Allison, I'm going to try to get the Guardian here and then put it up. Will check at Borders and Barnes & Noble today and tomorrow. If not, then you can send it, although the library here has the Guardian but many days later. I'll let you know. ************** (Elena) Colin said that...after Darcy he did get much more scripts to read than before but they were also a lot worse than before, for instance a lot of parts were offered in 'silly' American tv-series Hmmm, 'silly' American tv-series. Wonder which ones? ER has had quite a few Brits on beside Alex Kingston. (He hasn't played a doctor yet. I could see it.) Or perhaps he was being considered for the American version of Cracker, instead of Robert Pastorelli. ;-) (Elena) ...about the roles in 3DOR, I mean, which one is Colin's? Given the billing (Morrissey last), I expect (read: hope) Colin is playing the Walker/Ned character. Since you've probably finished reading the script, wouldn't you agree that part has MUCH more to offer to his audience of appreciative fans. Can anyone confirm this with the theater? (Winter) [Weinstein is] known in the industry to sit through screenings with a plate of chicken wings or some other meal on his lap, and the joke is, he chooses films based on how rarely he needs to shift butt cheeks over the course of a movie. Butt...we all know that liking movies is a gut thing. This story really fleshes out the expression! (Bethan) And BA isn't even well known in the UK, so promoting him here is inappropriate. GRRRRR!!! (AnnW) okay I can see why the Oscar nominees are there but why BA and if BA why not Colin. There may be method in their madness...BA has two (2) new films coming out; one with Sandra Bullock that is constantly being advertised on TV (name escapes me) and another with a huge cast of Gen-X stars called 200 Cigarettes. Dem guys don't do nuthin' for no reason! BTW, about two weeks ago posters went up for for Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels and next week's Time Magazine has an article about it. Called it a "blockbuster" hit for the UK, having grossed $22 million. Attributed its ability to get an American distributor to Tom Cruise. (Ann) if it had been E. Macgregor appearing at the Donmar and appearing on stage for the first time in five years, it would have been in all the papers Yes, but that would've been because Ewan would have gotten out of bed in Act 2 stark naked and paraded across the stage. (That boy really likes to bare all - all the time!) Don't think Colin will do that. Tis a shame... Could be the Donmar's claim to fame, first Nicole, then Colin... (a little equal time for us ladies) (Moon) I wish he were more of a man and did something about it. He's starting to make me angry with his wimpy attitude. Wake up and smell the espresso Colin! What is he now? Chopped liver? I think he has woken up and smelled the expresso. That's why he's being so visible now and so totally adorable in all these interviews. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes relative to new parts. (Moon) And why not fight for the Mark Darcy role before it is taken. (Bethan) And I continue to think that MD is a foregone conclusion for him, and he won't have to fight anyone for the role. AD's involvement makes it more of a certainty! I'm not sure what comes first, but the BJD script may not have been accepted yet. Then they need a Bridget--the key role--then they will cast the others. And we haven't heard anything about a director either. Let's not lose our heads. BJD may be a long way from shooting. (Allison) If he wanted to go for major Hollywood romantic leads, he would now have to be contemplating his first face-lift! Ugh!! Well there was that extra skin above the ruff... But not all Hollywood romantic leads have taken that route. Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Paul Newman and Robert Redford to name but a few have allowed themselves to age gracefully. (Bethan) Firth "plays a Deep South weirdo with as much sex appeal as a breezeblock" (ie none!) What the hell is a BREEZEBLOCK? Is Bill Clinton "Deep South"?... I like his accent. Nope, hillbilly gone to Yale and Oxford. For "deep south," think Scarlett O'Hara. (JanaC)People have begun questioning my logic about flying so far for so short a period just to see a play. ...and to be with other my literary friends from the internet. Sort-of an electronic table at the Algonquin. That usually does it. (JanaC) "Oh, I'm going over to see the sexist man in England." Shuts them up completely--until someone uttered Prince Charles. LOL!! Colin needs Prince Charles' publicist. (Lizza) Never underestimate the power of a wet shirted breezeblock, I say!! Shall we have this printed on some t-shirts? (just kidding)

The article is at the Guardian site on http://www.filmunlimited.co.uk/news/0224/firth.html. I expect (read: hope) Colin is playing the Walker/Ned character. Yes, he is. In the article he says he is also playing his character's father.

Thanks for the link, Allison. Where on earth did they get that picture? Did a quick scan of the article, and it doesn't mention the character's name. The other dual part (Pip/Theo) is also a father-son combo. I'm sure with his billing he has to be Walker/Ned rather than Pip/Theo.

The clock is ticking.... I am full of admiration for all the Donmar-bound Firthettes. Great adventurousness. I also have a v. nerdy question that betrays a shocking ignorance. I feel my full participation in Drool's conversation is hindered by my inability to quote bits from others' messages. Can someone stop laughing long enough to tell me how it's done?

Help! i just wrote a reply to Ben and got an "Internal Server Error" for the second time.

I shall try again. Ben ... highlight the bit of text you want to refer to. Go to EDIT and copy it. In the body of your message type left pointy bracket i right pointy bracket. then copy the text. Finish with left pointy bracket /i right pointy bracket. Where left pointy bracket is . It sounds as clear as mud as I reread it but I hope your will be able to decypher it.

So, here goes...my three-quarter turn jacknife, with pike, into the information age (degree of difficulty for normal person 0.1, for me, 5.9) It sounds as clear as mud as I reread it but I hope your will be able to decypher it. Drum roll please, Mr Music.....

