Restrained, like all Britons, intelligent, talented, rich, elegant, shy, real gentleman. It would seem that can all these qualities belong to one person? Turns out maybe this man is Colin Firth. The biography of the actor is radically different from the life path of many of his colleagues. Beautiful appearance, exquisite manners, a movie star career should have made Don Juan of him, but this did not happen. Firth is an ideal family man, a loving husband, a caring father, and, of course, a multifaceted and incredibly talented actor.
Colin Firth Childhood
Firth was born in the English city of Grayshott (Hampshire) on September 10, 1960. He was the second child in the family, his parents worked as teachers, his mother taught the history of religion at Open University, and his father lectured on history at King Alfred College (Winchester). Colin from a family of missionaries, his three grandfathers, as well as his parents, were engaged in missionary work. Childhood cannot be called boring, because Firth did not stay in one place for a long time, he traveled with his father and mother or grandparents to the far corners of the world, lived in St. Louis, visited Nigeria, USA.
The actor himself admits that he does not like to remember about his school years, because during this period he constantly did not have enough free time. The guy was torn between studying at Alamein school and in the London drama center. Colin's love for mimicking different characters manifested in early childhood, with age he realized that he wanted to become an actor.
student life
Already at the age of 14, Colin Firth completely decided on his future profession. The actor’s biography is confirmed by the fact that at the age of 18 he dropped out of college and left his family, who at that time lived in Winchester, in the capital of Great Britain towards an unknown future. For three years, six days a week, Colin persistently honed his acting at the London Theater Institute. It was here that he made his debut, for the first time Firth played in the production of Julian Mitchell's "Another Country", he got the role of Guy Bennett.
Thanks to his talent, Colin got the main roles in such institutional productions as King Lear, Tartuffe, and Cats on a Hot Roof. The game in Shakespeare's Hamlet turned out to be iconic, the actor got accustomed to the image of the main character so that he immediately noticed the "talent seeker" who helped him break into the Royal Theater. Already in 1984, Firth, along with Rupert Everett, played a movie version of the play "Another Country." In the same year, the young man starred in the television film “A Lady with Camellias.
The beginning of a film career
Actor Colin Firth attracted the attention of film critics and viewers after the television movie "The Lady with Camellias". The debutant liked his impeccable game, so already in 1985 he starred in the drama "1919" and was noted for one of the main roles in the television movie "Dutch Girls". 1986 was not very productive, Firth starred in the main role of the mini-series "Lost Empires." This was followed by almost a year's break, followed by the family TV drama “The Mysterious Garden”, the drama “A Month in the Village”, where Colin played the main character, the television movie “Stories from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby teamed up with geniuses.”
The filmography of Colin Firth began to gradually replenish with high-quality and interesting works. The young man amazed the film community with his creative personality, he won the recognition of his colleagues, he was noticed by the directors. In the late 80s, Firth was free to choose the most suitable roles, job offers were received regularly. In 1988, the thriller “Apartment Zero” was released, in which Colin played the single-man social phobia, as well as the television drama “Ruined”, in which the actor turned into a young officer of the Scottish Guard.
In 1989, the audience, along with Fert in the melodrama "Valmont" were transported to the era of courtly seduction, duels and murders. Admirers of the actor’s creativity, as well as film critics, were convinced that Colin brilliantly managed to transform into both good and bad characters, to adapt to any circumstances, to fit into different eras.
Best Roles
It is very difficult to single out the best films with Colin Firth, since in each film the actor opened up new facets of his talent, showed himself from a new, previously unknown side. A movie star can safely be called a master of reincarnation, he succeeds in all roles without exception, his game is striking in sincerity and believability. In the 90s, the actor annually pleased his fans with new works, but he became a worldwide favorite in 1995 after the release of the mini-series Pride and Prejudice. Colin Firth, who played Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, gained unprecedented popularity, for this role he received the BAFTA Award in the category "Best Actor".
