Colin Firth – best-known for Bridget Jones’s Diary and currently starring in Kingsman: The Golden Circle – has accepted an honorary Italian citizenship, becoming a dual Italian and British citizen.
In a recent interview Firth spoke about Brexit, saying: “Brexit does not have a single positive aspect for me. Many colleagues, including Emma Thompson, are — like me — enthusiastic Europeans. And we still cannot believe it.” According to The Guardian, he was also said to have described Brexit as “a disaster of unexpected proportions”.
The actor has lived in both London and Italy and become fluent in Italian having married Italian film director Livia Guiggioli (now Livia Firth) in 1997. They currently live in London with their two sons.
Firth explained his reasoning for applying for a dual citizenship in a statement that read:
“A connection with Italy has existed in my family for more than two decades now. I was married there and had two children born in Rome. My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries. We feel that we’ve made a gift of that to each other.
“Our children have been dual citizens since the beginning. We never really thought much about our different passports. But now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible that we should all get the same. Livia is applying for a British passport.
“I will always be extremely British (you only have to look at or listen to me). Britain is our home and we love it here. Despite the enticements of my profession to relocate to more remunerative climes, I’ve always chosen to base my career out of the UK and pay my taxes here. That hasn’t changed.
“I married into Italy (and anyone will tell you when you marry an Italian you don’t just marry one person; you marry a family and perhaps an entire country…). Like almost everybody I have a passionate love of Italy and joining my wife and kids in being dual citizens will be a huge privilege.”