Unless I missed it altogether, no one has answered the Breezeblock question. Breeze is the material left over from the coking process and is used to reinforce concrete. Breezeblocks must be another form of a cinder block. Not very exciting at all! Ben, I'll give it a go. None of us were born knowing these things. first you bracket what you are quoting with html tags <> with an i inbetween. at the end of what you are quoting you put the same <> but with /i inbetween. To get the quoted passage you highlight with your mouse, hit control+c then bring the curser down to the html-prepared place and hit control+v. Your quote will show up there. do not forget to put the closing <> with the /i inside of it or everything will be in italics. If this is ot sufficient, ask questions and I will give it another go.

YES! Just call me Ben "Gates" Broadbent! I have of course infected the entire board with italics and ruined it for everyone but I DON'T CARE - I've just quoted something!!!

I'm paraphrasing madly here as I can't remember the exact quote. Just to prove that I do not only take the Daily Mail! Like those old advertisements targeted at the "thinking women who usually read the Times"...""every woman needs her Daily Mail"..., we also take the Times.... To quote.... "During filming of SIL, JF fell for GP - dressed as a boy:"She made a lot of guys doubt their sexuality. I love that confusion of love". I fear the admission is called bad box office."

Personally I love italics!!

Testing

Thanks for the link, Allison! I echo my earlier sentiments about this article. V. interesting. Glad to see he's getting some press over there; thanks again for calling it to our attention on this side of the pond. Ben, you might consider consulting Ann's HTML tutuorial. Renate thoughtfully included it at colinfirth.com. Don't worry about the italics. Haven't we all done that at least once? (Karen) Ewan would have gotten out of bed in Act 2 stark naked and paraded across the stage. LOL! BTW, doesn't Iain what's-his-name (Nicole's co-star) cartwheel naked across the stage in 'Blue room?' Now there's food for thought!!

It hten describes a charity performance evening of song cance and poetry in Winchester, of which he was the MC and his hopes that it might be performed again in London and Oxford. "But for London, it would need to be more polished and you'd need some real names; just me reading some poems is not exactly giong to pull in the crowds". HA! Oh, boy, what, do you think, brings us the long way from Germany, and Finland, and Portugal, and the US, to the Donmar?!! -------- Ben, if you want to find out more about "html" go to "Ann's Tag Tutorial" on http://www.firth.com/afirthionado/afi.htm , then scroll down. or take the direct way..... http://www.spring.net/~anneh/toota.html

I'm glas you guys have KarenRto put the brakes on all these wild speculations/assumptions about BJD. At the moment, the only degree of connection is a character named named "Darcy" and HF's wishful thinking. When we have something more concrete, THEN we can start the wild fantasizing ourselves!! RE; Guardian article. If Ms. Victoria Brittain is ignorant of the marital status of her subject, then she's not much of a journalist. If she IS aware, but calls it a "steady relationship"...I'm sorry, that don't cut it. It merely sets the stage for that snide and suggestive "question" RE: "leading ladies" later in the article, which puts the whole thing into tabloid territory pretty solidly IMO. Yesterday, I pulled out of the Seattle Times database, from Sept. 10 (quiz: What is the significance of that date?? Time's up!) 1989, an article much excerpted elsewhere, but discussed how making APT. 0 moved him to join Amnesty International upon returning to England. So this Refugee Program is not a new trend. Proud of you, DB!!

Renate, I LOL'd when I read that line ('just me reading some poems is not exactly going to pull in any crowds') If he only knew that we'd fly thousands of miles to hear him read from the phonebook!! Especially if he were wet-shirted! Doesn't he know how little it would take? Actually, I found the article somewhat pathetic and except for explaining a cause he believes in, I would be disgusted if I were CF for the amount of space devoted to his Darcy role, the wet thing, and his prior (I would hope) propensity to become romantically involved with his fellow actors. Then all the inaccuracies: is young Will getting younger? shouldn't she have mentioned that our wet and heaving rake is now married and comfortably settled down? Yes, this Victoria Brittain is probably as awed by him as, say, Helen Fielding was, but come on... I can now understand his problems with the press. About the only thing I liked was: "As the cuckolded officer in the Oscar-winning The English Patient, he was roundly criticised by one writer for making it impossible to believe that any woman could leave him for the spindly Ralph Fiennes." The only thing I would have changed is: "the lizard-eyed and pencil-legged Ralph Fiennes!" Amen. Hey, Winter, you're going to have cruise much more frequently through SM if he goes to LA on any sort of regular schedule. (KJArt)wild speculations/assumptions about BJD Isn't that why we're here? ;-)

Allison, thanks for the Guardian link. Very interesting! I must say I felt bad somehow when I read earlier about that amount of money he was said to make in a year (reliable source?) because sums like that can make people lose their touch to reality. Wanting to work for something other than his own luxury life looks good....I really want to believe he�s in earnest. (Karen)Who knows what is going on behind the scenes relative to new parts. Exactly, I�m pretty sure that a lot is happening (in case he�s not planning to go into politics next! What a horrible and unerotic thought). (Karen) If he only knew that we'd fly thousands of miles to hear him read from the phonebook!! YES! Oh, sometimes I really wish he�d bother to visit here at Drool and finally understand some facts about his own attractiveness.

