Colin Firth : the biography

From the moment Colin Firth took on the role of Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice", emerging from the lake in 'that scene', he was set on a path from sex symbol to national treasure and Hollywood star.

With roles ranging from Hugh Grant's love rival in "Bridget Jones" to an Oscar-nominated turn as a gay university professor in "A Single Man", Firth's skills as a versatile actor have known no bounds.

Yet, it was his recent portrayal of George VI in the 2011 film "The King's Speech" that has elevated him to Hollywood royalty, bagging him numerous awards, including the much coveted Oscar for Best Actor.

However, it is not only his assumed roles, but the man himself who has captured the hearts of audiences the world over.

This first ever biography also reveals: his early life in Nigeria; the secrets of his escape to Canada with actress Meg Tilly, the birth of their first son and his heartbreak as the relationship floundered; the passionate affair with "Pride and Prejudice" co-star Jennifer Ehle; and his whirlwind romance with his Italian wife, Livia. Fascinating, revelatory and suffused with Firth's own dry wit, this is a must-read book on the man of the moment.