Actor honoured by university

Southern Daily Echo, 20 October 2007

FOR the actor who will forever be known as the undemonstrative heart-throb Mr Darcy, there was no more fitting place to collect his honorary degree than Winchester Cathedral. That is where Jane Austen, whose Pride And Prejudice catapulted Colin Firth to national acclaim, is buried.

It was also the place where the 47-year-old who grew up in Winchester enjoyed many happy childhood memories including attending midnight Mass.

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Before collecting his honorary degree from the University of Winchester yesterday (19/10/2007), he said: "In some ways this could not mean more to me because I have never laid my hands on one of these before."

Both Colin's parents Shirley and David are former lecturers at the university."I don't have any other degrees. Only my cycling proficiency test!"

Colin, who attended Montgomery of Alamein Secondary School in Winchester, which later became Kings' and Eastleigh's Barton Peveril College, has enjoyed a spectacular film career with roles in many hit films including Bridget Jones' Diary, Fever Pitch and most recently When Did You Last See Your Father?

Gardening expert and TV personality Alan Titchmarsh, who has homes in Alton and on the Isle of Wight, received an honorary degree too. He said: "It's a great treat to be able to wear robes like this. It is a tremendous honour."

Other honorary degree recipients during this year's graduations were composer Sir John Tavener and author A S Byatt.

Small part of Colin's speech

Actor Colin Firth to receive an honorary degree from the University of Winchester

Winchester University, 4 October 2007.

Actor Colin Firth will receive an honorary degree from the University of Winchester at a graduation ceremony held on Friday 19 October at Winchester Cathedral. Colin Firth has starred in a range of acclaimed films, television and theatre productions. He was born in Grayshott in Hampshire and was educated in Winchester. His grandparents were English missionaries working in India, while his parents are academics that have both worked as lecturers at the University of Winchester. Colin spent many of his childhood years overseas, spending time in Nigeria, where his father was teaching, and he also lived in Missouri until he was 11. He got his first taste of acting playing Jack Frost in a school pantomime and became determined from the age of 14 to become an actor. His first professional acting role was as Guy Bennett in the West End production of Another Country. From this performance he was chosen to play the character Judd in the movie of the play. He went on to play a variety of character parts in both film and television. For his portrayal of Robert Lawrence in the 1989 TV production of Tumbledown he received the Royal Television Society Best Actor award and also a BAFTA nomination.

He enjoyed huge widespread popularity as a heartthrob and another BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Mr Darcy in the BBC serialisation of Pride and Prejudice.

Colin Firth comments: “The fact that I have had a long-standing personal association with the University of Winchester gives this award a special significance for me. I am tremendously proud of it.”

“We are thrilled that Colin Firth will be accepting an honorary degree from the University of Winchester at graduation this year,” said University Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Turner.

“Colin Firth has had an impact as both an actor of great substance but also as an involved supporter of projects around the world that take up the causes of the poor, the weak and the dispossessed; we honour him for both these roles” added Professor Turner.

Colin Firth’s filmography includes: The English Patient, Fever Pitch, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Love Actually, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and the upcoming And When Did You Last See Your Father.

Other University of Winchester honorary degree recipients this year include the TV personality and gardening expert, Alan Titchmarsh; composer Sir John Tavener; and author A.S. Byatt.

The University of Winchester graduation ceremonies took place from 17-19 October at Winchester Cathedral, where that year more than 1,200 students graduated.

About the University of Winchester:

The University of Winchester has over 5,600 students studying a wide selection of courses ranging from foundation and undergraduate degrees through to Masters level courses and PhD research. Programmes span humanities, arts, performing arts, social sciences, teacher education, business, health and applied social studies.

The University is based on two sites in Winchester located close to the city centre – the King Alfred Campus and West Downs, and one in Basingstoke known as Chute House.