Another FirthAlert! Long article and new photo of CF in today's Daily Telegraph. I don't know if there's an electronic link, but I have two copies and could send one for scanning...3Deers? I like the photo...although he was apparently slightly reluctant to have it taken. He'd been fixing his stereo speaker on the wall, and it had fallen and hit him on the head. So he has (apparently) a lump on his forehead and a cut on his nose. Couldn't see these, but he seems to have a bruised cheekbone. Oh dear! Not a handy man! I think the interviewer takes a few side-swipes at him. Not my favourite paper! When interviewed, he was still living in his Hackney flat (bought in 1984) but was about to move. Still drives an old (12 years) Nissan. So, does not have a lavish lifestyle...not at all! Have to make tea for hungry family. Will post excerpts (and my comments) later!

I�m thinking about the play rehearsals at Donmar continuously. Colin must be spending hours there every day by now. It really must be thrilling for him to return to theatre after so many years of movies. And to hear that the tickets are going so well.....the atmosphere a few days before the first night is something, you know, you�re building up this illusionary world in the theater and there are moments when you feel it�s all going to just collapse and at times you�re full of crazy confidence. No wonder that you easily fall in love with those people you work with as intensely as that. The play seems pretty boring to me as a script and I�m trying hard to imagine how it�s possible to be make it work on stage! (No doubt it�ll work for us though!!!!)

Maybe this should be for 115, but I seem to remember someone wanting an extensive cast list for SiL. Check this out, then there is a "more" link: http://us.imdb.com/Title?Shakespeare+in+Love+(1998)

(KJArt)Maybe this should be for 115, but I seem to remember someone wanting an extensive cast list for SiL. Check this out, then there is a "more" link Thank you, Dear. That would be me. Am going there directly!

From BJD Days, the Telegraph is at: www.telegraph.co.uk Will check to see if article is at the electronic Telegraph next. Our boy does have a new publicist. All this press is incredible...and desirable. Since the play opens on March 1, will reviews be printed the next day. Think we are going to need some stockpiling of newspapers for all of us weekend arrivals. Would hate to miss out. ************* Ben, Ben, Ben, you are certainly dangerous with pointy things. While there is a certain euphoria attached to having mastered HTML italics, there's more satisfaction in having done one's job well and finishing things off. ;-) (A lesson to all men!) Thank you, Marcia, for the bleezeblock definition. Passing a construction site will conjure up all sorts of new images for me!

should have added the http part http://www.telegraph.co.uk You will need to register though.

Hello everyone. I somehow feel very guilty that it has been nearly a week since I last posted. I am currently kicking myself, as a friend of mine who works for an airline told me yesterday that if he had known sooner about CF's play, he would have flown me over on a buddy pass for the weekend..... Can you imagine my despair? On a cheerier note, I am glad that MarciaH defined breezeblock. My bizarre imagination thought it could have been a(n) urinal cake! (a recent reference on "Frasier"). My horizons are broadened weekly at Drool!

Couldn't find anything at the Electronic Telegraph, boo hiss! There were reviews of the 3DOR production here in Chicago. The actor who is playing the Walker/Ned combo is getting raves. (Tribune) "But the revelation of the production is Letts' contrasting portrayals of the eccentric, free-wheeling Walker in the first act and the tense, stuttering Ned in the second. Letts already has proven himself a promising playwright with his "Killer Joe," but nothing in his acting career thus far had suggested he is capable of the extraordinary emotional power and technical control he brings to this performance." (Sun-Times) "Letts, whose play 'Killer Joe' has become a long-running Off-Broadway hit, is an actor of such blistering intensity that you can almsot feel the blood surging between his heart and his brain." Oohh, I can't wait to see Colin's interpretation of the character!

Extracts from Telegraph.. He's asked how Livia has adjusted to London... Firth has a deeper empathy than most for her predicament.. "She misses the small talk and verbal shorthand...When you are away from home it's the trivialities you long for. You can talk about the big issues anywhere, but you have to be very familiar with a language and a culture to take part in the chit-chat" Firth is not what you might call a chit-chatty person. Definitely more a big issues sort; a fulminating over-the-newspapers-at-breakfast type, whose toast probably goes cold as he rails at the iniquities of the world. It is entirely in keeping that he should recently have become an ardent defender of asylum speakers in Britain. Indeed as he launches into an earnest explanation of his views, I find myself imagining that, however lacking in gossip Livia may be, her human rights vocabulay must be up to UN interpreter level by now. (Huh! Livia may well share his interest, and I bet she'd rather have a husband who can talk seriously on issues, than someone who just blathers on about themselves or how much money they earn, or whatever. And why doesn't the (female) journalist actually tell us what his views are, as he's obviously gone to so much trouble to explain them?) Will continue..there's too much for my slow typing! Must check the Electronic Telegraph. BTW, he mentions being at school (Junior High) in St Louis. He must have been about 12-13 at the time. He found it very tough and streetwise ,whereas he "was still into train sets". Found himself often having fist fights. Didn't like it very much!

Thanks for sharing, Bethan. From Karen's post it looks like the article's not up at the Electronic Telegraph. More, please, as your time and typing permit! I'm finding all this political consciousness news to me about Colin (and I thought I was pretty well-read on the subject). Guess I never saw the '89 article KJArt referred to. Evelyn's right, IMO. He must have either a new pulicist or a new attitude toward publicity. I'm getting used to the personal details being wrong, so that doesn't bother me (though I agree with all who question the 'steady relationship' bit in the Guardian article. Duh-h). And in this new article he even spoke about Livia? I thought he considered the topic taboo!

Another mention this time in tonight's Evening Standard , EMcG says "the play is complicated in Act 1 she is the sister of Colin Firth and in Act 2 she is his wife? I have not read the screenplay does this make sense and does it mean Colin is indeed playing Walker. There does seem to be quite a buzz about this play, do hope it gets good reviews.

