A MODEST BUT YET CHARISMATIC ACTOR

The excellent Colin Firth deserves even more respect as he had to struggle to get his talent recognized. Fame only came thanks to his perseverance in playing quality roles, equally on stage or on screen.

GROWING UP ABROAD

Colin Andrew Firth was born on September 10, 1960 from two lecturer parents, the second of three children. Although born in Grayshott, Hampshire, Colin spent his early years in Nigeria where the family moved right after. They also lived in the US when Colin was 11, before definitely settling back in England.
Young Colin early showed a keen interest in acting, that will never leave him.

LEAVING HOME

At the age of 18 Colin left his college and family to study with the National Youth Theatre, and later joined the London’s Drama Centre for three years. There he started to give brilliant performances such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which got him his West End debut in Another Country in 1983. The film adaptation of the play gave Colin his first screen appearance opposite Rupert Everett.

For the next few years he appeared in a variety of films on TV and cinema. He was eventually acclaimed for his role in the BBC’s film Tumbledown (1989) which got him the Royal Television Society best actor award and a BAFTA nomination.

A SELF MADE ACTING CAREER

Colin’s first international breakthrough happened in 1995 with another BBC’s production, Pride and Prejudice, also aired in the US. His portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy won him another BAFTA nomination for Best actor.
Next year he played the stoic husband of Kristin Scott Thomas in the Award winner The English Patient, and therefore definitely found his way to Hollywood.

For his first US hit Colin co-starred Gwyneth Paltrow in the British directed and successful Shakespeare in Love (1998). Next he was able to show his acting skills as an eccentric inventor in My Life So Far (1999).
Colin gained even more fame as a touching romantic character playing Marc Darcy in the blockbuster Bridget Jone’s Diary (2001) and its sequel The Edge of Reason (2004).

From this point Colin went on developing his versatile acting. He won an Emmy nomination for his performance in HBO’s Conspiracy (2001), played in the high profile film The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), joined the romantic cast of Love Actually (2003), portrayed painter Johannes Vermeer in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), or co-starred Meryl Streep in the adaptation of Mamma Mia! (2008).

Looking for more challenges Colin tried himself in dramatic films like in the thriller Genova (2008), or with A Single Man (2009) as he beautifully portrayed a gay British professor in the 1960s. The film directed by Tom Ford earned Colin more awards and nominations.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Colin’s known first love was Meg Tilly, his partner in Valmont in 1989. One year later she gave birth to a son, William.
After breaking up in 1994 he started a relationship with another co-starred actress, Jennifer Ehle.
Later he deeply fell in love with Italian film producer Livia Giuggioli. They got married in Italy in 1997 and had two sons, Luca in 2001 and Mateo in 2003. They now live in London.

THE CONSECRATION

No surprise that Colin Firth is listed on the 2010 important cinema names, associated with one of the year’s biggest success, The King’s Speech. He delivers an astonishing performance as King George VI who tries to overcome one of the worst British national crisis by implementing an important speech, getting the precious help of a trivial therapist (Geoffrey Rush). The film and cast received widespread acclaim and won many nominations and awards, including a SAG and Golden Globe for Best actor for Colin. Finally winning an Academy Award best leading actor for the British film. The first time a British actor has taken the award for more than 20 years. We salute you colin. What a great film The King’s Speech.

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