Why Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle broke up

Childhood and youth

Jennifer Ehle was born on December 29, 1969 in Winston-Salem in America, North Carolina. Her mother, Rosemary Harris, is a British-born actress who has won various awards and was nominated for an Oscar. The viewer is known for her role as Aunt May in the film Spider-Man. Father is an American writer and screenwriter John Ehle. From his pen came the scripts for the series “Studio 57”, the films “Hard Men” and “The Journey of August King”.

Jennifer Ehle and her mother Rosemary Harris

The very fact of the birth of a girl in such a creative family left Jennifer with no other choice but to become an actress. She received her first role at the age of 3 - she entered the theater stage with her mother, who played in the production of A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. But her real theatrical debut was the role of Calypso in the play “Glade of Daisies” based on the work of Mary Weasley.

Jennifer Ehle in her youth

The girl traveled a lot with her mother, so during her childhood she managed to change 18 schools. But looking at her mother, she, without hesitation, decided to devote herself to art. Therefore, Jennifer Ehle studied acting since childhood. She studied at the North Carolina School of Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Why did Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth break up?

Reese Esposito/IFA 7 Days
Colin Firth: “Any lady loses to my wife” COLIN FIRTH
: “Any lady loses to my wife” In recent months, only the lazy have not discussed the successes of the wonderful English actor Colin Firth. It’s as if time had turned back - it was like this 15 years ago, when he played Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and the entire female half of England, and then the whole world, began to go crazy about Colin. It was for this reason that Firth tried to “run away” as far as possible from the image of a man who made him want to immediately go down the aisle with him. And the escape was justified. This year, for the role of George VI, who became the reluctant king, the father of the now living Queen Elizabeth II in the film “The King’s Speech!”, the actor has already received a Golden Globe, an award from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). , many other prizes and awards. - Admit it, Colin, you expected such a violent reaction to what seemed to be just another historical film about the generally unheroic life of another king - he neither cut off anyone’s head, nor executed his wives... - I think it’s something that is common to all of us curiosity. After all, little is known about this man, King George VI, who before his accession was called Prince Albert (at home - Bertie), Duke of York. Everyone knows about his brother Edward, who was supposed to inherit the throne, but exchanged this right for a scandalous marriage with the divorced American Mrs. Simpson. And after the death of his father, King George V, it was Bertie who was forced - never wanting to - to take his place. But he didn’t want this largely because of his... stuttering. Georg was not afraid to fight, he served as a naval officer during the First World War, but the need to utter a phrase out loud, especially in public, scared him and drove him into a frenzy. It is interesting, in my opinion, to find out about whose role was clearly underestimated, who was always in the shadows, considered not a charismatic character, not a favorite of the public. But it was under George VI that the nation entered the war, and he faithfully served his homeland during this difficult period and in the subsequent difficult years for England. But, as they would say now, he never became a media historical figure. We were very lucky when, just a few weeks before the start of filming, it became known that Lionel Logue, the same doctor from Australia who not only helped the future king overcome a painful problem, at least in part, but also became his friend, lives in London grandson. And he keeps all the notes of his grandfather, his diaries describing meetings with the king. It must be said that Logue was an extremely decent person and did not write down anything unnecessary, except how difficult classes were conducted, that is, he did not try to speculate in advance on his rather close relationship with the king. — Is it true that this film appeared thanks to the efforts of screenwriter David Seidler, for whom this topic is very personal? - Yes, this, in my opinion, is an amazing story. David stuttered very badly from early childhood. Even now he has not been completely cured, but until he was 16 he simply could not speak. So his parents, in order to somehow cheer up the boy, showed him recordings of George VI’s speeches during the war. And they said that, look, the king himself is trying to cope with the problem, he is not afraid to speak in front of his subjects - and at that time the British Empire had much more of them, as you understand, than now. And it really helped David a lot. And so, having already become a writer, he sent a letter to the widow of George VI, Queen Mother Elizabeth, where he told about this wonderful experience. With a request to let him write a script about her husband. After a while I received an answer. The Queen Mother asked David to wait, at least until her death, since even the memories of these events still cause her pain. And David kept his word. It was only in 2002, after the Queen's death, that he began writing the script. — They say that Queen Elizabeth II, the daughter of your hero, finally watched the film and was pleased. Tell me, how do you, a real Englishman, feel about the monarchy and royals? “Well, I guess they’re all quite nice people.” But having been involved by my parents in discussions on political topics since childhood, I must admit that I prefer those people in power for whom I may or may not vote. In other words, I prefer choice characters. By the way, we didn’t even try to get help from the royal family - we knew it was useless. And it is impossible to recognize these people even by shaking their hands. I once had the opportunity to attend a meeting between Prince Charles and some representatives of the British people. He is impeccably well-mannered, knows who he is talking to, how and with whom he should behave, is polite, but is interested in each interlocutor exactly as much as his personal secretary allows him. Exactly until the minute when this person, following him like a shadow, gives a sign that it is time to finish and move on to the next lucky person. - You know, when you, as a king, painfully try to force words out of yourself, especially during the famous address to the people of England and to the whole world after the outbreak of World War II, it just sends a chill down your spine... - Thank you. My sister Katie helped me a lot, she is a speech therapist who specializes in various speech problems. She also helped me learn to stutter (after all, this is not taught anywhere!), and, conversely, to get rid of the consequences later. For several months after filming, I found myself stuttering and unable to start a sentence. And after the camera turned off, he opened his mouth, the first sound seemed to come out, and then everything seemed to be pushed back into the throat or somewhere else. By the way, I was familiar with similar sensations. The last time I played in the theater, before the premiere, I was suddenly seized with terrible fear. I remember locking myself in the toilet, hoping to pull myself together. Then I decided to go outside through the fire exit to get some air. And it had to happen - the door slammed behind me! And now there are a few minutes left before the curtain rises, I bang on this door, then run to the main entrance, where the last spectators are rushing into the hall, I make my way between the rows and manage to jump onto the stage straight from the hall. By some miracle, I managed to remember and reproduce the first lines, and then everything seemed to go as it should. For people, their entire life may depend on these problems. Starting from dinner at a restaurant, when you can’t simply order your favorite dish, and ending with a business or any other meeting. But the film, it seems to me, is still not about that. And about loneliness. Loneliness is universal, and no matter how successful your marriage is, how many loyal friends or loved ones you have, still at a certain level we are all devilishly lonely and no one is able to fully comprehend what is happening in our soul, in our hearts, in brain. - However, your own marriage was quite successful...