In case any of you are avoiding 115 because you have not seen SIL as yet, think about going there to learn about what you are going to see and what is going to be taking place. It did not spoil it for me. Rather, I found that I did not waste precious brain-power wondering what the author was saying, and spent my time in there more agreeably...watching for Wessex. It is such a charming and witty movie you will need to see it several times to gather it all in ("What? no dogs?!")I recommend you go in a do a little homework before you go, unless you like to be entirely clueless before you see it for the first time.

Have you seen "Go Envy Joe" at firth.com Specials?

Just seen it Arami, it must be from the UK SIL Premiere because they were wearing those clothes at the Premiere and I hate to say it and apologise to any JF fans but his suit looked as if he had bought it at a second hand clothes shop and although he looked beautiful in SIL he doesn't hold a candle to Colin in real life.

Anyone who has ever cringed at his wide smiles on P&P2 should take a look at this one. It will be love all over again! How gorgeous he is! It almost hurts to see someone so dazzling handsome and charming at the same time. And, he is ours!! How kind of you to share it with us. Thanks, Arami, for telling us about it. It is the London Premier if that is a Yellow and Black striped tie. It is Allison's Keepsake.

Found this on DOR: Hot Tickets Might be a spoiler so beware but now we know Colin does play Walker/Ned. Is this the same site you saw Ann?

Colin is so handsome it almost takes your breathe away to look at him and Livia is just so beautiful.

Also in the Evening Standard "Londoner's Diary": Under picture of CF as Darcy in wet shirt "Will CF never be able to break free of the wet linen shirt image which made him the ultimate housewives' [!] pin-up after he starred in P&P? Firth opens next in an American play at the DW - but all anyone wants to know is what he's wearing. "I just can't ger rid of it" he tells me "I tried wearing football shorts in FP and a codpiece in SIL but all anyone wants to know about is that white linen shirt". He won't let on what he's wearing at the Donmar - but there s a good chamnce it may be wet and clinging. The play's name? 3 Days of Rain.

Yes, Heide, that's the article which I was referring to and thanks Allison for the above,I have been trying to find it without success. BTW there is a lovely photo of the cast of 3DOR over at Murph new Appreciation page.

(Marcia) In case any of you are avoiding 115 because you have not seen SIL as yet My avoiding times are over!! SIL has its premiere in Finland today and a big one too, it�s in the three biggest cinemas which means they really believe it�ll be a hit here. Trying to get tickets to see it tomorrow....oh, if a movie can make me this excited, I only wonder wonder how excited I�ll be next week in London...?! And, he is ours!!Thanks, Marcia. Could you possibly repeat those lovely words as often as you can?...:-)

I don't know if anyone else has managed to get the Telegraph but I'm sending my spare copy for scanning today...first class. Has anyone else seen it? I'll keep on quoting from the interview, but in short "bursts" as time allows. It makes him appear very serious and intense. The interviwer doesn't seem to have done any homework (why not some intelligent questions about his theatre career or even thes current 3DOR), so it's all the old chestnuts...his upbringing, schooling, relationships, son etc. Also nothing about his upcoming movie roles (lead roles!). Tumbledown was a long time ago. Quote: (Asked about Will) "It's very simple, when you're not there, you miss him. If there's something happening and you're away from him, it's fairly devastating. It's a ghastly thing to be away from your child, so you squeezw asmuch as you can into your time together." I ask him what will happen to this careful balancing act if he starts a new family with Livia. A look of alarm seizes his face and he withdraws into a long, pensive silence. (does not answer) The interviewer says he is "not unprepossessing, tall and rangy, and so clean shaven that she wonders if he secretly waxes (perhaps he has a smooth skin and a good razor!) She says he has a watchful grave face and she descibes his features as "ordinary". He seems to be apologising for his appearancee. "I'm considered attractive by some people and completely ignored by others. So I know I'm somewhere inbetween...I don't take pleasure in disappointing people." Disappointing!!! Who says?

Thanks for that Bethan, I have not seen the article and have been unble to get a copy. What was the heading and was there any mention of 3DOR. Im glad you have sent it off for scanning, so we will eventualy be able to read the whole article. Was the interviewer a man or a woman. In view of the fact that the Guardian and Telegraph have already done an interview with Colin, I think my best bets for the weekend have to be The Independent or The Times, what do you think?

Cac't seem to e-mail today. Have been super-efficient and posted the Telegraph article. Look foward to seeing the scanned version by the 3Deers! No match for the "Go envy Joe" shot though. Love the big grin!...and Joe's not so shy, he's sure showing some gusto there! :-)

Ann, the heading of the Telegraph article was "My early life...as a nerd" ! A reference to a comment CF makes about his schooldays as the only English student out of 2500 in a Junior High in St Louis, when "I would try to endow myself with a swagger. You can imagine the combination, really, it was pretty catastrophic - a swaggering nerd." So, of course, guess what the headline is!!

Hi, I am knew to all this... But I am a CF fan, does that make me worthy? If so, whats the gossip? I live in Australia and consequently hear very little about the most beautiful actor in the world.

Your in the right place Mannen if ypu are a CF fan, welcome. We talk constantly about our favourite actor, discuss his films and are usually, not always, the first with the news. The main news at the moment is that he is going to be on the London stage next week, the first time in five years, in a play called 3 Days of Rain and many of his fans are travelling a very long way to see him, from America, Germany, Finland, Portugal, it is truely amazing but he is worth it.

