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Q&A WithColin Firth

Q&A With…Colin Firth

By Susan L. Hornik

Colin Firth

By Susan L. Hornik

The star of Nanny McPhee and the Bridget Jones movies on dating after losing a loved one—and why nice guys really do get the girl.

	In Nanny McPhee, you play a widower who’s lost control of his kids, carries on conversations with his dead wife, and can’t quite make it back to the dating scene. Nor can he acknowledge he’s attracted to his maid. What’s holding him back?
	I think everyone can relate to the loss of a loved one. He adored his wife; he just can’t seem to free himself from her at all. The girl who works for him clearly adores him but if you’re ruled by fear and sadness, you can’t even register romantic feelings.

	Why do you think she’s attracted to him?
	I don’t know really—how much more of a loser could he be?! He has such an incredible lack of style. But there’s something quite touching about him, and I think that’s what draws Evangeline to him. He’s clearly a good guy, and women like that.

	What advice would you give to recent widows and widowers who are getting back into the dating scene?
	For me, the message of this movie is that life can start over: Just when it feels like it’s hopeless, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone yearns for things in their life to have a rebirth; it’s wonderful to find that hope after despair.

	Do you get much advice on your own love life?
	After you get married, the advice stops coming in—and that’s a good thing!

	In the movie your character has an insanely bad date at a wedding. Ever experienced something like that in your own life?
	I’m not a big fan of other people’s weddings, actually. I don’t know, I find them slightly depressing. I know that makes me sound like a bit of curmudgeon but…you know…there people are, crying and weeping, and here’s me crying too, but out of boredom and despair!

	And speaking of bad dates, have you had any yourself?
	I’ve had several catastrophic dates. In fact, they are so traumatic, I can’t even talk about them!

Contributing entertainment editor Susan L. Hornik is based in Los Angeles.