Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Whilst Joe Wright’s film adaptation is remembered for Keira Knightley, the Pride and Prejudice TV miniseries has such a beloved status due to Colin Firth’s incarnation of Jane Austen’s creation, Mr. Darcy. Elevating the actor to stardom, a particular scene showing Firth in a wet shirt has been deemed “one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history.”
Fever Pitch (1997)
Written for the screen by Nick Hornby (adapted from his own novel of the same name), Fever Pitch was Firth’s London-set football comedy. Firth plays Paul Ashworth, a teacher at a North London school who begins a burgeoning romance with a new colleague to the backdrop Arsenal’s First Division championship-winning season in the late eighties.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
It is basically vital for females the world round to be a fan of Bridget Jones’s Diary, the adaptation of Helen Fielding’s book starring Renee Zellweger as the eponymous character. A reinterpretation of Pride and Prejudice, the two males fighting for Jones’s affections are bad boy Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and her ‘true love’ Mark Darcy (Firth), which leads to numerous scenes beloved by all fans. Firth returned in 2004 for sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
Based on the Oscar Wilde comedy of manners play of the same name, Firth stars in The Importance of Being Earnest alongside Rupert Everett as two men in Victorian England whose identity becomes confused by the others habit of travelling to London and keeping his privacy by introducing himself with the incorrect name of Ernest. The two elevate the film with their memorably whimsical on-screen chemistry.
Love Actually (2003)
Richard Curtis’ ensemble, which has become something of a yuletide staple since its release in 2003, features Colin Firth as a writer named Jamie. Catching his wife in the act of sleeping with his brother, Jamie up sticks and moves temporarily to his French cottage where he meets - and consequently falls in love with - Portugese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz).
Mamma Mia! (2008)
In Mamma Mia!, the hugely popular film version of the Abba West End musical, Colin Firth stars as one of three males who could be the father of Meryl Streep’s daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). As British banker Harry Bright, Firth gets to voice his dulcet tones, singing tunes such as Our Last Summer and Voules-Vouz.
A Single Man (2009)
Directed by fashion designer Tom Ford, Firth’s first Oscar nomination came from the film A Single Man playing George Falconer, a depressed gay British University professor living in California in the sixties. Adorned with thick-rimmed specs, many have touted this role as Firth’s best to date - well, before a certain film about a stammering monarch...
The King’s Speech (2010)
Tom Hooper’s historical drama tells the story of King George VI afflicted with a stammer at an important time in history where his voice needs to be heard by his nation. Visiting speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), he not only develops techniques to help him overcome his stammer, but an enduring friendship. Firth rightfully won an Oscar for his role.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Tomas Alfredson’s espionage slow-burner Tinker Tailor Solider Spy may be Gary Oldman’s for the taking, however let’s not forget Colin Firth’s deliverance of one hell of an affecting turn as Bill Haydon, a deputy of the ‘Circus’. Alongside a stellar cast, including Mark Strong, Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth shows he is still one of the best Britain has to offer.
The Railway Man (2014)
Colin Firth plays British Army Officer Eric Lomax, a former prisoner in a Japanese war camp who seeks out one of his captors decades later in an attempt to free himself of the psychological trauma inflicted upon him. Heartfelt, compelling and raw, Firth’s performance is no short of breathtaking, careening into career-best territory with every new scene.
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