Wow! Travelling all that way! I'm impressed... I live in Australia and if finances etc. supported it... I'd be there too! But I'm afraid I will just have to watch his movies and dream. Does anyone know who is agent is, by any chance?

Just skimming this morning's Electronic Telegraph....and there's the article, in the review section. Go to... (Will this show up in bright blue, as it's supposed to? I rather doubt it.)

God! It didn't appear at all. Back to the drawing board.

Here's the picture from the Telegraph article: Thank you, Ben, for finding it in today's Electronic Telegraph, which you can get to here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Hmmm....Karen was obviously paying attention in class, whilst Ben wasn't. How do you set up a link anyway? I thought you just typed in the URL, and hey presto! The Electronic Telegraph photo is different...it's not the "taken just after the stereo speaker fell on his head" photo, in which he looks rather gloomy and cheesed off (probably worrying about whether the speaker is damaged). Much prefer the "hugs and kisses with Joe Fiennes" photo http://firth.com/specials/hugs.htm (Now, will it link, or do I join Ben in detention?) The photo lends itself very much to a caption competition. I suggest "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship" "I feel a buddy movie coming on" "Who needs Viola?" Any more?

How about: "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you" (Joe doing the speaking, since he's doing the kissing). I'll bet the 3DOR producers had a major heart attack when they heard about their star receiving a facial gash days before opening. Hope he's a fast healer! I was wondering when an interviewer would finally get around to asking Colin about his year going to school in the U.S. (at least I've never read any previous comments from him about it). The early '70s was a cruddy time to be in jr. high in the U.S. (speaking from experience), but St. Lou is an especially rough place. Too bad his parents' teaching gig wasn't here in Massachusetts at Harvard or MIT -- a lefty like Colin would have fit in perfectly in the "People's Republic of Cambridge." He doesn't mention how he was received by the females at his jr. high. I know my friends and I at that time were still Beatles-crazy and would have been most willing to teach an English exchange student about life beyond toy trains;-)

The things one learns from overnight (for me) postings. I originally wanted to claim his Codpiece for my Keepsake, but was told Earls do not wear them. Now, CF tell an interviewee that he did wear one, and I am with another Keepsake. Decisions, decisions!!! Expect to see some new postings on SIL in 115 from you, Elena. Looking forward to drooling with you! What a happy month for Firth Fanatics. It will be difficult to keep up with the pace when you retun to the real world! Enjoy!!

A nice little clip in The Express "Play of the Week" with photo of Colin and E.McG. Mentioned something to the effect that it is the week of the hearthrobs opening up in plays in London i.e. Colin & RS. said he hadnot been on stage for a while since "The Caretaker?", is that right. BTW Karen this time next week you will be winging your way to the UK.

Hi, Mannen! Welcome. Where are you from in Australia? Colin is represented by ICM. His agent is Paul somebody or other. Since Ellen of the FAQ's went off in a sulk, I do not know where to send you for the info but I am sure one of the people here on Drool will be able to help you:-) The Electronic Telegraph photo is different...it's not the "taken just after the stereo speaker fell on his head" photo Oh I liked that photograph. He looks so soulful. Don't you find it odd that he sounds so serious and almost grumpy in the Telegraph article but appeared so light and charming in the A&E interview. He does have a reputation for being serious. I just think he is a bit earnest. That is such a refreshing change from all these media friendly people who fill the feature pages of our newspapers. I like the fact that he is involved in a cause for which he gets no reward. There is always the danger that cele rities take on these things as an extension of their PR activities. I suspect that in CF's case he is still trying to convince the world that he is to the left of Fitzwilliam Darcy and that is the only reason he mentions it. He obviously has been interviewed at these premieres and they have not been shown. Do you think it was because he came across as too serious? Is there a UK equivalent of that woman who interviewed him on A&E? He/she should get the job. She was a rather delightful airhead. I thought he was trying to help her along with the interview. It brought out the sweet side of him. it is the week of the hearthrobs It really is tiresome that the UK press always talk of him as a heart throb. It must be as vexing for him as it is for us.

One good question from Judith Woods in the Torygraph "I ask him what will happen to this careful balancing act if he starts a new family with Livia...." That has been on my mind too. In my mother hen mode I worry about how poor Livia will cope if they do have children. She will be expected to dash over to LA every second week. With small children in tow that would be a nightmare. Also she may feel that her children will never match up to Will. Their children will constantly be under CF's feet and may not appeal to him so much as his son whom he only sees a few times a year. Even if that is not what Colin actually thinks, Livia may always feel that w y. If they are not careful that will be such a cause of tension.

Can someone please go to "Aint it Cool news" webpage, I have just been surfing the net and visited one of my bookmarked pages and what should I find but an item marked "A Look at Hugh Hudson's MLSF", fantastic I thought some news about MLSF but when I click on nothing happens, could someone else try and see it they have more luck and please report back, its so frustrating so near and yet so far.

Please ignore that last posting, I haved managed to access the item, worth a look, good for Colin mixed for the film. (some spoilers) www.aint-it-cool-news.co and scroll down.

I usually defend my colleagues because I know what the work is like but the story in the Telegraph angers and frustrates me, and I�m almost ashamed of the writers� hostility. A couple of articles like this and he�ll stop giving interviews. She has a strong attitude that she doesn�t want to hide, no, she�s almost proud for daring to mock Colin and really punch him under the belt (is there such a phrase in English?). "...is really a little man with a megaphone"!! Seems to me that the writer is just a little woman with a megaphone called the DT. Obviously Colin has talked to her a lot about his thoughts but only managed to tire her instead of getting the thoughts in the paper: "he takes most things seriously". I also really despise that description of his looks, it�s pointlessly cruel: "Dormouse colour, secretly axes, rather ordinary". She�s got a problem, whatever it is.