Of the later works, it is worth noting the melodrama “Real Love” (2003), which tells of such a high and bright feeling as love. Whoever you are, a simple writer or prime minister, she will conquer everyone, piercing the heart with an arrow of cupid. Colin played his hero flawlessly, conveying his character and feelings. In 2009, the actor reincarnated as the protagonist of the drama "Lonely Man". For this work, he was nominated for Best Actor. Firth played a homosexual professor whose life lost all meaning after the death of his beloved Jim. This sophisticated philosophical film has caught both film critics and viewers.
In 2010, Firth starred in the biographical drama "The King Speaks!" The actor played King George VI, preparing to take the throne after his brother abdicated. Colin was awarded an Oscar for Best Actor. He received the award well-deserved, because you believe his hero unquestioningly, empathize with him and understand his feelings. In 2012, the actor played a major role in the crime comedy Gambit. Colin Firth, reincarnated as a refined Englishman Harry Dean, in this film is witty over himself, thereby destroying the halo of intelligence and infallibility that has been hovering over him for many years. But no matter what he does, his character remains a real gentleman in any situation, and this is what the audience likes.
Filmography Colin Firth
On the account of the actor there are already 145 works, not all movie stars can boast of such productivity. Fert has many secondary roles, but there are an impressive number of films in which the Englishman played the main characters. The filmography of the actor began to replenish in 1984, every year he filled his piggy bank with several works. In addition to the above-mentioned films, the drama “A Month in the Village”, which was released in 1987, should be noted.
In 1990, Firth starred in the fantastic drama Wings of Glory, in 1991 the drama detective Fatal Woman was released. Colin starred not only in films, but also in television series, so in 1992 he pleased the viewers with "Hostages" and "Performance". In 1993, Firth played the main character in the crime drama "Hour of the Pig", in 1994 - in the thriller "Puppet Master." 1995 was a breakthrough in the actor’s creative career, with his participation a mini-series “Pride and Prejudice” and the melodrama “Circle of Friends” were released. 1997 - the mini-series "Nostromo", the melodrama "Passion", the drama "A Thousand Acres".
In 1998, the filmography of Colin Firth was replenished with the drama “Shakespeare in Love”, in 1999 the actor presented four works at once - the thriller “Turn the Screw”, the fantastic comedy “The Black Viper back and forth”, the melodrama “Secret Female Laughter”, the comedy “My Happy Life” . The beginning of the new millennium for Fert was marked by the release of the television movie Donovan Quick and the comedy Blue Blood. In 2001, the actor starred in The Conspiracy TV, the melodrama Bridget Jones's Diary, and the comedy Londinium. 2002 - the release of the melodrama "How important it is to be serious."
The films with the participation of Colin Firth are perceived by the audience warmly and positively, in 2003 the actor pleased his fans with the melodramas “Real Love”, “Petals of Hope” and “What the Girl Wants”, as well as the drama “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. 2004 was marked by the release of the comedy "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" and the thriller "Trauma". In 2005, Colin starred in the thriller “Where the Truth Lurks” and the science fiction comedy “My Terrible Nanny”. 2006 - the fantastic action movie "The Last Legion" and the drama "Born Equal."
In 2007, Colin Firth’s filmography was replenished with the dramas “So she found me”, “When was the last time you saw your father?”, “Celebration” and the comedy “Classmates”. 2008 was also a productive year for the actor - melodrama “Genoa”, “Easy Behavior”, “Casual Husband”, and the musical “Mamma MIA”. In 2009, Firth starred in the fantasy "Dorian Gray", the drama "The Lonely Man", the animated film "Christmas Story", the adventure comedy "Classmates and the Secret of Pirate Gold."
Drama "Steve", "The King Says!" and “Main Street” are films made in 2010 with Colin Firth. The list of works in 2011 was added to the thriller “Spy, Get Out!”. 2012 was marked by the release of the drama “Arthur Newman” and the comedies “Gambit” and “Stars in Short Films”. The most recent films featuring Colin Firth are the biographical drama "Retribution" and the thriller "The Devil's Knot."
