Princesse Lamballe

Background:

Daughter of critically-acclaimed English actor Bill Nighy and his actress wife Diana Quick, Mary Nighy started out at the National Youth Theatre before entering television and films. She is probably best remembered as Hidalla in John Irvin's mystery drama film "The Fine Art of Love: Mine Ha-Ha" (2005) and as Princesse Lamballe, the royal confidante to Marie Antoinette, in Sofia Coppola's Academy Award-winning biopic starring Kirsten Dunst, "Marie Antoinette" (2006).

Nighy also tries her hand in directing. She is an assistant director at the Soho Theatre, London, and is the director of Foster Films, She recently directed "Lyre" (2007) at High Tide Festival, Suffolk.

The Nighy Clan

Childhood and Family:

The daughter of Golden Globe- and BAFTA-award winning English actor Bill Nighy (born on December 12, 1949) and English actress Diana Quick (born on November 23, 1946), Mary Bing Jamie Alfreda Leonora Quick Kit Nighy was born on 17 July 1984, in London, England, UK. She attended the City of London School for Girls and graduated with First-Class Honours in English from University College London in 2006. She is a former member of the National Youth Theatre.

The Fine Art of Love: Mine Ha-Ha

Career:

Born to a family of actors, Mary Nighy followed in her parents' footsteps and joined the National Youth Theatre, with whom she appeared in "The Arbitrary Adventures of an Accidental Anarchist."

At age 17, she appeared in Charles Shyer-directed historical drama film starring Hilary Swank, “The Affair of the Necklace “(2001). Two years later, she appeared alongside her father Bill Nighy in the made-for-television movie "The Lost Prince" (2003), a heartbreaking true story-based drama about the British royal prince (portrayed by Daniel Williams and Matthew James Thomas) locked away because of having epilepsy.

She then landed guest spots in an episode of ITV crime/fiction series starring Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, "Rosemary & Thyme," and BBC One BAFTA award-winning spy drama series "Spooks." She also appeared in the British children's television programme "The Mysti Show" (2004) and in the MTV original sitcom, "Top Buzzer" (2004).

In 2005, Nighy co-starred with Jacqueline Bisset and Hannah Taylor-Gordon in director John Irvin's mystery drama film based on "Mine-Haha or Physical Education of Young Girls" by the German playwright Frank Wedekind, "The Fine Art of Love: Mine Ha-Ha," which made its premiere at that year's Venice Film Festival.

Afterwards, she supported Kirsten Dunst in writer/director Sofia Coppola's Academy Award-winning biography film about the Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria, "Marie Antoinette" (2006), in which she portrayed Princesse Lamballe, the royal confidante to Marie Antoinette.

Nighy was most recently seen in the TV movie version of Agatha Christie's novel, "Marple: At Bertram's Hotel" (2007), starring Geraldine McEwan and Isabella Parriss. She also played Phillida in a reading of John Lyly's "Gallathea" at King's Head Theatre, London, in May 2007.

Besides acting, Nighy also tries her hand in directing. She is an assistant director at the Soho Theatre, London, and is the director of Foster Films, in which she helmed the short "Lulu." Recently, in April 2007, she directed "Lyre" at High Tide Festival, Suffolk.

Awards:
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