Oh Emma, you lucky girl. I'll be gone all day today, but I'll check in-in case you post again. I thought about you all last night, and I couldn't sleep. I wondered if you were able to. (Emma)he was a little busy with various women around him I just can't imagine why:-)

(Emma)I heard from someone that he is maybe not going on Monday to the HS premiere (they asked). I wondered about that. Since the first day filming of Trauma on the Isle of Man is on the same date. Any Manx CF fans out there? It is a very small island. Anybody planning an early holiday this year? - my sister says it's a very beautiful island!

Emma, how great for you! Can't wait to see the picutures. presentation was David Gilmour speaking, Colin reading, woman that I don't know her name right now speaking, Colin reading, audience comments and questions, Colin reading. Never heard what happened to Mr Blahnik! As in Manolo Blahnik? ;-) And is this David Gilmour Pink Floyd's guitarist? I'm betting he will be at the HS premiere. Lucky girl!

Emma, thanks so much for the great report! I can't wait to see some pictures too. I'm wondering about your friend Kristen though. I think you should make her watch P & P while she is visiting:)

Emma, it sounds like you had a wonderful night; thanks for the report! I think it'll be a while before you come down from cloud 9 ;) Good luck at the HS premiere!! (Emma) Plus that way I could freak out and not worry about him seeing =). LOL! I would need a considerable amount of freak-out time, myself :P

(Emma) I didn't get a hug - a bit of a 'lean in' for the photo is all. It's true Karen I just hadn't had quite enough wine at that point! Awww :( Must've been because the wifey was around. I remember some ladies had the nerve to put their arms around Colin while posing. I suppose I should just be grateful that he had his hands on me. *snicker* I heard from someone that he is maybe not going on Monday to the HS premiere (they asked). That's insane! I'd like to think that he was just being evasive, but I don't. :( (Moon) As in Manolo Blahnik? ;-) Yes, he was supposed to be there.

(Emma) I didn't get a hug - a bit of a 'lean in' for the photo is all. Ohhh.....don't sweat the hug! You shared his 'space'!!!! Lucky girl! And despite the fact that some were saying he may not show at the HS premiere, I am going to cross my fingers and light the necessary candles and think good thoughts and hope he comes your way again!!! I'm still so happy for you Emma! (Emma) The good omen on the way last night, the reason why I really knew he would be there, was the sudden appearance of giant HS posters in the tube tunnels. Nice to see his face in giant proportions on the way home too =). Bet you saw him in your dreams last night in giant proportions as well! Well done Emma!

(Emma) Thank you so much for your wonderfull reports! I am very happy for you and can imagine how you feel. I'm surprised you can remember so many details about him (when I met him I was so overwhwlmed I couldn't take in anything). I hope you'll have a chance to ask for an autograph at the HS premiere. Maybe he'll even remember you.

(Moon) As in Manolo Blahnik? ;-) (Cranky P.)Yes, he was supposed to be there. And he didn't show? The heel. ;-) Emma, from your description of how Livia looks, it sounds like her facial appearance has not changed, which generally signals a boy baby. How was she carrying: mostly in front, or was she sort of round all the way?

(Emma) feeling a bit rough...but bloody good =). I *completely* empathize with you here. ;-);-) when they were leaving (which is just when he remembered he still had a picture taking obligation with me!) How exciting! He remembered! When he was leaving, too. Did you notice if she look perturbed that he went back, or no big deal? They weren't standing together that much. A few times they walked over to say something to each other.......but other than that it seemed like she was busy talking to people she knew, and he was a little busy with various women around him =). Sounds exactly like the party. Guess she gives him leeway for the adoring masses of Drooleurs and droolers to have their chance near him. ;-) presentation was David Gilmour speaking (Moon) And is this David Gilmour Pink Floyd's guitarist? When this was announced I wondered about this and thought it was an odd choice. Just said to someone the other day, it's a shame he hasn't toured here in a long time (solo or with PF). He puts on an awesome show. Forgot he was supposed to be there....wonder why? Is he married to an Italian, too? Does your jaw hurt from constant grinning? Do you realize you break out spontaneously into a huge grin and maybe laugh, say in the middle of Westminster Abbey, for seemingly no reason that other people could fathom? ;-) Well done, Emma and Kristen.

(Mari) it sounds like her facial appearance has not changed, which generally signals a boy baby. Oh, but I thought it's the other round. If a woman is pregnant with a baby boy, her facial appearance will change because of the hormone.

(Mari), Emma, from your description of how Livia looks, it sounds like her facial appearance has not changed, which generally signals a boy baby. How was she carrying: mostly in front, or was she sort of round all the way? I'm taking bets it's a boy. We must have more little male Firths on this Earth. ;-) And he didn't show? The heel. ;-) LOL, you couldn't resist.

Oops, it should be "the other way round". sorry. BTW, thank you so much for your report, Emma.