Personal life
Despite the constant employment, a frivolous profession, the presence of a huge number of fans remains a convinced family man, exemplary husband and father Colin Firth. The filmography (watching films with the participation of this actor is a real pleasure) is annually replenished with new works, but at the same time, the man does not forget to devote time to his wife, children, friends. Relatives and good friends characterize Colin as a kind, sympathetic and reliable person.
The first time Firth tied the knot in 1989. His chosen one was
Meg Tilly, whom he met during the filming of the movie "Valmont". The couple had a son, Will, but together they lived only 7 years, after which they parted. The second time, Colin married in 1997 the Italian documentary filmmaker Libya Gigioli. The couple is raising two sons.
Colin Firth is not only a talented actor, but also an active political figure. As a member of Amnesty International, he advocates for the political rights of refugees and migrants. The purpose of the actor is the re-education of the British, negatively related to foreigners.
Interesting facts from the biography
Not only films with his participation, but also interesting facts from the biography, actor Colin Firth pleases the fans. A photo of an Englishman with his wife is not uncommon, everyone knows that he is an exemplary family man, and what else does this gentleman hide?
- At 50, the actor received his first Oscar.
- Firth has phobias - claustrophobia and a fear of speaking in public.
- The actor’s favorite works are both films about Bridget Jones.
- After filming the movie "The King Speaks!" Colin stuttered for several months, so well got used to the role of the stuttering king.
- In London, the Firth couple opened a grocery store with organic products.
- In 2007, according to People magazine, Colin became the sexiest man in the world.
- At the end of 2011, a wax sculpture of the actor appeared in Madame Tussauds in London.
- In 2011, Colin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Acting Awards
Both viewers and film critics warmly perceive films with Colin Firth. The list of works for which the actor was nominated is quite impressive, the man was nominated 13 times, but there are many awards in his arsenal. Fert's talent was first noted in 1998, when he won the US Screen Actors Guild Award for the film Shakespeare in Love. In 2001, Colin, as the best actor in Bridget Jones's Diary, was awarded the European Film Awards.
In 2009, Fert was awarded the Volpi Cup and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in the movie Lone Man. But the greatest number of awards Colin collected for the film "The King Speaks!" - for the best male role in the BAFTA Award, British Independent Film, the United States Actors Guild, European Film Awards.
The most successful images of Firth
Colin Firth is one of those actors who are not afraid to try on any image. He does not go in cycles in any one genre; he easily plays too serious, frivolous, funny, sad, kind and not very men. The actor never took on roles in which he did not see himself, could not perform them well, which is probably why you believe every character from the first word. Despite this, fans single out some of Fert's most successful characters.
First of all, it is worth noting the multifaceted hero Mark from the film "The Diary of Bridget Jones." Also impressive is the English Lord Henry Deshwood from the tape "What the Girl Wants." The captivating Frank from the movie “So She Found Me” conquered everyone, as well as the teacher of the Roman Emperor Aurelius from “Classmates”. Whom Fert has not played during his creative career, he admits that he likes hero fathers most of all, because in this guise he feels most confident.
Colin Firth - what is he?
Watching movies with Colin Firth is a pleasure, this actor is a master of reincarnation, skillfully pulling on himself a mask of both a villain and a good-natured person. And what is he really like? The actions themselves speak for themselves; one can also guess from the interview with his character. Colin always speaks positively of his wife, calling her the most beautiful woman in the world, this characterizes him as a faithful husband, monogamous, an exemplary family man. Friends also speak well of him, calling them reliable and helpful people. Firth defends the rights of refugees, opened a store with environmentally friendly products, which speaks of his love for humanity, the desire to make the world a better, kinder, more tolerant. Colin Firth is a true gentleman, intellectual, talented actor, loving husband and father, just a handsome man.