Today – 9th September – is the 51st birthday of Hugh John Mungo Grant while tomorrow is the 51st birthday of his Bridget Jones co-star, Colin Andrew Firth.
I am sure that I speak for thousands of women when I say that I have a soft spot for both of them.
For Grant, it was seeing him in 1994’s Four Weddings and a Funeral, 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and, of course, 1999’s Notting Hill. However, it wasn’t until 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary that I noticed the lovely Mr Firth. Sadly, I haven’t seen the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, a series which I know caused many a woman’s heart to flutter due to one particular scene…
Since those early heart throb days, both actors have had varied roles. I really liked Grant’s performance as the Prime Minister in 2003’s Love Actually. He certainly gave a speech to be proud of including the notable inclusion of David Beckham’s feet!
Firth’s career has grown from strength to strength. After an Oscar nomination in 2010 for A Single Man, he went on to victory this year for The King’s Speech. I really, really like both of these movies. A Single Man is rated 86% on Rotten Tomatoes while The King’s Speech stands pretty with 95%. While they are both stunning performances, for me, Firth’s performance as George Falconer in A Single Man just slightly takes the edge. Firth’s portrayal of a man repressing his grief is moving and mesmerizing – director Tom Ford chose the perfect leading man.
- What’s your favourite performance by the glorious Grant and fantastic Firth?
Cinematic Delights 
I have seen way too little Firth movies I must admit, but he was amazing in the King’s Speech….
Not a big fan of Hugh Grant…although he does know his niche of type of movies (which are usually romantic comedies).
You’re quite right. Was About A Boy a romcom? I haven’t seen it…
Never been a fan of Hugh Grant, I just never found him charismatic or worth watching. Colin Firth, though, excellent actor.
Oh yes, I do love King Colin!
I like Grant’s earlier work more than his recent roles.