Oh Karen I forgot to say - I didn't know what exactly the pictures were for that they took of the group of speakers at the ICI that Colin was asked to stand for, but it was a few group shots. Maybe their own, maybe a media outlet. I couldn't tell Livia was pregnant until I saw the bump - as in, her face is very well defined still, great bone structure! David Gilmour, seems like an academic. All I know about him is he wrote the introduction to one of the published versions of The Leopard. I must say I have been spontaneously grinning all day, Dorine! Particularly when I run into HS posters. Kristen and I have been saying hello =). If you want to get a feel for the party/drinks reception bit, think Kafka's Motorbike (it was a bit spooky). Kristen was threatening to ask where the toilets were if she ran into Salman. Of course I would have been mortified! Livia did not seem perturbed in any way that he was doing his obliged bit with anyway. She's gotta be used to it. And she is secure, I am sure!

An online HS review, a bit more upbeatthan the last one..;-) http://www.movie-gazette.com/cinereviews/hope-springs.asp?bhcp=1

Thanks for your reports Emma. I don't think I'd remember much of anything! When he 'leaned in', could you tell which cologne/aftershave he was wearing?

Thanks again, Emma. One more question: where either Colin or Livia smoking? I hope not, but I seem to remember reports of Livia smoking during the Donmar perhaps?

Colin's Films TV Schedule (till May 31) http://www.tv-now.com/stars/firth.html

Thank you Emma for more news. Another question in addition to the aftershave one...What was Livia wearing? I know you said she looked beautiful, but can you remember exactly what she had on and what colors? Just trying to coordinate what ODB was wearing in my head with LD's outfit. Nice review of HS, Maria. I'm looking all over for posters but I haven't seen any yet. The manager of our multiplex checked the summer calendar and it isn't listed for that theater anyway. Entertainment Weekly had the summer movie guide for June, July, and August. I went over it several times...no mention of it:-(

Thank you so much for such a great report of your exciting evening Emma. Great job. I'm sure it'll be a while before your feet touch ground, and deservedly so. Thank you for Tube pic Leona. Thank your Maria for HS review. It is much better. I agree with Emma, hopefully he will attend premiere the movie is all about him, wouldn't make sense if he wasn't there. Fingers crossed.

Thanks again, Emma, for being such a great reporter! We'll all be lighting candles in hopes that you'll see him again at the HS premiere.

(Emma) He was wearing a....collared shirt (untucked) with....blazer with ....And boots Sounds like he and I consulted the same stylist that night for our nights out. ;-) Kristen was threatening to ask where the toilets were if she ran into Salman. ROTFL! Just got my tape. It is *utterly, utterly* fascinating! What a sexy little laugh he has...or partially stifled laugh. :-D

(Dorine) What a sexy little laugh he has...or partially stifled laugh. :-D Pretty amazing isn't it? Like the Valmont laugh but softer...makes my tummy feel all funny when I hear it!! ;-D

Thanks for the HS review, Maria. There is one in Sight and Sound (May issue) which hasn't hit our shores yet and is not online. So if anyone in the UK wants to check it out... (Linda) I'm looking all over for posters but I haven't seen any yet. I have two in a mailing tube. Does that count? ;-) (Dorine) What a sexy little laugh he has...or partially stifled laugh. (Tress) Like the Valmont laugh That's his "I've said/thought something naughty" laugh, same as on Jon Stewart's show when he made the autoeroticism comment. No need to worry. From all I've heard, Colin will be at the premiere and the only other one listed as a for sure is Minnie. Hope to have a line on the party afterward as well.

Sight and Sound's available here. Let me check this out tomorrow. But I doubt that they'd like this film.

(Karen), From all I've heard, Colin will be at the premiere and the only other one listed as a for sure is Minnie. Hope to have a line on the party afterward as well. We need you Emma and our other UK based Firthettes. Very interested in that line to the party. We need details, ladies! Best of luck!

(Dorine) What a sexy little laugh he has...or partially stifled laugh. (Tress) Like the Valmont laugh Guess I'm not that into Valmont. He didn't enter my mind at all. (Karen) That's his "I've said/thought something naughty" laugh, same as on Jon Stewart's show when he made the autoeroticism comment. Hmmm, will have to go back to watch that. I remember that, but didn't think anything remarkable about the laugh. Maybe I couldn't hear it as well with audience laughter, too. I think that's why it's so appealing....kind of childlike almost. Hard to describe, but I *loved* it.

(Tress)Like the Valmont laugh but softer Yes, I was thinking the same thing--the scene in which V is soaking wet and AB's character is asking him to seduce Cecile. CF also mutters fuck under his breath at some point during the interview. If you're interested in the company that produced the satellite interviews, go here--this is a big business, apparently: http://www.onthescene.com Satellite Media Tours (SMT) This format puts your spokesperson or newsmaker in a studio or on location being interviewed one-on-one with reporters via satellite. On The Scene�s media specialists pre-book the stations in consecutive segments, going to as many as 7 cities per hour.

(Mari) CF also mutters fuck under his breath at some point during the interview. LOL, I caught that. That big sigh he made looking like Louis Armstrong was a riot, too.

(Mari) CF also mutters fuck under his breath at some point during the interview. LOL.Doing interviews is not exactly his favorite passtime. Gives new meaning to "bored to death".

