On Saturday I blogged that although getting to ask Brad Pitt a question at the Burn After Reading press conference was a definite TIFF highlight, there are other actors I’d go gaga over before him. Namely, Colin Firth.

Well, yesterday I had the chance to interview him. Not shouting out a question at a crowded press conference, not sitting around a round table with a dozen other journalists, but a one-on-one interview. We got the call in the morning that he’d be available for a quick interview at 1pm. Fortunately, we were free then as well – scheduling for TIFF is a little like playing Tetris, slotting in interviews around screenings and press conferences – but to be honest I would’ve dropped just about anything for a chance to speak to The Firth. I mean, this is Mr. Darcy we’re talking about!

We shot the interview on the second floor of the InterContinental hotel, in an open area by a window. Colin was polite as could be, introducing himself by saying, “Hello, I’m Colin.” (Which I thought was cool, because really he needs no introduction.) As I turned to lead him to where the interview was going to be shot, I bumped into a post (very Bridget Jones of me) but managed to recover without looking too much like the starstruck dork I was.

I’d seen Colin’s new film, Genova by director Michael Winterbottom, the day prior to the interview and it was incredible. A heartbreaking story about a father who takes his two daughters to live in Italy following the sudden death of their mother in a car crash. Firth is so good at playing strong characters forced to bury their emotions, and he was devastatingly good in the film. He remarked that despite the subject matter it was one of the most enjoyable times he’s had filming a movie because it was shot with a digital camera and as a result felt more intimate, with less time setting up shots, etc.

Firth also described being in the city of Genova – it was his first time there and he remarked on how it doesn’t seem to be among the main tourist destinations in Italy but perhaps should be given the beauty and history of the place.

Following the interview Colin was kind enough to pose for a few pictures – normally I don’t ask to be in them but I couldn’t resist in this case. He shook both my hand and my producer Brian’s and thanked us before heading off to lunch.

It doesn’t get any better than that.