For his portrayal as King George VI. Colin Firth received an Oscar. It's not the only role the Briton is known for.
Colin Firth will celebrate his 60th birthday on September 10th. He is one of the most famous and popular British actors. With numerous roles in his career he has already delighted an audience of millions worldwide. One performance even earned him what is probably the most coveted trophy in the film industry: the Oscar. Another had an unpredictable aftermath.
The international breakthrough thanks to Mr. Darcy
Long before his Oscar win, Colin Firth took the hearts of women by storm. He slipped into the role of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in the 1995 BBC television adaptation "Pride and Prejudice". The six-part literary film adaptation is based on Jane Austen's (1775-1817) novel of the same name and generated high ratings in Great Britain and the USA. Colin Firth, who was the preferred candidate for the casting of Mr. Darcy, brought the role not only a nomination at the BAFTA TV Awards for best actor and worldwide fame. Mr. Darcy should continue to accompany him in his career.
Forever Mark Darcy?
The British author Helen Fielding (62) was a big fan of the TV adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice". Your book "Bridget Jones – Chocolate for Breakfast" (1996) is very loosely based on the plot of "Pride and Prejudice". One of the main male characters, Mark Darcy, was based on Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and was described in the role as Colin Firth. In 2001, Bridget Jones' story finally became a film – with Colin Firth as Mark Darcy, Renée Zellweger, 51, as Bridget Jones and Hugh Grant, 60 as Daniel Cleaver.
Two more films followed: "Bridget Jones – On the Edge of Wahnsinns" (2004) and "Bridget Jones' Baby" (2016). Colin Firth remained true to his role as Mark Darcy in all three parts. The character dies in the book series – which caused a real shitstorm – but this fate does not overtake Mark Darcy in the film series. Instead, there is the really big happy ending. And Colin Firth has fully established himself as a heartthrob.
A harbinger of winning an Oscar?
Colin Firth took on the lead role in "A Single Man" (2009), the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford (59). His performance as the literature professor George Falconer, who keeps his homosexuality a secret, earned him the first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations of his career. Both awards went to Jeff Bridges (70) in "Crazy Heart" (2009) in 2010. In return, Firth was ahead of the curve at the 2010 BAFTAs and was honored as the best actor. His first BAFTA Film Award. He was also honored as Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. Already forward-looking harbingers?
The double crown
In "The King's Speech" (2010) by British director Tom Hooper (47), Colin Firth shone as the stuttering Prince Albert, who in 1936 became King George VI. was chosen by Great Britain after his older brother Edward VIII abdicated. For the actor it was THE performance par excellence and the highlight of his career. There were literally prizes like the well-deserved first Oscar of his career. Firth has also received awards for his acting performance at the Golden Globe Awards, the BAFTAs, the SAG Awards and the European Film Awards.
An Oscar – and then what?
After winning an Oscar, Colin Firth did not rest on his laurels. He is still busy in front of the camera. In the agent comedies "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2014) and "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (2017) for example as Harry "Galahad" Hart. The iconic films by British director Matthew Vaughn (49), the husband of top model Claudia Schiffer (50), are very popular. A third part with Firth and Taron Egerton (30) alias Gary "Eggsy" Unwin is supposed to follow. The prequel, "The King's Man – The Beginning", which had to be postponed due to the corona pandemic, will be released in February 2021.
Colin Firth already has other projects in the pipeline, such as the literary film adaptation "The Secret Garden", which is expected to start in cinemas in Germany on October 15, 2020. In the drama "Supernova" Firth can be seen at the side of Stanley Tucci (59, "The Hunger Games"), in the war film "Operation Mincemeat" Matthew Macfadyen (45) is his co-star, who like Firth was already Mr. Darcy convinced – in the theatrical version of "Pride and Prejudice" (2005). So far, there is no German theatrical release date for either "Supernova" or "Operation Mincemeat".
In the summer of 2020 it was also announced that Colin Firth and Oscar winner Olivia Colman (46, "The Favorite – Intrigues and Insanity") are to play a married couple in the drama "Mothering Sunday". The film is set in 1924. The focus is on a maid (Odessa Young, 22) who has a seven-year affair with the neighbor (Josh O'Connor, 30) of her employer, who comes from the high nobility and is about to get married.
If you can never get enough of Colin Firth, you can look forward to Christmas. Every year at Christmas time it flickers across the screens in "Actually … Love" (2003). The romantic comedy is one of the Christmas classics.