(Mari) Yes, I was thinking the same thing--the scene in which V is soaking wet and AB's character is asking him to seduce Cecile. Yup! That laugh! I haven't heard it in any of his other films (anyone?)....but heard it during the interviews several times. (Mari) CF also mutters fuck under his breath at some point during the interview. Heard that! Thought..."a man after my own heart"! (Dorine) That big sigh he made looking like Louis Armstrong was a riot, too. Loved that! Made me laugh, he expelled a some air and his eyes got a bit buggy! Also, did you catch the humming thing he did? It was during a 'test pattern' "mmmmm........mmmmm......mmmmm"....v.v. funny!

Hope Springs Review from Sight and Sound. (May 2003) Demetrios Matheou One picture of Minnie Driver. When Colin Ware, an English artist, finds out that his fianc�e Vera is to be married to another man, he is so grief-stricken that he escapes to the New England town of Hope to recuperate. He checks into the Battlefield Inn, with the intention of distracting himself by preparing an exhibition of portraits of the townsfolk. The Inn�s manageress, Joanie, decides to match-make Colin with Mandy, a young woman who works in a rest home. The pair fall in love. Vera arrives in Hope, declaring that her marriage was a sham, designed to galvanise Colin himself onwards the altar. She wants him back. A battle of wits follows between the three lovers, at the height of which Vera invites Colin to her hotel, disrobes and tries to seduce him. Colin resists, but when Vera�s cigarette sets off the hotel fire alarm and they flee the building, the passing Mandy sees her half-naked rival and assumes the worst. She rejects Colin. In return for a portrait, Colin persuades the mayor to convince Vera that she is descended from the town�s founder � inviting her to be its Queen of Hope in the forthcoming Cannon Ball. When Colin reveals to her that she�s been conned, Vera finally accepts that she has lost him. Nevertheless, as the festivities begin she takes her place alongside the mayor, who has become attracted to her. Mandy is tricked into meeting Colin. He proposes marriage and she accepts. For the first 15 minutes Mark Herman�s film promises to be a romantic comedy with a refreshingly bitter bent. As the opening credit rolls, Colin Firth�s devastated artist flies, then buses from abandonment by his fianc�e in London to seemingly futile emotional escape in New England. On arrival, his heartbreak is compounded by extreme jet lag and cultural displacement, largely the result of the disconcerting eccentricity of Hope�s inhabitants: the untrusting owners of the general store, with whom Firth�s character Colin Ware shares an amusingly arch conversation about stationery (�rubber� meaning something altogether different to Americans), and Joanie, the mini-skirted owner of the Battlefield Inn, who takes a worryingly personal interest in her new guest. Throughout these scenes Firth is at his pinched-mouthed, distracted best. The actor is a specialist in aloof misery, of course, not least with his pair of Darcys (from Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones�s Diary); but here he really seems to be on the edge of a precipice, his palpable gloom suggesting a bona fide account of everyday, but not insignificant, sorrow over being jilted. Unfortunately, no sooner has the man slept off his jet lag than Hope Springs performs a disappointing volte-face. Heather Graham�s instant disrobement (Boogie Nights seems to have condemned her to nonchalant nakedness) may provide one of the more enjoyably oddball courtship scenes of recent years, but it has too immediate an effect on both Ware and the film. Ware casts off his despair � and his detachment � as he launches himself into a new romance. By the time his ex Vera has arrived, dressed in high heels and a wickedly barbed London urbanity, pathos has given way to lightweight comedy. The potential for exploiting the effect of culture clash on a grieving mind is squandered: decent lines such as �Maybe in England people live in the past, but here that ain�t done much� are replaced by bedroom farce and a running joke about Vera�s smoking in the nicotine-free zone that is present-day America. Hope Springs might seem like a good marriage of film-maker and original writer. Writer-director Mark Herman�s work is characterised by a well-balanced sense of tragi-comedy; Brassed Office, whose unemployed miners find solace in a brass band; Little Voice, in which Jane Horrock�s very large voice offers escape from a hideously humdrum life; the underrated Purely Belter, a Loachian paean to childish optimism turned sour amid northern deprivation. Charles Webb, whose novel New Cardiff Herman adapts, was responsible for The Graduate, which Mike Nichols turned into one of the most cynical of romantic comedies. But on this occasion, both novel and film opt for pleasure rather than pain, sparkling dialogue rather than insight. The results make for a film with little consistency or conviction � one whose very title suggests the rote vacuity so favoured by Hollywood at the moment.

(Mari) CF also mutters fuck under his breath at some point during the interview. (Tress)Heard that! Thought..."a man after my own heart"! LOL, At least we know what his favorite curse word will be if he ever appears on The Actor's Studio. I thought he might be a "bollocks" man, myself:-)He said it so beautifully in FP. Another laugh of his that I adore...he does it at the end of TIOBE when Algy is explaining to Lady Bracknell that Bumbry exploded, and he does it several times during the interview. He just kind of smiles and blows air through his nostrils, lips pursed, dimples showing (we all know he has the pursed lips down pat) but that sound of air just makes me nuts. (Karen)I have two in a mailing tube. Does that count? ;-) If we don't get a release date for this poxy film that may have to suffice. Thank you aishling for the review of HS. Lucky, lucky gehls.