Ann. Here is the link, I hope http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=3118 I agree. Good about CF lukewarm about the film. Surely they must have done editing by now...

(Elena)punch him under the belt (is there such a phrase in English? Indeed there is. It is called "a low blow" in America, or "Hitting below the belt."

Thanks, Marcia. Translating phrases is always dangerous without checking them out but luckily there are some international ones. For instance, I really cannot know if it sounds so bad in English to call a man�s hair "dormousy brown". In Finnish it�s horrible.

A couple of articles like this and he�ll stop giving interviews. I agree with you Elena. I didn't particularly like the way this interview was reported. What's wrong with being serious...and couldn't she have actually reported some of his serious views, which he took the trouble to explain, instead of implying that he must bore his wife! And why so many questions about his private life? Why didn't she ask him about 3DOR, or appearing in a lead role in the West End straight from drama school, or acting with Anthony Hopkins, or being directed by Harold Pinter? He obviously didn't smile at her ....I don't blame him! And what a silly headline! I also think that asking someone "Are you happy?" is terribly unoriginal. I'm surprised he answered her so conscientiously. I'd award the interviewer nil points! I actually thought the "People" interview was a much more professional job...positive reporting, some nice anecdotes from CF, factually correct and well researched, and quite upbeat about CF and his career. MLSF...the review was actually better than I expected, and hopefully it's now been more sharply edited. Two hours can be quite long....105 minutes is often the optimimum for holding attention. "Gentle uncomplicated coming of age (story)..some great moments onscreen...cinematography consistently catches the eye ... and Colin Firth is especially good as the flawed father figure (YES!!!)". A good re-edit should hopefully pull it more together and tighten the subplots and eliminate some of the less memorable moments. This screening seems to have been (as the reviewer says) a work in progress.

I am afraid in the UK, most of us are resigned to having "mousey" coloured hair. It is just a fact of life, not an insult. Fortunately some of us liven it up a bit at the hairdresser!!

--Eileen--at 1327 you said you couldn't recall the 1989 reference to his joining Amnesty International. I KNEW I'd seen it somewhere and did...at an Apt. 0 site. It was an article by John Hartl, but the Seattle Times was not mentioned. You can still find it as the first of 3 articles cited at: http://members.aol.com/Sensi38465/Apartment_Zero.html That isn't where I originally found it, but with a little digging... And Allison (1353)...I think that was a "None of your d--n business" silences!!!

(Bethan) This screening seems to have been (as the reviewer says) a work in progress. But it has been in progress for a year now???

"I tried wearing football shorts in FP and a codpiece in SIL but all anyone wants to know about is that white linen shirt". I'll try if I can settle for the Arsenal boxer shorts if that is his wish. (Marcia) I originally wanted to claim his Codpiece for my Keepsake, What are you waiting for, Marcia! ;-p I don't see how you could get any closer to, erm, the spirit of Shakespearean art.

Judith Woods mentions the female hormones. That must actually be the explanation to her sarcastic style, she�s trying very hard to prove that she hasn�t got them i.e. isn�t one of those female journalists who were reputed to drool on their notepads when interviewing "Mr. Darcy" (naturally they did! Who wouldn�t?!) :-).....

This American of British Ancestry also has mousy-brown hair. It has to be some genetic identifier or something else abstruse. Otherwise I would have been born with Colin's auburn curly locks and skin to die for all over his body! make that My body ;) Ok, giving up the index-finger ring of which I was going to write the inserting his long strong finger through me.....! and going for the codpiece. Back to 113 for a moment.

The above photo looks like one taken at the Berlin press conference... Does he look like he's been waxing his chin? The pic in The Express is a b/w version of the cast photo we can see at Murph's page, except that David Morrissey has been left out. Being less known, he just doesn't make for any good gossip, you see. Btw, a little earlier tonight I have watched Robbie Coltrane in Michael Parkinson's TV chat show, and must say that if our favourite actor could manage at least a small percentage of Coltrane's confident, nonchalant and yet wholly likeable manner during interviews, then... well, we wouldn't have much to talk about! ;-)

I am truly sorry they insist on sending androgenous females to ask inane questions of our DB. However, I am pleased to pieces that he has the maturity and feel secure enough that he can stonily reject questions of such a nature as the ones asked of him in the Telegraph. I was also trained as a journalist, but they seem to have a new breed out there. Elena, keep your ethics. Glad you are one of the great jopurnalistic fraternity.

That was supposed to be "journalistic"...perhaps I too have a problem with it =P Of course, I would drool copiously, short out my little tape recorder, render my scribbling on my notepad illegible, but I would be Smiling should I have the chance to interview him (I'd be staring like an idiot, tongue out and pupils fixed. That, or out cold!)

Did anyone else notice the link at the bottom of the Telegraph interview with CF was called: "How Could She Be So Stupid." Anyone want to hazzard a guess as to who "she" is and why she was so stupid during the CF interview?!

This screening seems to have been (as the reviewer says) a work in progress. But it has been in progress for a year now??? (Allison) Playing detective, I think that this review, although it has a current date, actually dates back to the first preview in NY (which Ben saw). Otherwise, why does the reviewer say that the passes and questionnaires for the movie carried the titled "The Roaring Game"? The movie was originally called "World of Moss", then became "My Life So Far" , and then was very briefly re-titled "The Roaring Game" about a year ago, before reverting back to MLSF. The re-editing must have been completed, surely!