Colin Firth with his wife Livia
- Marriage should be treated like a marathon.
(Smiles.) Livia and I have been living together for 15 years and we are still crazy about each other. Perhaps what helps me personally avoid all sorts of temptations is the ability to understand in time - no matter how beautiful the lady making eyes at me is, she can hardly compare with my wife. I'm lucky - I'm married to a beauty. My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world, there is no doubt about that. — While working on the film “The King’s Speech!” you met your former lover and partner in the famous television series “Pride and Prejudice”, actress Jennifer Ely (she played Elizabeth Bennet in the series, and Firth - Mr. Darcy, and in the current film Ely played the role of the doctor’s wife. - Ed. )… — It was very nice to meet Jennifer again on the set. But, you know, I never thought that at one time we began an affair thanks to exclusively working together. And because in that series our heroes were in love with each other. J.El in the movie “Pride and Prejudice”
I believe in love at first sight. At first sight, I also fell in love with Meg Tilly (a very famous and promising actress in those years, with whom Firth had an affair that almost ruined his acting career, since Meg preferred a secluded life in the forest, in the Canadian outback, to Hollywood. - Note ed.).

Colin with Meg Talley And further joint filming in the film “Valmont” did not have any significance. Another thing is that Meg did not immediately accept my advances. We lived for five years in a remote village, far from civilization, and were happy if it weren’t for my acting itch. I started shuttling between London and Canada, got a job, but lost Meg. Our breakup was one of the most painful events of my life. Thank God, I managed to maintain a good relationship with our son, Will lives in London, studies acting and communicates wonderfully with my younger sons Luca and Matteo. And you’ll laugh, I also fell in love with Libya from the very first minute. Her parents were not happy - although they are the nicest people - to get not only an actor, but also an Englishman, and also nine years older than her, as their daughter's fiancé. They were also upset by my complete inability to speak their native Italian. Since I could no longer correct the first three points, I decided to at least learn Italian. (Smiles.) - Is it true that for some time now Livia has been coming out with you on the red carpet exclusively in outfits from so-called eco-designers? (Designers who try to use environmentally friendly methods in their work, choosing appropriate fabrics, dyes, and even refuse to cooperate with those manufacturers who use child labor in their enterprises in underdeveloped countries. - Ed.) - Yes, my wife and I For several years now we have been collectively trying to make our contribution to the fight for the environment. A special store has been opened in London that sells various items and products made from environmentally friendly sources and materials. And the appearance of my beautiful wife in impeccable dresses created especially for her by her friends, eco-designers, can convince many. I believe that not only ordinary people, but also celebrities will start buying things that are not made with chemicals, artificial dyes, organically grown cotton or silk that does not kill the silkworm. And Livia is not shy about sewing outfits for herself from those things that have long been collecting dust in the wardrobe - even from my old and moth-eaten suits! (Laughs.) In general, there are two superstars in our house. And it's not my wife and I. These are our boys. That's for whom my acting authority means absolutely nothing. On the contrary, they are very sorry that I am not a builder. One day, Matteo, about three years old, was brought to the set, he saw all these complex set designs and camera cranes and decided that I was doing the noble work of a builder. When I found out that in fact my job mostly involved dressing up and wearing eyeliner like a woman, I was very disappointed. In order not to completely disappoint the children, my wife and I never show them films with my participation.

