English actor known for period drama, romantic leads, and his Academy Award-winning portrayal of King George VI in The King's Speech.
Background
Born in Grayshott, Hampshire, England, to academic parents, Firth trained at the Drama Centre London and made his West End debut in Julian Mitchell’s “Another Country.”
Career
He played Mr. Darcy in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” then reprised a version of the character in the “Bridget Jones” films. Tom Ford’s “A Single Man” earned him his first Oscar nomination; he won the following year for “The King’s Speech.” He plays Harry Hart in the “Kingsman” films.
Style
Firth is known for understated, emotionally controlled performances, especially of repressed Englishmen in period or contemporary settings, and a willingness to lend that persona to broader comedies.