(Tress)Yup! That laugh! I haven't heard it in any of his other films (anyone?)....but heard it during the interviews several times. RV Interesting that this reviewer read the book. "The potential for exploiting the effect of culture clash on a grieving mind is squandered: decent lines such as ?Maybe in England people live in the past, but here that ain?t done much? are replaced by bedroom farce and a running joke about Vera?s smoking in the nicotine-free zone that is present-day America. (Sight and Sound)"But on this occasion, both novel and film opt for pleasure rather than pain, sparkling dialogue rather than insight". "The Graduate" was then and this is *now*. "Pleasure".. and "sparkling dialogue" is OK by me. Thanks Aishling for taking the time to type this up..

Thanks Aishling for running out and getting the mag, then typing it all up. I had forgotten S&S's reviews are always so full of spoilers, but they're meaty and incisive. I don't dismiss intelligent film criticism. [FYI, S&S is the magazine of the British Film Institute and not some rag aimed at pimply-faced Trekkies.] From the SPOILERS, there are lots of bizarre changes from the book, but as John Malkovich said the other night (whilst laughing), it should change. This is a good comment about Colin: Throughout these scenes Firth is at his pinched-mouthed, distracted best. The actor is a specialist in aloof misery...but here he really seems to be on the edge of a precipice, his palpable gloom suggesting a bona fide account of everyday, but not insignificant, sorrow over being jilted Well, at least it has "sparkling dialogue."

New page for Hope Springs: http://www.firth.com/hs_notes.html A preview of all the material you'll soon be reading in articles and interviews. ;-)

Great page, Karen. I just lost � hour of well deserved sleep, because I simply had to read it all. But, I hope it provides sweet dreams. A thought, in the beginning, they talk a lot about the british/american angle. Makes me think of WAGW. But, that also seems to be the only thing, the two movies has in common. If only the reviewers could see, what the writers of the productionnotes saw, I guess it would get a great start at the cinema;-) Thank you Aisling for the S&S review. And thank you all for the articles and links.

(Karen) From the SPOILERS, there are lots of bizarre changes from the book, but as John Malkovich said the other night (whilst laughing), it should change. I'm a tad confused how John Malkovich fits in here. Did *HS* come up in conversation? Was he referring to his own film? Can't remember if The Dancer Upstairs is an adaptation....and too lazy to look before I send this. ;-) The one thing that strikes me about many of the HS reviews so far that are more critical is that the focus of much of the criticism is on the story itself. I don't see how that can be a valid criticism of the film itself unless it's a drastic change from the book. The story in the book is what it was and ironically all the criticisms they made about the characters and the story were my complaints about the book. And lastly...I was thinking earlier after watching the satellite tape and seeing as much as the "real" Colin as we can, that while he may be somewhat of a pain in the ass at home (as many, if not, most men are ;-))..... I *really* hope she appreciates him.

Or maybe I should say, she'd better. :-/

(Dorine)that while he may be somewhat of a pain in the ass at home (as many, if not, most men are ;-))....., Not ODB, he's not most men:-))I simply refuse to believe he's a pain in the ass at home.**huge heavy sigh** (Evelyn)Pleasure".. and "sparkling dialogue" is OK by me.. Me too. I loved this book and the "sparkling" dialogue...I never got the impression that the author wanted me to take away too much pain. I didn't think that Colin Ware was to be too tragic a figure either. A bit confused and in pain initially, but very quickly comes to the realization that (what he probably knew all along)Vera should have been out of his life a long time ago). I thought the humor and dialogue were "sparkling" and it is what I would expect from the film as well. IMHO, of course.

Thanks for typing out the S&S review, Aishling! This critic's main beef seems to be that HS is not The Graduate--but really, how often does one of those come along? Except for one or two, the reviews seem ok to me so far. Pics and write-up from the PEN event at link below. Livia looks very pretty--IMO, she's definitely carrying a boy! And Mr. Y Chromosome next to her looks good too.:-) http://www.englishpen.org/events/recentevents/atributetotheleopard/

Thanks, Mari! First time I see Livia without any makeup. It looks like a boy to me too. :-D Thanks Aishling for and getting the mag, then typing it all up. (Linda), I never got the impression that the author wanted me to take away too much pain. I didn't think that Colin Ware was to be too tragic a figure either. I believe that the critic was referring to The Graduate when he spoke about pain.

Thank you for the link, Mari! That looks suspiciously like the satellite tape jacket, doesn't it? Might be the same shirt too. I keep encountering interesting reviews of WAGW in college newspapers. I'm surprise it's getting any coverage there since they're hardly the target demographic; however, it appears to be due to CF, who evidently has some fans on college campuses. Here are some excerpts from a review in the Johns Hopkins News-Letter: I don't mean to totally trash this movie, because it has a bright, spunky energy that redeems it, and after all, Colin Firth is a dish. Actually, What a Girl Wants is pretty clever in spots, especially when it plays on the Austen-ology that Firth fans will pick up in a heartbeat. For all you people who somehow managed to miss out on the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice (big mistake, BIG mistake) where Firth played Mr. Darcy and won his tight following, you're not going to "get" the ancestor named Lord "Bingley" Dashwood, the clever choice of having Anna Chancellor play the gold digger fiance, or other wink-wink moments. All the rest of you, keep your eyelids pricked. What rescues What a Girl Wants from being bubblegum froth after all is the daddy-little girl chemistry between Firth and Bynes.... Firth rises to form as the new dad who's discovering all the worrying that comes with having a teenage daughter on the loose. There's a particularly sweet moment where he calls up his ex-lover and asks plaintively, "Is it always like this?" Aww. And while he overdoes the awkward, starched, British act in the beginning, the scenes where he loosens up under his daughter's influence, and rediscovers the man he used to be, are executed with true Firthian grace. In fact, he pushes the envelope; it's a tad alarming to see him go loose like this. While Pride and Prejudice's Darcy loosens his cravat or undoes the top few buttons from his shirt, you'll see Firth as Dashwood go nuts in tight black glam leather. ..... Now, if you want a serious art movie, this ain't in your lane. But if you want an hour or so of no-brainer relaxation (not to mention Firth drooling), then this movie is just your cup of tea. Link to full article: http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/04/18/3e9f1f51ae60b

