News Scrap

Bill Nighy had to “flee” a group of women who wanted him to strip in the street.

Bill Nighy got chased by a group of women

Bill Nighy got chased by a group of women

The 74-year-old actor is always happy to chat with fans when out and about but admitted his role as rock star Billy Mack in ‘Love Actually’ has given some the wrong idea about him.

He told Britain’s Vogue magazine: “Because I’m this old bloke who took his clothes off in ‘Love Actually’, I’m [seen as] safe, but a bit leery or something.

“I was once chased down the street in New Zealand by girls dressed in bin liners and tiaras screaming, ‘Get your kit off!’ I had to run.”

The ‘Joy’ actor admitted he has no idea how to use the oven in his London home.

Asked if he ever eats at home, he said: “No, I never do. I don’t know how to use the hob.”

And Bill – who is known for his sense of style – doesn’t own a washing machine either.

He said: “I’m a dry-cleaning maniac.

“If something hangs still for more than six minutes, it gets dry-cleaned.

“I told my dry-cleaner, ‘I must be your best customer.’ He replied, ‘Yes, apart from hotels’.”

The ‘Shaun of the Dead’ actor has enjoyed getting older because it’s made it easier for him to lead a quiet life.

He said: “The best thing about getting older is that you can decline and people don’t question it.

“You can go home, get a book and it is delicious.”

However, he always makes time to visit the “festival of cheerful filth”, Julian Clary’s London Palladium pantomime, with friends including playwright David Hare, designer Nicole Farhi, theatre director Jonathan Kent and artist Liza Campbell.

He said: “We’ve formed a loose association called the Panto Club. I’m taking Judi Dench in January.”