(Bethan)Playing detective, I think that this review, although it has a current date, actually dates back to the first preview in NY I do hope your theory is right, Bethan. It did say, if I remember correctly that this was a fist screening? I did like his assessment of CF didn't you? We must hang onto that.

At last, my scanning of small theatre ads pays off and in today's Times 3DOR is listed. BUT (Read on!) Three days of rain: Elizabeth McGovern heads the cast of Richard Greenberg's play, greatly liked at the Manhatttan Theatre Club last year. Robin Lefevre directs. For once, I actually laughed (instead of "fulminating over my breakfast"!) For most other productions they even give two or three actors names ("Alison Steadman and Samantha Bond star", "Nick Wilton, Brian Deacon and Edward de Souza star" etc.) And does EM "head" the cast...I thought it was a two-hander, or three-hander. Oh well, with my new found calm , I shall return to my toast!! (Good they mention Robin Lefevre though..he has a good reputation as director)

Personally I wish he would desist from doing newspaper and magazine interviews but would do more live or recorded TV interviews, then we could make up our own minds on what he has said and not rely on some bigoted and biased interviewer's opinion.

....and how come he comes over as charming and witty in the recent live interviews, ie A&E & Berlin PC, and yet is serious and boring as interpreted by this, for want of a better word, woman. I guess that charming and just plain nice is not newsworthy.

in today's Times 3DOR is listed. BUT (Read on!) Three days of rain: Elizabeth McGovern heads the cast... This is EM's publicist hard at work.

Am I glad that I'm not the only one who felt another surge of disgust with the tone of this article, which should have been subtitled "Out to Debunk the Hunk." That question about how he and Livia will cope with being a flying father when and if they have children reads as though he's never given it any thought. Perhaps Colin's "expression of alarm" really meant "how dare you ask such a personal question!" ...and AnnW, one week from today we will all be sitting front and center at the Donmar watching ODB performing brilliantly!

one week from today we will all be sitting front and center at the Donmar watching ODB performing brilliantly! Oh, my butterflies...

Has anyone thought to take a laptop with them and post a snippet to your London-deprived fellow Firthians? It would be lovely to get your first thought and group tingle while you can still feel it. This is going to be the longest week on record followed by a weekend blurr. Take notes as things progress and let us know the knots forming inside and the butterflies.

KJArt, could you please e-mail me the famous script?

--KarenR--Although I worded it so badly in 1363 that was exactly what I meant...that he was outraged by the question, too much a gentleman to say so overtly, and just gave her one of his "pensive" none-of-your-business silences. You always word it so much better than I do!!

I have just visited the excellent Colin Firth Filmography page and marvelled at the amount of work that has been done and is being done, when a thought struck me and that is I do hope Colin doesn't sport a moustache to differentiate between the two characters he plays in 3DOR,. A beard and moustache is fine but a moustache on its own, hmmm I gues it goes back to the fact that my least favourite CF portrayal has to be the cad he played in Circle of Friends, can't remember his name at the moment, and it s mehow distorts his lovely mouth.

Yes, Gi, directly I get off line (about 40 min.s) the play is yours! Ann W--(1375) Your noting the difference in DB's manner in interviews, live or otherwise, I think can be directly attributable to the purpose and nature of the interview and therefore the content of its questions. He looks relaxed and smiling at these publicity interviews because they're asking him about what turns him on--his work, the shoot, his fellow actors, his interpretation of the piece, etc. These others look like they're for selling papers with the abuse and distortion of his words,..and in th s regard, in light of Judith Woods' sarcastic scribblings, they make Victoria Brittain's blunders appear positively benign! I guess in their line of work, they're required to dig for anything that may appear remotely scandalous so as to appeal to a certain market...I'm sure our DB is already wise to this sort of thing and exercises his patience, tact, etc. to the nth degree, but he's not going to be charming...he'll be serious, reticent, and even hesitant or silent. So one interviewer will have a completely different impression of our beloved chameleon from another...depending on what they're asking for. Have a nice day!!:-) :-p

Hey - why don't we email The Telegraph en masse with our reservatios about their "so-called woman reporter's sarcastic scribblings"? You're preaching to the converted here - go tell it to the editor! :-)

Ben, are you there? I hope you don't intend to be silent until you have mastered html, because it takes a lifetime. Almost. ;-p I know what I am talking about :-). I recall you gave a brief review of My Life So Far aka Roaring Game some month ago. Do you recall the approx. date and circumstances of that preview? Why I ask: there's a report from a preview in New York (?) on the famous http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/ site. It sounds a lot like what you reported then; perhaps this aint-it-cool report is not as new as it appears.

Some more goodies at: http://www.firth.com/specials/spec.htm

Ann: Just one week and all of you guys will be together. I know that all of you must be os excited. CF in the flesh. Oh my heart!!!

Have any of you actually met before? I know if I did, I'd probably only embarrass myself by uttering monosyllables (or simply just fainting, which ever came to mind first.) For those lucky people who are going to see him perform, do any of you have plans to acquire autographs, photos or even keepsakes?

Mannen we are hoping to bring home a few programmes, can't promise they will be autographed, but if you would like one I should be pleased to send one to you.