(Mari) Livia looks very pretty--IMO, she's definitely carrying a boy! And Mr. Y Chromosome next to her looks good too.:-) (Moon) First time I see Livia without any makeup. Thanks, Mari. Talk about livin' right....if you just look at her face, you'd never know she was having a baby let alone that far along. Even at first glance to me, at that angle and in all black, she barely looks pregnant. And he was definitely lookin' quite nice. :-) That's really cute, Rika. Thanks. Nice to see such intelligent, discerning kids in college these days. (Can't believe I refer to full grown people as kids. It can't be time, yet, LOL) And thanks Aishling for typing up that review.

And ROTFL, Karen! Just looked at the new HS page. That capture of him watching her take a swig might is my favorite look in the trailer so far. You caught it at a great place. Thanks, LOL!

Karen, wonderful HS page! That picture with all the trees in full autumn foliage is such a tease. ;-) I wonder how many shots of someone else's hand we will get when Colin Ware draws? ;-) BTW, Lora asked at one of our local AMC theatres which has the poster up about the release date for HS in Miami and she was told July 9th. This guy seem to know all about it. It makes sense to me since it's opening in the UK in two weeks and they probably found a spot in July. Is opening in July the dearth of movies? I'm always away at that time.

Great job on the HS page, Karen. Has anyone ever heard of this phrase from the notes: "weather forced 'French hours.'" Rika, I agree, that looks like the Colin Unplugged jacket to me in the PEN pics. Emma, are any of those ladies you?:-) Thanks for the Johns Hopkins U review; no surprise at the Firth fandom, as you have to be pretty brilliant to get into J-H. (Moon)Is opening in July the dearth of movies? In the U.S., it's a very popular time of year to open films--the big action flicks, mostly, but no reason a comedy couldn't do ok then. Again, that's the U.S.--I have no idea about Miami.;-) ;-)

(Johns Hopkins sistas) ...Colin Firth is a dish...true Firthian grace....Pride and Prejudice's Darcy loosens his cravat or undoes the top few buttons from his shirt, you'll see Firth as Dashwood go nuts in tight black glam leather. Glad to see our institutions of higher learning continue to raise the bar and aim for appreciation of art in all its higher forms. ;-) Me thinks a JH Firthette might need to delurk!

(Me) .....watching her take a swig might is my favorite (Mari) you have to be pretty brilliant to get into J-H. Now you see why they let me in the library only. ;-)

Hope this is not old. Karen, if it is, please delete (And use as you want):

Very long interview/article on CF in Sunday Telegraph supplement. Photo on front cover which I didn't like, but very good photo accompanying article. Interviewer is smitten with CF but not Hope Springs..."fluff", although she praises the excellence of the acting by CF and MD. She prepared for the interview by watching Tumbedown, TEP, DQ and Conspiracy...doesn't like CF in lightweight roles. Nothing really new in the article. CF is in v.serious introspective Eeyore mode! Only new "fact" is about his family and university. Dad went to Cambridge, mother to Nottingham, grandfather to Oxford, cousins are high academic achievers. Also talks about Fair Trade and Oxfam. The premiere for HS is on behalf of Oxfam, at his instigation.

Also talks about conflict between ideals and reality, and how life has to be a "bloody compromise".

Thanks, Murph. I think. That's quite possibly the least flattering photo of him I've ever seen. And coupled with that headline . . . what were they thinking? Anyway, I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-)

Thank god they put good photos up on English PEN since I just got mine onto the computer and they are really crap! Hopefully the one important one is a little better. Although I must say I don't really care that much, who needs photographic evidence really?! It happened, that's enough. =) Alas no I am not one of the admirers there. I wasn't really hanging off his arm, I could barely deal with it all =). Okay - well I was going to say what Livia was wearing but you can see. She was just in plain black trousers and flat comfortable looking shoes (possibly boots too). Her hair was fabulous. I didn't really inhale enough to check cologne situation. In fact I was probably holding my breath. Neither were smoking. Just he had the white wine. Someone else has said that he seemed to be in a bad mood that night. I don't think so - not that I know him enough to read him. But he was putting up with a lot. Kristen apologised for bothering him and he really was completely charming. And he said 'you're welcome' like he REALLY meant it, looking right into me! I am going to carry that one away for a long time =). Off to buy Sunday Telegraph. =)

I really need to stop grinning so much. =)

Didn't I call it?! The publicity started this weekend... Thanks, Murph, for the cover pic. I have several other unflattering pics of him that are similar to this one. Wonder, are they all from the Telegraph? ;-) (Bethan) Interviewer is smitten with CF but not Hope Springs..."fluff", although she praises the excellence of the acting by CF and MD. She prepared for the interview by watching Tumbedown, TEP, DQ and Conspiracy...doesn't like CF in lightweight roles. OK, I've been busted. Will have to come up with new nom de plume. ;-) (Mari) Anyway, I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-) LOL!

