Date: 8th February 2011

Firth tipped for Oscar night glory


Jeff Bridges is tipping Colin Firth to succeed him as winner of the best actor award at this year's Oscars.

Bridges took the accolade last year for Crazy Heart with Firth among the disappointed nominees for A Single Man.

Bridges, this year nominated for True Grit (2010), believes the roles will be reversed and that Firth will be celebrating on February 27 when the Academy Awards are handed out.

Bridges, speaking at the annual luncheon for nominees in Beverly Hills, said of Firth's performance in The King's Speech: "He'll probably take home the trophy this year. He gives a wonderful performance."

Firth - starring as the Queen's stammering father, King George VI, who reluctantly took the throne in 1936 after his brother abdicated - joked that he sometimes gets royal treatment since the film came out.

"I do get the odd bow, which I put down to either confusion or facetiousness," Firth said.

Others at the lunch included Firth's co-stars, supporting-acting nominees Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush, and supporting contenders Amy Adams (The Fighter), John Hawkes (Winter's Bone), Jeremy Renner (The Town) and Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom).

Source: Press Release