Movies

In 1992, Peter Hall invited the young artist to audition for the series “The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones.” She received the role of the Austrian Empress Zita. After this, the girl was given the main role in the television series “Mickey’s Love”.

Actress Jennifer Ehle

In 1993, filming began on The Beatles: Four Plus One. She played Cynthia Lennon. The film shows the life story of John Lennon's friend, Stuart Sutcliffe - the story of how he dreamed of becoming an artist, of his love and death.

But the main success for Jennifer Ehle was the role of Elizabeth Bennet in the cult film adaptation of Jane Austen’s book “Pride and Prejudice.” Her co-star was Colin Firth, known to viewers from the films “The King’s Speech!”, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy!”, and “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”

Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the series "Pride and Prejudice"

The actress has repeatedly said that she is a fan of Jane Austen’s work, so when she was offered the main role in its film adaptation, she did not immediately believe her luck. Jennifer played Elizabeth Bennet so talentedly that she was awarded the prestigious BAFTA award for this work. It is noteworthy that during the filming, Jennifer’s hair was too short; its length did not allow for the hairstyle of that time, so she had to wear wigs.

This television series was warmly received by both viewers and film critics. Until now, this version of the film adaptation of the novel is considered the most successful. After filming Pride and Prejudice, Jennifer Ehle literally began to receive new offers.

In 1999, on the set, Jennifer met her mother - they played in the film “Taste of Sunshine”, where they played the role of the same heroine, only in different years of her life.

The actress met Colin Firth again on the set of the tragicomedy “The King’s Speech!” She got the minor character of the wife of speech therapist Lionel Logue - Myrtle Logue.

Jennifer Ehle in The King's Speech

But while acting in films, Jennifer Ehle did not forget about the theater. The actress regularly changes the set to the theater stage. Among the most notable works in the theater are Kevin Spacey's production of The Philadelphia Story, Macbeth and Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia. This was her second collaboration with Stoppard. In 2000, she already played in his play “Reflections, or the True.” For both of these works, the actress was awarded Tony Awards.

In 2014, the actress starred in the film adaptation of the well-known novel Fifty Shades of Gray by Erica Leonard James, playing the mother of the main character Anastasia Steele. She also participated in the filming of the sequel to the film.

The cure for sadness

British women often joke that they have their own “national” way of coping with stress: when life turns into an endless black streak, they don’t run to a psychoanalyst or go shopping, but watch the movie “Pride and Prejudice” to admire it again on Mr. Darcy played by Colin Firth.

Jokes aside, the film adaptation of Jane Austen’s book “Pride and Prejudice” - the main “women’s” novel in England - made Firth, who played the main role, a real star and a recognized sex symbol. However, not only within the United Kingdom, but throughout the world. And for good reason - the cold and unapproachable, but charismatic aristocrat played by Colin turned out to be incredibly expressive.

The actor himself chuckles good-naturedly at the image of an arrogant handsome man that has firmly stuck to him: “I started the interview with the phrase: “If you say that I’m a sex symbol, I’ll get up and leave.” Because I don't really have anything in common with Mr. Darcy. I'm much closer to Bridget Jones with her constant "mess ups." There is some truth in these words - Firth’s path to popularity and universal love may not have been very thorny, but there were also plenty of difficulties along the way.

From early childhood, Colin Firth was fascinated by the theater. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Colin Firth was born on September 10, 1960 in Hampshire (UK), but just a few weeks later his parents, university teachers, took the baby to West Africa. The Firths generally traveled a lot. Colin spent the first four years of his life in Nigeria and lived for a long time in America. Returning to their homeland, the restless Firths continued to move from place to place. Already in his youth, Colin made a firm decision to become an actor. He doesn’t like to remember his school years, nor the time when he just started performing on stage: “I rented a room in north London and walked exclusively to save money...”