Not a winner, that's for sure. I am getting more later today. Will see if any of the others are not quite so "hair deprived" and gloomy.

Here's the second new one from The Sunday Telegraph, courtesy of Aishling:

They should definitely get a better hairdresser for him. :) Maybe that's why he looked so upset. :(

OMG....hate me if you will, but I kinda like the Sunday Telegraph photo! The mussed up hair does something for me! And love the jacket!!! (Mari) I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-) ROTF....I saw that at the bottom of the picture and though....OMG what kind of seeds did they include? ;-) The second picture.....I fell on the floor. Perfection!

I too like the photos...quite darcyish somehow

Emma, a belated hurrah for your ODB encounter; thanks ever so much for sharing it with us! Mari) I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-) LOL, Mari, my thoughts were somewhat along those lines, too. ;-) Ack, at his hair, Louisa, his hair in the pic. Reminds me of how Bridget describes her hair--all peaks and weird shapes. Maybe it's the lighting or lack of makeup, but his face looks a little blotchy, too. We know he's photogenic, so why did they use such a lousy photo? Grrrr....

Thanks, Murph, Aishling, Karen. That cover picture has to go. Didn't he look in the mirror before they took it? The second one is better but sad. Does it have a caption? Is that at his house? Does he ride a bike in London? (Bethan), Also talks about conflict between ideals and reality, and how life has to be a "bloody compromise". As in what? Did he give personal examples? Is the article on-line? I have a hard time getting in to the T site.

A couple of extracts from the article... For Evelyn.. The reporter raises (again!) the subject of his "miserable" schooldays(!) "Oh God" he says" that has been a self-perpetuating thing, which I daresay I was responsible for, my first ever interview as a disgruntled, well not even disgruntled, just taking my first opportuunity to make my first gesture. I only didn't like school on the level of your average schoolboy not liking school" The reporter seems to have conflicting views about HS....she likes the performances but not the film. She hates the (saccharine kooky sweet)scene where HG strips naked and "attempts to convince Colin Firth that she has taken her clothes off in order to feel free and innocent, and asks him to do the same." She says that many people , particularly CF fans, will wish to leave the cinema at this point... "but if they stay they will be rewarded by some excellent performances - particularly excellent given the general awfulness of the film - by not just CF, but by Mary Steenburgen and Minnie Driver.." Make of that what you will!

Hey Ladies, it's all happening here! First of all a belated WOW to you Emma, thanks for sharing your wonderful evening last Thursday in every thrilling and glorious detail, how fabulous for you. And as a note of caution..... when I got that close to him, you won't come down to earth for AGES:-)) Enjoy! Thanks Aishling for typing up the article and to Karen for the great HS page. And to everyone else for providing me such a droolful hour of "catch- up."

Had to send my DB out for the Telegraph (well it's raining) and he came back with the Sunday Mirror "just in case." The following snippet was on the William Hickey page. "Colin Firth's sex- symbol genes seem to have appeared belatedly in his two year old son Luca. "At about one or two months old he looked like a turnip but he has got over it." said Colin on Thursday at the Italian Cultural Institute's celebration of the author Tomasi di Lampedusa in London's Belgrave Square. "Thankfully he no longer resembles a root vegetable." Firth, married to Livia Giuggioli, was joined in readings from Lampedusa's cult novel by the Irish author Edna O Brien who was in more serious mode ( boring quote from her ;-)) Emma, thank goodness we had YOUR version, way to go girl!

BTW the snippet is accompanied by a small b/w pic of him at some prem, we have seen it before (head only) but still miles sexier than anything the Telegraph's cover photographer could come up with. Noticed that they also said Colin was still living with Meg in 1996, whoops!

Oops! Got so excited by the pics that I forgot to say a big thanks!!! To Murph, Bethan, Aishling and Karen!! Thank you for all the news and wonderful photos. (Emma) I really need to stop grinning so much. =) No you don't!!! If I were you....I'd have perma-grin for the rest of my natural life! (Emma) I didn't really inhale enough to check cologne situation. In fact I was probably holding my breath. LOL....I'm proud of you for not reaching over and just sniffing him! Amazing control! ;-) Thank you Emma for answering all our questions! Hope you don't come down off of Cloud 9 for some time!