Oh well, in just over 24 hours he'll be on stage. I'm beginning to feel terribly envious of all you lucky ladies...and also rather feeble in that I'm not going myself. I'm hampered by the fact(s) that I completely conceal my admiration of CF from my family, my husband has no interest in the theatre, and we're not within "an easy distance" of London. If it had been a longer run, I would have contrived to arrange a meeting/conference in London and combined this with a matinee. I hope he stages his charity s ng and poetry performance in Oxford, as my son starts at the University next term (good excuse to go there!) and my husband is very interested in Human Rights issues, and would be more than willing to support something like this (even if it meant listening to some "mousey-haired" bloke reading poetry! :-) But the Donmar is difficult...so I shall have to live vicariously. I've decided to ignore whatever the British critics write (although I very much hope it is good), but they are a mealy mouthed, begrudging bunch at best, and downright hostile at worst, with a great delight in cutting actors down to size (unless they're Julielle Binoche, or Nicole Kidman, or anyone female, unclothed or beautiful!) The one way that all of you who are fortunate to attend can show your appreciation, is by giving him some truely resounding applause at the end of the performance...and I mean R SOUNDING! It will be a way of saying "Thank you" for all the marvellous and often critically unappreciated performances he's given over the years! So, Go to it, ladies!! Raise the rafters!

There darn blips.. RESOUNDING, RESOUNDING, RESOUNDING and of course it should be Juliette Binoche!

(Marcia) keep your ethics... I would drool copiously --but I would be Smiling My favourite fantasy (I hereby reaveal it to you, dear fellow droolers) is that I�m assigned to interview him and what would happen then!!!......(CENSORED). In real life I think I�d be pretty nervous in advance about the �gig� as we call them and to hide it from him, behave pretty stiffly. And afterwards I�d feel quite ashamed for my unprofessional reaction and to hide it from the public and the editor, I�d end up writing a stiff article! That�s one of my theories. One thing is certain, I wouldn�t smile very much, it would give away too much. (Arami) why don't we email The Telegraph en masse with our reservatios about their "so-called woman reporter's sarcastic scribblings"? Arami, I believe she�s doing what her boss wants her to do and that�s to provoke. Emails like that would mean to her boss that she has succeeded! It�s as cynical as that. They probably have discussed the style of the article in advance and decided that it�s not going to be the blah blah he�s so cute blah blah sort of stuff. (Mannen)Have any of you actually met before? I know if I did, I'd probably only embarrass myself by uttering monosyllables Mannen, that�s what I�m going to do next weekend, embarrass myself in London by uttering silly monosyllables and clutching my dictionary desperately. I do not speak English very fluently, especially not in the state of mind and feelings that I�ll be next Saturday. Still I�m taking the risk, I guess it won�t kill me....just hurt a little.

Good for you Elena, look forward to meeting you, is it five or six days to go, I am all of a dither!!!Not really, I am not a ditherer or at least I thought I wasn't until I found I couldn't stop shaking when seeing you know who at the London Premiere.

All of you are going to have so much fun. I know that if I was going I could sleep for days at the prospect of seeing him in the flesh.

Ann, I know we�re all thinking about how we�ll survive (!) the situation and what our reactions will be. I also know that my knees will be absolutely weak at the moment when the lights go low and the play is to begin.....and he�s to be there in a minute, alive in front of us and doing a highly professional job. Btw, for some reason I�m so terribly and warmly glad that he has moved back to London, I feel that�s where he should be; or in Britain anyway. I used to feel sick about his living in Rome and talking about the British not having a culture or something like that, ha! (No offence to Rome, I just feel strongly that he�s basically a very British man, that�s all).

Yesterday was so beautiful, gorgeous sunshine, I was in Stratford and half expected to see Wessex's pearl earring and goatee around each half timbered corner!! It made me think how perfect it would be if next Saturday's weather was like that too!! Bethan you can't join us, we will have to bring you a keepsake!!! I feel strangly calm about the whole thing, as if it is not really going to happen. Thanks to you all for posting news and articles this week. A BIG thank you Renata, love the link!!!

Forgot to say that I saw JE on TV ( wake up Ben). I thought she seemed shy and a rather nervous, but looked lovely. She didn't really disclose much at all ( a skill learnt from our DB?) but we did have a screen flash about her cat. Hope you are into things feline Ben!

Mannen: I once met CF, many moons ago, which was my original excuse for interloping onto this board in the first place. Renata: of course you didn't offend about HTML. I'm just incorrigably lazy. Finally, I love cats, though there comes a time when they must be thrown off the bedspread and make way for.... Surely Jennifer only has this crittur, sweet as it may be, to fill her yearning for something else, the one whom fate has chosen.....?

Have been reconsidering CF's recent interviews and the emphasis on Darcy, wet shirts and tight breeches. Please correct me if I'm wrong, ladies, but he was a phenomenon, wasn't he? Of course, one can't shake that type of baggage and no self-respecting journalistic rag is going to take the high road and ignore what they believe is the *hook* to readership. In a way, Colin's Darcy was (don't stone me!) like the Leonardo di Caprio thing with Titanic. (This has to do with image--not acting comparisons.) You British ladies, has there been in recent years anything like the impact Colin's Darcy had on the viewing public? A home-grown heart throb of that magnitude?

Elena, I am sure I would be as dignified as I could possibly be (and that can be quite formidable I am told). Then I would do as you suspect you would do - be stiff and write a stilted report. Still, it is preferable to having him think ill of me. Since so many of us would love to have some small token of your trip to 3DOR and my ancestral sod, could someone check for pocket lint from having been in the same room with our Fellow Droolers And ODB. Save it for me with the rumpled tissues and gum wrappers. I am happy with whatever you save for me =)) I checked the Telegraph photo and the E-Telegraph's and the E-T won by miles. Why did they use a poorly cropped one of him in their newspaper?!