Colin Firth biography
Colin Andrew Firth (born 10 September, 1960) is an England film, television and stage actor. Firth was first brought into wider public attention for his role as Fitzwilliam Darcy in the highly acclaimed Pride and Prejudice (1995 TV serial) of
Pride and Prejudice.
Biography
Early life
Firth was born in Grayshott, Hampshire, England, the son of Shirley Jean (married and maiden names Rolles), a comparative religion lecturer, and David Norman Lewis Firth, a history lecturer and education officer for the Nigerian Government. Firth has a sister, Kate, and a younger brother, Jonathan Firth, who is now also an actor. Firth's parents were born and raised in India, because his maternal grandparents, Congregationalist ministers, and his paternal grandfather, an Anglican minister, performed missionary work abroad. Firth's name is pronounced very similarly to the Old English word
collenferhð, meaning
pride. Firth spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, where his father was teaching. He lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Missouri when he was 11. He later attended the Kings' School, a state comprehensive school in Winchester, Hampshire, and then Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, Hampshire. His acting training took place at the Drama Centre in North London. Colin Firth is widely regarded as "The English Mukesh".
Film career
In 1983, Firth starred as Guy Bennett in the award-winning London stage production of
Another Country (play). In 1984, he made his film debut in the screen adaptation of the play, taking the role of Tommy Judd (opposite Rupert Everett as Bennett). In 1987, he appeared alongside Kenneth Branagh in the film version of J. L. Carr's novel,
A Month in the Country (film). In 1989, he played the title role in the film
Valmont (film).
Following these earlier roles, it was in the 1995 BBC television adaptation of Jane Austen's classic
Pride and Prejudice (1995 TV serial) that Firth gained wider renown. The serial was a major international success, and Firth became known as a heartthrob because of his role as Fitzwilliam Darcy. This performance also made him the object of affection for fictional journalist Bridget Jones (created by Helen Fielding), an interest which carried on into the two novels featuring the Jones character. In the second novel,
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, the character even meets Firth in Rome. As something of an in-joke, when the novels were adapted for the cinema, Firth was cast as Jones's love interest, Mark Darcy. Continuing this in-joke there was a dog called Mr Darcy in the film St. Trinian's which Colin's character accidentally kills.
Firth had a supporting role in
The English Patient (film) (1996) and since then has starred in films such as
Fever Pitch (1997 film) (1997),
Shakespeare in Love (1998),
Bridget Jones's Diary (film) (2001),
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film) (2002),
Love Actually (2003),
What a Girl Wants (2003),
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film) (2004),
Nanny McPhee (2005), The Last Legion with Aishwarya Rai (2007), and the film adaptation of
Mamma Mia! (film) (2008). He has also appeared in recent television productions, including
Donovan Quick (an updated version of
Don Quixote) (1999) and
Conspiracy (film) (2001), for which he received an Emmy nomination. Colin Firth's most recent role is in the Toronto International Film Festival debuted film, Genova,.
Firth is also a Jury Member for the ongoing Filmaka amateur short film contest.
Writer
Firth's first published work, "The Department of Nothing", appeared in
Speaking with the Angel (2000). This collection of short stories was edited by Nick Hornby and was published to benefit the TreeHouse (charity), in aid of autistic children. Firth had previously met Hornby during the filming of the original
Fever Pitch (1997 film).
In Mamma Mia Firth played Harry, one of Sophie's three possible fathers.
Personal life
In 1989, Firth entered into a romantic relationship with actress Meg Tilly his co-star in
Valmont. In 1990, she gave birth to a son, Will Firth. In 1994, Firth was involved with actress Jennifer Ehle, his co-star in
Pride and Prejudice. Firth lives in both London and Italy and is currently married to Italian film producer/director Livia Giuggioli. They have two sons, Luca (born March 2001) and Matteo (born August 2003).
Recently, Firth has been involved in a campaign to stop the deportation of a group of asylum seekers, because he believes that they may be murdered on their return to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Firth has argued that "To me it's just basic civilisation to help people. I find this incredibly painful to see how we dismiss the most desperate people in our society. It's easily done. It plays to the tabloids, to the Middle England xenophobia. It just makes me furious. And all from a government we once had such high hopes for". As a result of the campaign, a Congolese nurse was given a last-minute reprieve from deportation.
Firth has also been a long-standing supporter of Survival International, a charity which defends the rights of tribal peoples. Speaking in 2001, he said, "My interest in tribal peoples goes back many years... and I have supported Survival ever since."