(Mari)That's quite possibly the least flattering photo of him I've ever seen. And coupled with that headline . . . what were they thinking? I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-) ROTFL, Mari....Free Seeds indeed! I'm definitely right there with ya about the picture! I don't even know how to type the sound I made when I saw that. Ewwww, for starters. And I like the second pic better, at least the composition...I find the suggestion of it alluring somehow to think he rides a bike? (ok call me crazy ;-)), but as LisaJH said, something is up with his face in both I think. (Emma) I really need to stop grinning so much. =) You're too cute, Emma! ;-) (Tress) OMG....hate me if you will, but I kinda like the Sunday Telegraph photo! Ok, I will! I thought we had a twin thing goin' on, but obviously I've been *soooo* laboring under a misapprehension. ;-D (Bethan re article) She says that many people , particularly CF fans, will wish to leave the cinema at this point... Huh? Thanks Karen, Murph, and Bethan.

(Dorine) Ok, I will! I thought we had a twin thing goin' on, but obviously I've been *soooo* laboring under a misapprehension. ;-D Oh, now, see I'll have to explain myself a bit better! I like the hair thing....it kinda makes me think that this is what he may look like when he wakes up. Sooooooo.....for some oddball reason, I find this incredible sexy. I will never get to see him 'first thing' so, this is as close as I will get (don't tell me that ya'll think he looks like Lord Dashwood in the morning!)....So, I like it, but for completely pervy reasons (and with the seed comment below the picture....well.....I won't go there)! ;-D

(Dorine) particularly CF fans , will wish to leave the cinema at this point... Huh? Absolutely! (oops too much interview viewing ;-) )I mean we didn't exactly get up in droves in the "ever ready Eddie" scene in SLOW now did we?

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. "Identity," $17 million. 2. "Anger Management," $16 million. 3. "Holes," $13 million. 4. "Malibu's Most Wanted," $7.7 million. 5. "Confidence," $4.75 million. 6. "Bulletproof Monk," "$4.65 million. 7. "What a Girl Wants," $3.35 million. 8. "Phone Booth," $3.1 million. 9. "It Runs in the Family," $3 million. 10. "The Real Cancun," $2.3 million. I'm glad that WAGW is estimated to do better than "The Real Cancun"! ;-)

(Tress)I'm glad that WAGW is estimated to do better than "The Real Cancun"! ;-) I don't know if it will though... My theater has pulled off all the evening shows for WAGW. It's only playing now at 1pm and 3:30pm (BTW I'm going at 3:30 :) ). Thanks all for the news and photos... The free seeds definitely reminded me of another nickname ODB used to be coined: IBM (Ideal Breeding Material).

(Tress)I like the hair thing....it kinda makes me think that this is what he may look like when he wakes up. Sooooooo.....for some oddball reason, I find this incredible sexy. I will never get to see him 'first thing' so, this is as close as I will get (don't tell me that ya'll think he looks like Lord Dashwood in the morning!)....So, I like it, but for completely pervy reasons (and with the seed comment below the picture....well.....I won't go there)! ;-D Tress, I could be your twin anytime. I'm with you all the way;-) Thank you all for the links, photos and articles (I'm so afraid to leave a name unmentioned, that I choose "all").

In case people are wondering, I went through my misc. CF pic file and looked at all those labeled from The Telegraph, and let me tell you, they have a history of printing some very bad pics of Colin: Several from this shoot:

I LOVE the bottom one! You don't like that? Does he have something on the bridge of his nose or is that in the scan?

(Tress)Does he have something on the bridge of his nose or is that in the scan? This was taken, when he had a, oh I don't remember, some music-device falling onto his nose. The article said something about CF being reluctant to having his photo taken looking like that, but that he changed his mind. Something about not wanting to look "precious". Sorry, very babbling, but my memory is rotten!

look precious as not on the photo, but the idea of not wanting anybody to photograph him with a "bumped nose".

(Annette) This was taken, when he had a, oh I don't remember, some music-device falling onto his nose. Ohhhh! I had heard about that....didn't know this was the picture (evidence). It doesn't look that bad. When I heard he had bumped his nose I was picturing black and blue and a huge scab. Thanks Annette.

(Mari) I liked the "Free Seeds Inside" part--they've correctly identified him as Mr. Y Chromosome.;-) ;-) Oh do I have a garden for those seeds:-)Stop! Y'all know what I'm talking about...Honestly, I don't know where your minds are these days. Sheesh.:-) I love that bottom picture, Karen--bump on the nose and all. (Annette)Tress, I could be your twin anytime. I'm with you all the way;-) I guess that makes us triplets?;-) Thanks, Karen for the great HS page and the "bad" pictures above. Thanks to Aishling, Rika, Bethan, Tress, And, of course, to the girl with the perpetual grin. (Dorine) particularly CF fans , will wish to leave the cinema at this point... Huh? I don't think so.

(Bethan) For Evelyn.. The reporter raises (again!) the subject of his "miserable" schooldays(!) "Oh God" he says" that has been a self-perpetuating thing, which I daresay I was responsible for,... LOL. Thanks Bethan. I think he's over that stage.But it did go on for several years, didn't it! My observation is that he is less of a whiner now that he used to be. I 'm impressed that he actually lobbied for the role of Colin Ware. But does anyone else get the drift that he's not so impressed with the final porduct?

(Bethan), Also talks about conflict between ideals and reality, and how life has to be a "bloody compromise". I hate to see him growing up;-( Glad to see he selected Oxfam for the premiere. Proud of him.

Karen thanks for a really great HS page and pics. Aishling, Bethan, Murph, Emma, Mari thanks so much for the information and pics, great job everyone.

