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Colin Firth Profile |
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Birth Date: September 10, 1960
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Birth Place: Grayshott, Hampshire, England, UK
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Birth Name: Colin Firth
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Height: 6'1½"
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Biography |
Colin Firth was born in Grayshott, Hampshire, England to
David Firth (a history lecturer and the son of an Anglican
minister) and Shirley (a comparative religion lecturer,
whose own parents were Congregationalist ministers); he has
a sister, Kate, and a younger brother, Jonathan, who is now
also an actor. Both of Firth's parents were born and raised
in India, as their English-born parents were involved in
missionary work.
Firth spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, where his
father was teaching. He lived in St. Louis, Missouri when he
was 11.
Firth starred in the award-winning 1981 London stage
production of Another Country. He reprised this role for his
first film appearance in 1984. In 1987, he appeared
alongside Kenneth Branagh in the film version of J. L.
Carr's novel, A Month in the Country. In 1989, he took the
lead in the film Valmont.
Despite widespread admiration for his performances, it was
only with the 1995 BBC television adaptation of Pride and
Prejudice that Firth gained wider renown. The serial was a
big success and Firth became known as a heart-throb because
of his role. This performance also made him the object of
affection for fictional newspaper columnist 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.
Consequently, he had a supporting role in The English
Patient (1996) and since then has starred in films such as
Fever Pitch (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Bridget
Jones's Diary (2001), The Importance of Being Earnest
(2002), Love Actually (2003) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of
Reason (2004). He has also appeared in recent television
productions, including Donovan Quick (an updated version of
Don Quixote) (1999) and Conspiracy (2001).
Most critics consider him to be a talented and versatile
actor, equally at home on stage or on screen.
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". In 1997, Firth married
Livia Giuggioli. The couple has two sons, Luca Firth (born
2001) and Mateo Firth (born 2003).
Firth's favourite Christmas song is Fairytale of New York;
his favourite romantic film is Brief Encounter. |
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Other
Information |
Relationship with Meg Tilly began while filming Milos
Forman's Valmont (1989).
Had a relationship with Jennifer Ehle, whom he met while
filming "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) (mini)
On People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" list (2001).
Has twice lost his screen wife to a member of the Fiennes
family - to Ralph in The English Patient (1996) and to
Joseph in Shakespeare in Love (1998).
Has one child with actress Meg Tilly, Will (born 1990) and 2
sons named Luca (born March 29, 2001, in Rome) and Mateo on
25th August 2003
Brother of Kate Firth (a vocal coach) and Jonathan Firth.
Co-starred as character Mark Darcy in the film adaptation of
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), while appears himself as a
character in writer Helen Fielding's sequel, which was
adapted to the big screen as Bridget Jones: The Edge of
Reason (2004).
Contributed a short story, "The Department of Nothing", to
the collection "Speaking With the Angel", edited by Nick
Hornby. Colin Firth starred in the film adaptation of
Hornby's semi-autobiographical novel, Fever Pitch (1997).
Has played a Mr Darcy on three occasions. Once in "Pride and
Prejudice" (1995) (mini), in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
and again in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).
Although he usually gets along quite well with other actors,
he had a well-publicized verbal feud with Rupert Everett,
although the source of this tension is not known.
A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford
Upon Avon, England, during the early to mid 80s where his
stage credits include such works as Hamlet and King Lear.
According to Colin Firth, when he was first offered the role
of Darcy, his brother incredulously remarked, "Darcy? But
isn't he supposed to be sexy?"
On the DVD audio commentary for "Love Actually," Hugh Grant
continuously mocks the looks, age, acting abilities, and
alleged vanity of Firth (his sometimes on-screen rival),
eventually encouraging his fellow-commentators
writer/director Richard Curtis, and co-stars Bill Nighy and
Thomas Sangster to join in on the mocking. Firth appears to
have taken these comments in good nature and said that he
and Grant seem to have a "Bette Davis-Joan Crawford" kind of
relationship. |
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