Multi-award-winning English actor Colin Firth is known for his standout performances in films like The King’s Speech, Pride and Prejudice, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. The brilliant actor has been slow to hit his stride in his career. However, following the huge success of 1995’s Pride and Prejudice, Firth became one of England’s finest actors to ever grace our television screens.
Colin sounds as English as he looks. He is blessed with a square face and broad shoulders. Beyond his looks, however, the actor has a reserved air of quiet dignity. Add that to his role as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and it’s easy to see why he’s considered one of the top sex symbols on English TV and beyond.
Colin Firth, bio and age
Colin Andrew Firth’s life began on September 10, 1960 when he was born in Grayshott, Hampshire. The actor traveled the world as a kid. At 11, Colin was living in three different countries on three continents. Thanks to the work of his parents, he spent part of his childhood in Nigeria and the United States, before finally returning to the United Kingdom.
Upon his return, Firth enrolled at Montgomery of Alamein Secondary School for his secondary education. His experience at the institution was not pleasant. He was constantly bullied and had a hard time fitting in anywhere. He eventually lost interest in his studies because of this experience. Growing up too, he loved acting. At the age of ten, Colin Firth became a regular participant in acting classes, and by the age of 14 he was sure he wanted to follow it professionally.
Although he lost interest in schooling, he fell in love with English literature while enrolled at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College. Colin remembers his time there as the best two years of his college life. He joined the National Youth Theater in London after leaving Barton.
In theatre, he worked in the wardrobe department before leaving to hone his skills at the Drama Center London where he began to get involved in theater productions. His first play saw him portray Hamlet. Firth’s performance was noticed and he was chosen to play Tommy Judd in the 1983 play called Another Country. His television debut came with him, reprising the role for the 1984 film adaptation of the play.
Four years later he was Private Robert Lawrence at the BBC Rundown. The film was a tribute to a real soldier of the same name who memorably fought at the Battle of Mount Tumbledown. Her portrayal of the role received praise.
But it wasn’t until 1995 that Colin truly became an industry force. He was cast to play Mr. Darcy in the TV version of Jane Austen’s iconic novel Pride and Prejudice. In 1998, the actor played Lord Wessex in the comedy-drama Shakespeare in Love. The film was a fictionalized story of Shakespeare falling in love while writing one of his stories.
Colin Firth’s role alongside Mr. Darcy was successful, but came with the risk of falling into a stereotype. For a while, he only played the same role in projects like Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). He was cast as Jamie in the Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually (2003).
In 2010, the Brit played another role which would prove to be one of the best of his career. He was cast as King George VI in the epic drama The King’s Speech. In the film, his character was a king who suffered from a severe stuttering problem and struggled to overcome it while managing the affairs of his kingdom.
In 2014, he appeared as Harry Hart/Galahad in the first installment of the Kingsman films, Kingsman: The Secret Service. He reprized the role in 2017 in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. In 2018, Colin Firth portrayed the role of Wilkin in Rob Marshall’s Family Fantasy. Mary Poppins is back.
The actor has received numerous awards and nominations for his character portrayals. He received a BAFTA award and an award from the Austin Film Critics Association for his role as George Falconer in A Single Man (2009). He also won another BAFTA Award and an Academy Award for his portrayal of King George VI on The King’s Speech.
Is he gay?
The British actor is not immune to the rumor mill. Colin Firth is as straight as they come. However, the rumor about his sexual orientation has roots, however weak they may be.
In 2009, the actor starred as George, a gay teacher suffering from depression following the loss of his lover eight years earlier. Firth’s character portrayal was so compelling that he won a few awards for his troubles.
Colin Firth’s Family: Wife, Children and Brother
Colin Firth was born to David Norman Lewis Firthet Shirley Jean. Both parents worked in universities. It was her father’s work as an education officer that enabled the family to spend a few years in Nigeria. Through his parents, Colin has two younger siblings. His sister, Kate, is a singing coach and actress. His brother, Jonathan, is also an actor. His grandparents on both sides of the family were Church ministers.
Firth met Meg Tilly in 1989 while they were on the set of the movie Valmont. They quickly bonded and even moved to Canada. Colin had a son together William Joseph Firth. They never married, however, and called time on their romance in 1994.
Colin returned to the UK where he met Livia Giuggioli who worked as a production assistant. They married in 1997 and had their first child, a son in 2001. They named him Luca Firth. The second son, Matteo Firth, arrived in 2003. When they started dating, the actor committed to learning Italian, Livia’s first language, and can now speak it fluently.
What is his net worth?
As an actor and producer, Colin has appeared in over 85 projects. His slew of awards and critically acclaimed roles mean he should be sitting in on a handsome amount of cash. According to various online sources, the British actor has an estimated net worth of around $25 million.
Height and width
Several of the actor’s roles have seen him emerge as a quiet, brooding hunk that always seems so consistent with romantic scripts. This makes him one of the sexiest men on British television. Colin stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches which is 1.88m. It also works to maintain a weight of around 76 kg