Colin Firth (born September 10, 1960) is a popular British actor. Since taking the starring role of Mr. Darcy in the BBC's 1995 dramatisation of Pride and Prejudice, Firth has become known as a heart-throb. Most critics consider him to be a talented and versatile actor, equally at home on stage or screen.
Firth was born in Hampshire, England, and spent part of his childhood in Nigeria where his family were missionaries. He starred in the award-winning 1981 London stage production of Another Country. His first film and television appearances were made in 1984. In 1987, he played 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 , playing opposite Meg Tilly, with whom he had a well-publicised relationship. His first major TV role came in the same year, when he played the lead in the play, Tumbledown , a drama based on real events in the Falklands War.
Despite widespread admiration for his performances, it was only with Pride and Prejudice that Firth's career really took off. Since then, he has starred in films such as Fever Pitch (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Love Actually (2003), and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), as well as TV productions including Donovan Quick (an updated version of Don Quixote) (1999) and Conspiracy (2001).
He also starred in the 2002 film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest in which he played Jack Worthing.
Colin Firth has a younger brother, Jonathan, who is also an actor, but is not related to Peter Firth or Julian Firth.