Colin Firth claims playing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice wasn't 'helpful' to his career and saw him typecast as someone who 'looks good and struts around' (despite being famed for his brooding roles)

  • Colin Firth famously played Mr Darcy in 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice
  • Said it wasn't 'helpful' to his career because it restricted roles he was offered
  • Said it led to him being typecast as someone who 'looks good' and struts around' 

By Stephanie Linning For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

It was the role that made him a household name, but Colin Firth insists playing Mr Darcy wasn't 'helpful' to his film career. 

The British actor, 59, said in an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine that he thinks playing the romantic lead in Pride and Prejudice held him back because it led to him being typecast as someone who 'struts around looking good'. 

'This was a great role and it was a major event in my career, certainly,' he said. 'But I don't think it was all that helpful, because it tended to create this image that can restrict what kind of roles you are going to be able to find.

'Looking good and strutting around is very boring. I wanted to do other things as an actor.'  

Actor Colin Firth has claimed playing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice wasn't 'helpful' to his career because it led to him being typecast. Pictured, last month
Colin Firth with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet

Actor Colin Firth (left in March) has claimed playing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (right with co-star Jennifer Ehle) wasn't 'helpful' to his career because it led to him being typecast 

Firth became a household name following the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, thanks partly due to the scene in which he emerges from a lake in a soaking white shirt, pictured

Firth became a household name following the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, thanks partly due to the scene in which he emerges from a lake in a soaking white shirt, pictured

Firth has found success with a string of brooding roles in the 15 years since he appeared in the BBC's Jane Austen adaptation, including as his character's namesake Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones franchise. 

However he claims he was only able to change the public perception of his work once he appeared in 2009's A Single Man. 

Firth won an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of George, a depressed, gay British professor living in California in the 1980s. 

Firth has found success with a string of brooding roles in the 15 years since he appeared in the BBC's Jane Austen adaptation, including as his character's namesake Marc Darcy in the Bridget Jones franchise, pictured

Firth has found success with a string of brooding roles in the 15 years since he appeared in the BBC's Jane Austen adaptation, including as his character's namesake Marc Darcy in the Bridget Jones franchise, pictured 

Colin Firth in 1998 film Shakespeare in Love
Colin Firth in 2002 film The Importance of Being Earnest

Colin Firth in 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, left, and The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)

'This role probably did the most to change the perception of me,' Firth said. 'I was playing and older, sadder kind of figure and suddenly you're seen in a different way.' 

The following year he won an Academy Award for his performance as King George VI in The King's Speech.  

Firth, who has three children, last year announced he had split from Livia, his wife of 22 years. 

Reflecting on his career, Firth said he thought his Oscar-nominated role in 2009's A Single Man finally led to a change in public perception. Pictured, in the film with co-star Julianne Moore

Reflecting on his career, Firth said he thought his Oscar-nominated role in 2009's A Single Man finally led to a change in public perception. Pictured, in the film with co-star Julianne Moore

Colin Firth

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