'The English reserve is constipated': Colin Firth's wife Livia admits her parents couldn't see his appeal... even as Mr Darcy

By Jessica Earnshaw For Mailonline

Published: 09:45 EST, 8 August 2014 | Updated: 14:51 EST, 8 August 2014

It was the role that made him a star, but Colin Firth’s in-laws didn’t think he was drop dead gorgeous when he played Mr Darcy.

The actor’s wife Livia said that her parents asked her: 'Do you really consider this guy sexy?' when they saw him play the dashing lead in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

The 45-year-old, whose family are Italian, said that they thought the British stiff upper lip was ridiculous and that her husband looked 'constipated' rather than alluring. 

'Constipated': Colin Firth's wife Livia said that her parents asked: 'Do you really consider this guy sexy?' when they saw him play the dashing lead in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

'Constipated': Colin Firth's wife Livia said that her parents asked: 'Do you really consider this guy sexy?' when they saw him play the dashing lead in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice

The brunette beauty's family would have been somewhat out of synch with the rest of Britain - its women at least - which fell head over heels in love with the 53-year-old.

The most famous scene was when he emerged dripping wet from a lake wearing just a white shirt, turning him into a sex symbol overnight.

 

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Colin, who later won an Oscar for his lead role in The King’s Speech, met his future wife before Pride and Prejudice aired in 1995. 

Do you find me sexy? The 45-year-old said they thought the British stiff upper lip was ridiculous and that her husband looked 'constipated'

Do you find me sexy? The 45-year-old said they thought the British stiff upper lip was ridiculous and that her husband looked 'constipated'

Happy times: The brunette beauty's family would have been somewhat out of synch with the rest of Britain - its women at least - which fell head over heels in love with the 53-year-old

Happy times: The brunette beauty's family would have been somewhat out of synch with the rest of Britain - its women at least - which fell head over heels in love with the 53-year-old

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Livia said: 'When I met Colin he wasn't yet Mr Darcy, and we started the courtship.

'And then Pride and Prejudice came out, and the response from my family and all the Italians was 'Do you really consider this guy sexy?

'Italians can’t deal with English restraint. They think the reserve of an Englishman is constipated.'

Back in the day: Colin played Jane Austen's reserved hero opposite Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth Bennett

Back in the day: Colin played Jane Austen's reserved hero opposite Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth Bennett

Asked if he eventually won them over, she added: 'He did, because Colin isn’t like Mr Darcy at all.'

Livia, who runs an eco fashion consultancy, was actually already engaged when she met Colin, with whom she has two sons.

She and her fiancee split up and he is now remarried with two children - the two get along fine.

Livia said that she changed her surname because nobody in England can pronounce her maiden name, which is Giuggioli. 

Going the distance: Livia, who runs an eco fashion consultancy, was actually already engaged when she met Colin, with whom she has two sons

Going the distance: Livia, who runs an eco fashion consultancy, was actually already engaged when she met Colin, with whom she has two sons

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