Colin Firth
He gave us the ultimate Mr. Darcy and an Oscar-winning king, embodying English reserve with a simmering, intelligent intensity.
Born 1960 (age 66)·English actor and producer·Birthday: September 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
Colin Firth didn't just play Englishmen; he became a national archetype, though one with a surprising international range. Born in England but spending part of his youth in Nigeria and the American Midwest, he returned to the UK and found his calling on the stage. His breakthrough came as the brooding, wet-shirted Mr. Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice,' a performance that seared him into the public consciousness. Rather than be typecast, Firth navigated a path through romantic comedies like 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and darker, complex roles in films such as 'A Single Man' and 'The King's Speech.' His portrayal of the stammering King George VI in the latter earned him an Academy Award, proving his talent lay in revealing the profound vulnerability behind a stiff upper lip. Off-screen, he is a committed political activist, advocating for refugee rights and environmental causes.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Colin was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of King George VI in 'The King's Speech' (2010).
- His performance as Mr. Darcy in the 1995 BBC 'Pride and Prejudice' is widely considered definitive and sparked a cultural phenomenon.
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011 for his contributions to the film industry.
- Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2011 for services to drama.
Did You Know?
He is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Italy, having become an Italian citizen in 2017.
Firth co-founded the eco-friendly retail company Eco-Age with his wife Livia's sister.
He provided the voice for the beloved English children's character 'Paddington Bear' in the 2014 film.
He turned down the role of James Bond twice, before Daniel Craig was cast.
“I think there are two ways of looking at the world: you can either think nothing is a miracle, or you can think everything is a miracle.”