In a 2006 interview with France magazine
Madame Figaro, Firth was asked "Quelles sont les femmes de votre vie?" (Who are the women in your life?). Firth replied: "Ma mère, ma femme et Jane Austen" (My mother, my wife and Jane Austen).
Firth was awarded an honorary degree on 19 October 2007 from the University of Winchester.
Singing career
Colin has performed songs in many of his films- the most recent being Mamma Mia! (2008 film). He also performs along side Rupert Everett in The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film).
Colin Firth in the news
Dorian Grey starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth - Future Movies
Dorian Grey starring Ben Barnes and Colin FirthFuture MoviesHe arrives in Victorian London and is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic Henry Wotton (Colin Firth - MAMMA MIA), who introduces Dorian to the ...and more »
read moreImpressive acting of Biel and Firth adds color to inconsistent ... ...
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.comImpressive acting of Biel and Firth adds color to inconsistent ...Charleston Post CourierColin Firth is Mr. Whittaker and Jessica Biel is Larita in "Easy Virtue." Here, he is by far the best drawn and most sympathetic of characters in an airless ...5-minute movie reviews: 'Year One,' 'Easy Virtue,' 'Tyson'Salt Lake TribuneColin Firth and Jessica Biel cut a rug in the '30s-set dramatic ...The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com'Easy Virtue' not always easy | 2 starsKansas City StarExaminer.com -Deseret News -Morning Sentinelall 62 news articles »
read moreJessica Biel as Larita, Colin Firth as Mr. Whittaker. Photo taken -...
Ottawa CitizenJessica Biel as Larita, Colin Firth as Mr. Whittaker. Photo takenExaminer.comWatching the film Easy Virtue is a lot like indulging in a piece lemon meringue pie: It has a ...'Easy Virtue': Jessica Biel shakes up the lives of Colin Firth and ...The Plain Dealer - cleveland.comNoël Coward's 'Easy Virtue' easy to likeDetroit Free Press'Easy Virtue' **1/2St. Louis Post-DispatchArizona Reporter -Ottawa Citizen -TheChronicleHerald.caall 40 news articles »
read moreSir Laurence Olivier is a Mr. Darcy worth seeing - Examiner.com
Examiner.comSir Laurence Olivier is a Mr. Darcy worth seeingExaminer.comWhether your favorite version is the '95 BBC production staring Colin Firth (hello, wet t-shirt) or the recent Keira Knightley incarnation (what's up with ...and more »
read moreSo would Colin Firth take on Piers Morgan? - Daily Mail
Daily MailSo would Colin Firth take on Piers Morgan?Daily MailBut surely Tina risks defamation proceedings by suggesting that the cerebral English actor Colin Firth might play Piers Morgan. ...and more »
read moreShottle Hall Hotel in administration - Belper News
Shottle Hall Hotel in administrationBelper NewsThe hotel opened in February 2005 and once had film star Colin Firth as a guest. The full article contains 227 words and appears in n/a newspaper.and more »
read moreAndersson: 'Mama Mia! was surreal' - Digital Spy
Telegraph.co.ukAndersson: 'Mama Mia! was surreal'Digital SpyThe former Abba songwriter told Metro that he and ex-bandmate Björn Ulvaeus had a unique experience seeing the likes of Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth ...Abba bandmate sticks up for SwedenMetroall 4 news articles »
read moreMovie review: Easy Virtue **1/2 - Toledo Blade
Movie review: Easy Virtue **1/2Toledo BladeThe players who play it straight - Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, and Ben Barnes - are the ones who make moments of Easy Virtue sparkle as they should. ...Explosions and more at local theatresBCLocalNews'Easy Virtue' is hard to warm up toCape Cod Timesall 6 news articles »
read moreMovie openings and capsule reviews - San Jose Mercury News
Movie openings and capsule reviewsSan Jose Mercury NewsJessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth star. — R. Moore. (PG-13) 1 hr., 40 mins. B "FOOD INC.": How much do we really know about the food we buy ...and more »
read moreAnderson And Cathey Led 'SHAWSHANK' To Play At West...
Anderson And Cathey Led 'SHAWSHANK' To Play At West End's Wyndham ...Broadway WorldAmong those Kevin has worked with are Michelle Pfeiffer, Colin Firth, Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Joan Allen, Helen Hunt, Harvey Keitel and Joan ...and more »
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