Colin Firth Becomes A Free Man

Chiswick-based actor wins another accolade for acting

Chiswick-based actor Colin Firth has said he is 'hugely touched' by his latest honour, the Freedom of the City of London.

The Oscar-winning actor was granted the award for services to acting.

Firth accepted the honour at the Guildhall by reading the Declaration of a Freeman, which allows him to carry out his trade.

Before receiving the award, he commented:

"London is my home and I'm hugely touched and honoured by this gesture."

Colin Firth was born in England and spent his early years in Nigeria, then Winchester, Hampshire and St. Louis, Missouri, before returning to the UK for secondary education and later drama school. He has lived in Chiswick for several years with his wife Livia and two sons.

Author Rudyard Kipling, Dame Judi Dench and former prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Peel count as former recipients.

The title, thought to have begun in 1237, came with several traditional privileges, such as driving sheep over London Bridge, being drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest, or, if sentenced to death, being hanged with a silken rope. These no longer exist.

Alderman David Wootton, Lord Mayor of the City of London, said Colin Firth was a very deserving candidate.

He won an Oscar for his portrayal of a King George VI in the film The King's Speech and recently collected a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to acting.

March 9, 2012