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The '''Count's of Falkenstein''', were German nobility named after the [[Burg Falkenstein (Donnersberg)|'''Burg Falkenstein''']] at [[Donnersbergkreis|Donnersberg]] in what is now the [[Rhineland-Palatinate]].
'''Bill Nighy''' (born [[December 12]], [[1949]] in [[Caterham]], [[Surrey]]) is an [[England|English]] [[actor]]. He started in [[television]] and [[theatre]] before appearing in [[film|cinema]] roles in [[1981]]. He is together with but not married to the [[actor|actress]] [[Diana Quick]]. They have one daughter, Mary.
In 1255 the family inherited by marriage land from the Count's of '''Hagen-Münzenberg'''. In this manner they came to be established in the [[Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region]]. At '''[[Königstein im Taunus]]''' they built their new Castle '''[[Burg Falkenstein (Taunus)|Burg (Neu-)Falkenstein]]'''.
Nighy has starred in many [[radio]] and television dramas, notably the [[BBC]] serial, ''The Men's Room'' ([[1991]]), and more recently the thriller ''[[State of Play]]'' ([[2003]]) and costume drama ''[[Anthony Trollope#Trollope on television|He Knew He Was Right]]'' ([[2004]]). He played [[Sam Gamgee|Sam]] in the [[1981]] BBC Radio dramatisation of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', and also appeared in the [[1980s]] BBC radio versions of ''[[Yes, Minister]]'' episodes.
The Falkenstein's als inherited the town of [[Offenbach am Main]] from the Count of Münzenberg. They leased the town to the neighbouring town of [[Frankfurt am Main]] for 1,000 [[Gulden]].
In February [[2004]] he was awarded the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] (BAFTA) Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ''[[Love Actually]]'', and followed this up at the [[British Academy Television Awards]] in April with the Best Actor award for ''[[State of Play]]''.
Count [[Werner von Falkenstein|Werner III. von Falkenstein]] († 1418) was [[Archbishop of Trier]] from 1388 until his death in 1418. He is remembered for his provokation against the people of Frankfurt by developing rivalry with that town and Offenbach.
In early [[2004]] the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[tabloid press]] reported Nighy's partner as saying that he had been offered the coveted role of [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|the Doctor]] in the [[2005]] revival of the [[BBC]] [[television series]] ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Quick is alleged to have told [[reporters]] that he had considered but ultimately rejected the offer. The editor of ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'', Clayton Hickman, had earlier mentioned to the press that Nighy was the first choice of [[executive producer]] and [[writer]] [[Russell T. Davies]]. The role was accepted by [[Christopher Eccleston]] some weeks later and Davies subsequently claimed that Eccleston had always been the first choice for the role.
The Falkenstein male line died out with the death of Werner III. in 1418. Their landed estates were inherited by '''[[Herren von Eppstein]]''' family as well as the Counts von Solms.
In [[2005]], he appeared as [[Minor characters from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy#Slartibartfast|Slartibartfast]] in the film adaptation of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', by [[Douglas Adams]] and also in the one-off BBC One comedy-drama ''[[The Girl in the Café]]''.
==Selected Filmography==
*''[[Stormbreaker]]'' ([[2006 in film|2006]])
*''[[Flushed Away]]'' ([[2006 in film|2006]]) ([[voice actor|voice]])
*''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' ([[2006 in film|2006]])
*''[[Underworld: Evolution]]'' ([[2006 in film|2006]])
*''[[The Constant Gardener]]'' ([[2005 in film|2005]])
*''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' ([[2005 in film|2005]])
*''[[The Magic Roundabout (film)|The Magic Roundabout]]'' ([[2005 in film|2005]]) ([[voice actor|voice]])
*''[[The Girl in the Café]]'' (TV)
*''[[Enduring Love]]'' ([[2004 in film|2004]])
*''[[Anthony Trollope#Trollope on television|He Knew He Was Right]]'' ([[2004 in television|2004]]) ([[miniseries]])
*''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' ([[2004 in film|2004]])
*''[[Underworld (2003 film)|Underworld]]'' ([[2003 in film|2003]])
*''[[Love Actually]]'' ([[2003 in film|2003]])
*''[[State of Play]]'' ([[2003 in television|2003]]) ([[TV series]])
*''[[The Lost Prince]]'' ([[2003 in television|2003]]) ([[television movie|TV]])
*''[[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries|The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Well Schooled in Murder]]'' ([[2002 in television|2002]]) ([[television movie|TV]])
*''[[Kiss Me Kate]]'' ([[1998 in television|1998]]) ([[TV series]]) ([[1999 in television|1999]]–[[2000 in television|2000]])
*''[[Guest House Paradiso]]'' ([[1999 in film|1999]])
*''[[Still Crazy]]'' ([[1998 in film|1998]])
*''[[Being Human]]'' ([[1993 in film|1993]])
*''[[The Phantom of the Opera|The Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture]]'' ([[1989 in film|1989]])
*''[[The Little Drummer Girl]]'' ([[1984 in film|1984]])
*''[[Curse of the Pink Panther]]'' ([[1983 in film|1983]])
*''[[Eye of the Needle]]'' ([[1981 in film|1981]])
Other films include ''Mack the Knife'', ''True Blue'', ''Indian Summer'', ''FairyTale: A True Story'', ''Blow Dr'', ''The Lawless Heart'', ''AKA'', ''Lucky Break'', ''I Capture the Castle''.
[[Category:German_Nobility]]
==External links==
[[Category:Taunus]]
*{{imdb name|id=0631490|name=Bill Nighy}}
*[http://www.billnighy.net/ The Bill Nighy Experience] (fan site)
*[http://www.billnighy.info/ Bill Nighy - Still Crazy] (fan site)
*[http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/bill-nighy.htm Bill Nighy interview]
[[Category:1949 births|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:English actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:British actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:Film actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:British stage actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:Television actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:Voice actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:Natives of Surrey|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings Radio 4 adaptation actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[Category:Yes, Minister actors|Nighy, Bill]]
[[de:Bill Nighy]]
[[ja:ビル・ナイ]]
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