The 74-year-old English actor stars as A.N. Dyer, a once-great novelist facing illness, regret, and a crumbling family, in Pablo Trapero’s new drama & Sons. The film, co-written by Sarah Polley and based on David Gilbert’s novel, premieres Sept. 7 at the Toronto International Film Festival. But Nighy told The Hollywood Reporter he has no plans to see it — or any of his films.
“I never watch the films. I go to great lengths to never be exposed to any of it,” he revealed. “I am committed to never laying eyes on myself performing.”
That’s been true for decades. Nighy says even during post-production, when actors typically re-record lines while watching their scenes, he insists on doing it “audio only” — never to picture. The reason? He can’t bear watching himself act.
Playing Dyer, a broken man desperate to reconnect with his estranged sons (played by Johnny Flynn and George MacKay) and ex-wife (Imelda Staunton), was already intense. The character reveals a shocking family secret involving his youngest son, Andy Jr. (Noah Jupe), setting off a storm of anger and confusion.
At its heart, Nighy says, the story is about grief, lost love, and regret. “What he really wants is his wife back,” he explained of Dyer’s painful attempts to mend his family before it’s too late.
Though he refuses to watch, Nighy poured himself into the role, saying he drew on his observations of real-life British writers — many of whom lived reclusive lives and later admitted they’d sacrificed family for their work.
The result is a raw, emotional performance critics will see for the first time in Toronto, even if the star himself never will. For Nighy, the judgment belongs to the audience.