Personal life

While working on the series Pride and Prejudice, Jennifer Ehle began a romantic relationship with actor Colin Firth. That is why the love experiences of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy look so believable: after all, the actors were actually in love with each other. Their romance lasted a year and a half. The actors did not talk about the reasons for the separation.

Jennifer Ehle and her husband Michael Ryan

Shortly after breaking up with Firth, Jennifer met writer Michael Ryan. Subsequently he became her husband. In 2001, the couple entered into an official marriage. The actress has repeatedly said that she feels like a happy wife and mother. They had two children - son George (2003) and daughter Tulula (2009).

The idyll didn't work out

In 1984, Firth made his debut in the film Another Country and starred in several more films. But he received his first star role - the cold-blooded crusher of women's hearts, Viscount de Valmont - only five years later. Playing in the film of the same name by Milos Forman (it was one of the film adaptations of Chaderlos de Laclos’ novel “Dangerous Liaisons”), the actor got into the role so deeply that he fell in love with his partner, actress Meg Tilly. He considered it incredible that Tilly would reciprocate his feelings - like her heroine, Meg was not free, and also had two children. However, suddenly flared passion destroyed her 6-year marriage.

Their relationship became a continuation of a beautiful on-screen romance. Meg, a Canadian by birth, took Firth to her homeland, where they lived for several years in a hut in the mountains above the Arctic Circle. Tilly dreamed of spending her whole life with her beloved in complete isolation from the outside world - engaging in subsistence farming, making furniture by hand and growing vegetables in the garden beds. But Firth did not like this lifestyle, and even the son Will, born to the couple, did not save the marriage. Colin was ready to sacrifice his family to return to his profession. Back in Canada, he unsuccessfully knocked on the doors of theatrical agencies. The actor agreed to play roles even in children's matinees, but he did not receive such offers.

Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle at the BAFTA ceremony. Photo: globallookpress.com

Meanwhile, in the UK, the creators of the TV movie “Pride and Prejudice” were literally running wild in search of the leading actor. He had to be not just an attractive, but a super-charming actor, who would also look harmonious in the surroundings of the Regency era. We can say that fate itself forced Firth at that very moment to pack his bags and return to his homeland.

Jennifer Ehle now

Jennifer Ehle is active on her Instagram. The theater and film star often posts photos of his daily life, without hiding his household in the least. With enviable frequency, photos from family dinners with parents and walks with children appear on the profile. Of course, the actress also shares behind-the-scenes photos.

Jennifer Ehle in 2017

In 2020, two films with her participation were released - “Swamps” and “I Kill Giants.” The actress continues to act in films. The release of the film “The Professor and the Madman” is planned for 2018. The actress also plans to play in the film adaptation of Emily Danforth’s novel “The Miseducation of Cameron Post.”

At one time, information appeared that Jennifer would reincarnate as Catelyn Stark in the series “Game of Thrones.” But already in March of the following year, the artist was replaced by Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley.

Filmography

• 1994 – “The Beatles: Four Plus One”
• 1995 – mini-series “Pride and Prejudice”
• 1996 – “Road to Heaven”
• 1997 – “Wilde”
• 1999 – “Taste of Sunshine”
• 2002 – “Obsession”
• 2007 – “Pride and Glory”
• 2010 – “The King’s Speech!”
• 2011 – “Changing Reality”
• 2011 – “Contagion”
• 2011 – “Ides of March”
• 2014 – “A Romance of Versailles”
• 2014 – “RoboCop”
• 2015 – “Fifty Shades of Gray”
• 2017 – “Fifty Shades Darker”

Awards and nominations[edit | edit code]

• 1991 - Ian Charleson Award - for his role in the play “Tartuffe”
• 1992 - Radio Times Magazine Award for Best Newcomer - for his role in the television series "The Camomile Lawn"
• 1996 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award - for his role in the television series "Pride and Prejudice"
• 1997 - Nomination for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award - for his role in the film "Wilde"
• 2000 - Nomination for the External Society of Critics Award - for his role in the play “Reflections, or the True”
• 2000 - Nomination for the Genie Film Award - for his role in the film “A Taste of Sunshine”
• 2000 - Nomination for the Laurence Olivier Theater Award - for his role in the play “Reflections, or the True”
• 2000 - Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Theater - for his role in the play "Reflections, or the True"
• 2000 - Award from the charity organization Variety Club - for his role in the play “Reflections, or the True”
• 2001 - Sputnik Award - for his role in the film “Taste of Sunshine”
• 2007 - Nomination for the External Society of Critics Award - for his role in the play “The Shore of Utopia”
• 2007 - Tony Award for Best Character Actor in a Theater - for his role in the play "The Shore of Utopia"