Have been typing for ages the article and will get it up as soon as possible. Need to correct all the typos and format.

Thanks, Karen, for the great new HS page. Can't wait to hear about the premiere and party afterwards. Thanks to Aishling, Emma, Bethan, Murph and Mari for all the great news and pics. You ladies are wonderful for sharing so quickly with us. Lots going on right now and the party's hopping!

(Moon) Lora asked at one of our local AMC theatres which has the poster up about the release date for HS in Miami and she was told July 9th. Odd - that's a Wednesday.

Here's the article: http://www.firth.com/articles/03telegraph_427.html Believe it or not, the photographer Julian Broad is the same one from InStyle's bed pics. ;-) Enjoy!

Thank you Karen, Aishling and Antonella! Interesting article.....and I'll say thanks to Julian Broad too (since I fancy the pics). ;-D

Thank you Karen, Aishling and Antonella! Interesting article..... Ditto. But now a little help for British-lingo-challenged people. Who are Mills & Boon? And what are plus-fours?

Mills & Boon is a publisher of romance novels; in the US, the equivalent would be Harlequin Romances or similar. Plus-fours are baggy knickers, like they wear for golfing.

Saw HS commercial on channel 4 last night -- billed as Romantic Comedy of the Year! (based on a 5 star Cosmo review) It's wet and windy today in London; however, will persevere and get pneumonia for sake of another encounter =).

Good luck, Emma. Perhaps you'll try to grab his arm this time? ;-)

From today's Daily Express: New birth for Firth Colin Firth has been keeping news of his next production close to his chest. He and his Italian wife Livia are expecting their second child in August. "We don't know the sex yet," says Colin, who has a two-year son Luca with Livia and a 12-year old boy Will with actress Meg Tilly. Heavily pregnant Livia escorted Colin to London's ICI the other night for a tribute to GT di Lampedusa's book The Leopard. "I'm fascinated by all things Italian," admitted the BJD star who, although based in England, spends much of his time in Rome. So does the brooding actor, currently adding the finishing touches(?) to the film Trauma, have any plans to put pen to paper himself? "The thought of writing a book always nags me at the back of my head," he said. "I wrote a short story a while ago for a book Nick Hornby edited, called Speaking With The Angel, to raise money for The TreeHouse Trust for autistic children. I got a lot of offers after that but I haven't got the time or the discipline at the moment." (Text accompanied by a good-sized colour copy of the photo of C and L from the PEN website.)

Thanks Karen for that article. That was very interesting indeed.And thanks for the explanations, sometimes for me it's quite difficult to understand what you all are writing about. Emma, I cross fingers for you and whish you good luck!

Thank you Karen, Aishling and Antonella! It is an odd article, strange way to promote a film. Done in a basement room of the Portobello Hotel? LOL! We now know that: 1. It was some other friend and NH that brought the book to his attention. 2. Will still lives in LA and not Vancouver. 3. He has sold his soul by compromising the pounds for his beliefs. 4. He gets away with 'case-specific' when he doesn't want to answer a question. 5. Cursing comes very naturally to him. 'What appealed to me was the lightness of it - it juxtaposed with a wry cleverness that belied its slightness. It is difficult to explain. Wit is what is going to sell this film, and that is easily obscured in the apparent fluffiness.. ' Huh? Seems a rather confused way of promoting the film. If I see a man in tweeds and plus-fours and he is driving an old Jupiter, I'll think, "You didn't go to Eton. You didn't". Another bizarre quotation. I didn't think Colin gave a flying .... or thoughts about men that went to Eton. He is like the impressionist who feels obliged to tell you when he has stopped performing - 'And now this is me' as Mike Yarwood used to say. This is a new insight to Colin. No one has ever commented this before. I liked the way he brought everything back to Another Country and by association with "heavies" such as Branaugh, Day-Lewis... Good luck today, Emma! I would love to read that 5 Star Cosmo review. Is it out yet?

Thanks, Barbara! He and his Italian wife Livia are expecting their second child in August. If this is true that would make her 3 months pregnant and by the photo and the comments she is much further along. I'd say June looks more likely.

Thanks for typing up the article, Karen. Very interesting, although I've never associated P&P with the words "romantic comedy". For some reason, my little brain can't quite wrap itself around that :) (Tress) I'll say thanks to Julian Broad too (since I fancy the pics) I'll thank Julian Broad, too, but for the InStyle pics :P In the Telegraph pics CF looks.....miserable, like he needs a hug :( (Moon) Lora asked at one of our local AMC theatres which has the poster up about the release date for HS in Miami and she was told July 9th. Entertainment Weekly didn't have it listed in it's summer preview issue, and I just checked Premiere magazine's website and couldn't find it there either. Very strange...is Miramax doing the marketing for this film? ;) Good luck Emma!!!

(Moon Dreams)If this is true that would make her 3 months pregnant and by the photo and the comments she is much further along. I'd say June looks more likely. Wouldn't she be nearer 6 months' pregnant? - And he may be telling a fib about the date to keep the press at bay.

Thank you for the article, Karen. Very interesting reading, me think! Good luck Emma!

TV ALERT for the UK fans: Colin will be on "This Morning" tomorrow (Tuesday).