Born into an academic family on September 10, 1960, Colin Andrew Firth spent his early childhood in Nigeria, where his grandparents worked as missionaries. Colin returned to England at the age of five. His first acting experience was as a child, playing "Jack Frost" in a Christmas pantomime.

In the 1980s, Colin played a variety of characters in both film and television, including "Tumbledown," in which he received the Royal Television Society Best Actor award and a BAFTA nomination.

Colin starred in "Apartment Zero" as an emotionally stunted sociopath named Adrian LeDuc. The film focuses on the relationship he had with a new roommate living in his house.

Based on the novel "Dangerous Liasons," Colin is a lover who makes a bet that he could seduce a married woman in the film "Valmont," set in 17th century France.

In the mystery thriller "Playmaker," Firth stars as an acting coach who trained an actress by psychologically torturing her.

Coincidentally, on separate occasions, the actor played three different characters named Mr. Darcy; once in "Pride and Prejudice," in "Bridget Jones's Diary," and again in the sequel, "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason."

It wasn't until Firth starred in 1995's BBC television adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" that he became widely known.

Firth co-starred in the award-winning film "The English Patient" in 1996. Thanks to his role in this film, Colin went on to co-star in such films as "Fever Pitch," "Shakespeare in Love," and "Bridget Jones's Diary."

"The Importance of Being Earnest," based on Oscar Wilde's play, revolves around two gentlemen in the 1890's who use the same pseudonym and fall in love with the same woman, which causes all kinds of mistaken identity.

In one of his more popular roles, Colin portrayed Mark Darcy in "Bridget Jones's Diary." Darcy was a shy but endearing love interest and childhood friend of Bridget.div>

In addition to the first "Bridget Jones" being an enormous success, Colin co-starred in the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason."

In Peter Webber's 2003 drama, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring," Colin starred opposite Scarlett Johansson as a painter who becomes involved with his young peasant maid.

Based on Nick Hornby's semi-autobiographical novel, Colin starred in "Fever Pitch," not to be confused with the romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon with the same title.div>

Set during the busy holiday season, "Love Actually" followed the lives of eight very different people. Colin stars as Jamie Bennett.

Starring alongside Emma Thompson in "Nanny McPhee," Colin played widower Cedric Brown, father of seven misbehaving children.

In Helen Hunt's directorial debut, "Then She Found Me," Colin portrays Frank, the befuddled and divorced love interest.

At the 66th Venice International Film Festival in 2009, Colin was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in "A Single Man." Directed by fashion designer Tom Ford, Firth played a college professor dealing with the death of his longtime partner.

When Broadway's hit musical "Mamma Mia!" was adapted for the big screen, Colin was cast as Harry Bright in a role that displayed his musical talents.

In film predicted to reign at this year's Oscars, "The King's Speech" follows the true story of the King of England's quest to find his voice. Colin is King George VI and stars opposite Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush in the role that earned him an Oscar nod for Best Actor."The King's Speech" garnered 12 nominations for this year's Academy Awards. Mr. Firth won Best Actor at this year's BAFTAs, Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

Colin's upcoming project is titled, "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy," set in the 1970s, about a recently retired M16 agent who is drawn back into the dangerous field of espionage. The film is scheduled for release in 2012.