He's quite an excitable person who enjoys larking around. He's very noisy - the life and soul of the party. He's a very dominant personality... He is very close to his family and tries to see as much of them as possible. (Colin's father David Firth)

(Re. Colin's first published short story) I think it was very brave... He's incredibly bright and I thought he'd come up with something interesting. Writer Nick Hornby

Colin is so talented, kind and funny... He values his integrity very highly. He's an extraordinarily intelligent man who's also very lovely to be around. He made it very easy for me. Bridget Jones's Diary actress Renee Zellweger

Colin is bright and funny and sparky. He has a perfect smile and that dark curly hair you want to run your fingers through. Elisabeth Davidz

Colin has the quality of somebody who is a tiny bit aloof from life but seems to understand things. That combined with his tremendous power as an actor, make him the perfect Mark Darcy. Bridget Jones's Diary producer Jonathan Cavendish

It was so fascinating to watch Colin doing real acting, like close-up magic... His face was such a mask of distracted agony, when he turned back to me after watching Daniel leave with Bridget that I wanted to reassure him 'It turns out all right for you in the end'. Tracey Macleod (real life Jude and extra on Bridget Jones's Diary)

He makes haughty so damned sexy. Bridget Jones's Diary director Sharon McGuire.

I think you are the most magnificent actor and I've loved you in everything you have ever done. Showhost Caroline Rhea

I can't speak because I kind of have a crush on him. Showhost Katie Courie

Colin Firth slopes into the room, filling it with megawatt charm.... Gavin Doherty, journalist

He possesses a keen sense of absurdity. A relaxed presence with a black zip-up top and slightly dishevelled hair, he is certainly not afraid of taking the mick out of himself... Firth is warm, articulate and has a wicked sense of humour. James Rampton, journalist

He's a bit like an intense postgraduate student, keen on beer and long pub conversations about T.S Eliot... This is not Bridget Jones's dreamboat treating you to a penetrating Ralph Fiennes gaze to seal his own gorgeousness. None of that. Firth is affable, straightforward, intelligent. Lesley White, journalist

He is warm and open and frankly, to die for. It strikes me that this was part of the strength of the original Darcy, and other parts that Firth has done well; he emits a slow-burning magnetism that reveals itself in stages... He is singularly unable to sugar himself with frothy chatter and would be far happier sitting in an armchair and harrumphing over the papers. Susie Steiner, journalist

He works so hard at being ordinary that you forget the heartthrob stuff completely. Then it poleaxes you when you least expect it. Elizabeth Wilson, journalist

Our hearts lift at the sight of super-sexy Colin... heading in our direction. Find ourselves chattering in an embarrassing way because dazzled by his clean-cut good looks and charming manner. Sunday Mirror journalist reporting from the Bridget Jones's Diary Premiere party

In this film I must point out he is attractive at all times. Even in the jumper he is raw sex in a jumper. Zoe Williams, journalist

Firth is one of the best actors out there. There is so much texture to his performance. It's wonderful to see an actor who can convey one emotion while his dialogue conveys the opposite. He's full of sub-text. Fred Mertz, journalist

The astonishingly versatile Colin Firth plays Dr Wilhelm Stuckhart. Financial Times reviewer

Miramax alone seems to have realised that the versatile Firth, 40, is hotter than all the 'Britpack' dudes combined. Graham Fuller, journalist