Colin Firth owns up to having a thing for shiny gadgets and makes a case for the retirement of eco guilt.

I am surrounded by admirable people who want to change the world (some in close proximity) and they are always on the lookout for ways to do just that. Naturally they examine their own lives and very often they like to have a look at mine too. A continual pressure point just happens to be my perceived love of gadgets. These observers point out how my own collection has squandered virgin resources to make the objects in the first place and highlight the dubious supply chain now inherent in the electronics industry. But most pernicious of all, according to them, are my too-frequent upgrades.

Firstly a point of order: I believe my lusting after electronics is over sold within my own family. I am not seduced by all gadgets. I believe that I may have, for example, one of the oldest television sets in the western world. I just have no interest in acquiring a new one. But I should also come clean. In common with millions of other technology consumers I have been seduced by one particular brand – yes, the one with a fruit related logo. Perhaps I am not as devoted as the young boy who had the logo shaved into the back of his head.  But I fell for those initial seemingly brave brand values and the innovation of those shiny slim gadgets.

The thing is, I want to live in a world where it’s OK to upgrade. How do we make that happen? We need to put pressure on the brands and the companies to take responsibility for their supply chain until this becomes a reality.

Read the full article at Eco Age

An array of Oscar-winners and A-list stars have signed up to narrate literary classics of their choice for the rapidly growing audiobook market. Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Colin Firth are among Hollywood’s biggest names to set the trend.

Not so long ago, audiobooks were the poor cousins of the publishing world, particularly in the UK, where “talking books” were largely abridged. Jobbing actors were usually recruited as readers. Now, with worldwide demand soaring, the stars want to be heard reading unabridged books.

A dozen A-list names have already been cast as narrators, inspired by the chance to read a favourite book. Seven are Oscar-winners. Winslet, who won the 2009 best actress award for The Reader, has long wanted to film Zola’s gripping murder story Thérèse Raquin but, as Hollywood is yet to be convinced, narrating it is the next best thing.

Winslet said: “As a listener, being able to tune out and be taken into another world, an atmosphere, an environment that is being created entirely for you by somebody else’s voice, is a wonderful, magical thing.”

Kidman, who won an Oscar in 2003 for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours, will record Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. Firth, fresh from his recent Oscar success with The King’s Speech, has chosen Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair, “a record of hate far more than of love”, as one of the characters observes.

The recordings will be launched next year by Audible, the UK’s largest provider of downloadable audiobooks, and a US subsidiary of Amazon. Its founder, Donald Katz, told the Observer: “Colin Firth could read me the back of a Marmite jar and I would listen… I’d pay Dustin Hoffman to read from a cereal box.”

Read the full article at the Guardian

Colin and Livia attended the UK premiere of The Debt, starring fellow Brit, Dame Helen Mirren. I’ve also added photos of the Tom Ford dinner party, as well as Tinker Tailor Solider Spy after party.

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Home > Public Appearances > Premieres > 2011: The Debt UK Premiere
Home > Public Appearances > Social Events > 2011: Tom Ford Dinner
Home > Public Appearances > After Parties > 2011: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy After Party

Colin was seen tonight at the UK premiere of Tinker Tailor Solider Spy with Livia (who looked very stunning) and also attended the BFI special screening of the movie.

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Home > Public Appearances > Premieres > 2011: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – BFI Special Screening
Home > Public Appearances > Premieres > 2011: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy UK Premiere

Just added two new photoshoot sessions to the gallery, thanks to Angie!

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Home > Professional Photos > Outtakes > Session #123
Home > Professional Photos > Outtakes > Session #124

Here at Colin Firth Daily, we want to wish you a very happy 51st birthday, Colin! Hope your day is wonderful with family, friends and relaxing!

Jonathan Teplitzky begins shooting the big-screen adaptation of Eric Lomax’s real-life account in February.

TORONTO — Colin Firth has boarded Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson’s big-screen adaptation The Railway Man, which Lionsgate International is launching to buyers at the Toronto Film Festival.

Lionsgate UK, a division of Lionsgate, is retaining distribution rights in the U.K.

Railway Man — the first major investment from Daria Jovicic’s Latitude Media — is based on former British army officer Eric Lomax’s best-selling account of his torture by the Japanese during the construction of the “death railway” during World War II and his mission decades later to seek revenge on his tormentor.

Read the rest of the article at The Hollywood Reporter

Colin & Livia both attended “La Talpa” Vanity Fair Party and when The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall opened the Wool Modern Exhibition. Photos have been added to the gallery.

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Home > Public Appearances > Social Events > 2011: Lancia Cafe Hosts “La Talpa” Vanity Fair Party
Home > Public Appearances > Social Events > 2011: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Open The Wool Modern Exhibition

Colin was in a few pages of the current issue of The Hollywood Reporter (16 September) and I’ve added those to the gallery. I’ve also added scans of Premiere France (February 2011) and Elle DK (February 2010) thanks to Elke and Connie, respectively!

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Home > Newsrack > Magazines > 2011: The Hollywood Reporter September 16
Home > Newsrack > Magazines > 2011: Premiere France February
Home > Newsrack > Magazines > 2010: Elle DK February

Colin has been busy promoting Tinker Tailor Solider Spy at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. He and Livia looks absolutely stunning at the premiere!

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Home > Public Appearances > Film Festivals > 2011: 68th Venice International Film Festival
Home > Professional Photos > Photocalls > 2011: Tinker Tailor Solider Spy Venice Photocall
Home > Public Appearances > Premieres > 2011: 68th Venice International Film Festival Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Premiere