Skylight's Carey Mulligan & Bill Nighy on David Hare Gaffes, Spaghetti Bolognese & Why B'way is 'Everything'

Stage and screen stars Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy’s performances in Skylight electrified London audiences in 2014 and now the David Hare revival is set to open on Broadway this spring. Directed by Stephen Daldry, the production tells the story of a teacher, Kyra Hollis (Mulligan), who receives an unexpected visit from her former lover Tom Sergeant (Nighy) and his son Edward, played by Matthew Beard. The Skylight team recently spoke with The New York Times and we found out all sorts of delightful nuggets about the show.

1. Skylark or Skylight—Same Difference
Nighy saw Skylight in London in 1995, starring Michael Gambon and Lia Williams (they later transferred with the show to Broadway). The Love Actually fave called Hare to tell him that "Skylark" was “everything I loved and admired.” Hare obviously swiftly forgave Nighy for the gaffe as the actor first appeared in the play in London’s West End in 1997.

2. The Play is Virgin Territory
Skylight was a departure for three-time Tony nominee and two-time Oscar nominee Hare—it was the first time he had written “a play in a room.” This was possibly a reaction to having just penned a trilogy of plays for the U.K.’s National Theater involving 85 characters. Yes, we could see how that would do it.

3. Michael Gambon: Casting Agent
Nighy initially kept refusing the role first time round, “because, really, have you seen Michael Gambon?” However Harry Potter star Gambon subsequently suggested Nighy take the role, so he did.

4. A New Hugh Jackman is in Town
Hugh Jackman may have cooked a fish in The River, but a new culinary whizz has hit the Main Stem. In rehearsal, Mulligan had to concentrate on “learning how to cook” as she has to whip up a spaghetti Bolognese during the show’s first act. It was a no brainer though, “there aren’t a lot of parts I want to do, let alone plays,” The Great Gatsby star revealed.

5. The Great White Way is Everything
We thought Mulligan adorable before, but we’re in love now. “Broadway. For me, growing up, it was the pinnacle of everything. So getting to do it is crazy wish-fulfillment,” she said.

Skylight begins previews on will begin previews on March 16 at the Golden Theatre.