Colin Firth has been making women swoon ever since he gave us the definitive version of Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice' in the 1990s; a role which he parodied to further acclaim in the 'Bridget Jones' series of films. Outside of the romantic performances, Firth is a highly accomplished actor, capable of giving a convincing portrayal of any character. 2009's 'A Single Man' is a textbook example of that.
In the movie Firth plays George Falconer, a depressed and suicidal professor struggling to come to terms with the death of his partner in a car accident. It's a bleak and dark film high on drama, which called on every bit of Firth's skill. He was rewarded with an Oscar nomination, but unfortunately wasn't able to claim the award, which went to Jeff Bridges that year for 'Crazy Heart' instead.