‘King’s Speech’ actor Colin Firth was awarded an honour by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth on Saturday, joining more than 900 people from all walks of British life in the twice-yearly list. Firth, who won a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the stammering King George VI, the queen’s father, in the Oscar-winning movie ‘The King’s Speech’ was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). The 50-year-old actor has become an international favourite since playing the aloof but alluring Mr Darcy in a 1995 television adaptation of the Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ There were also awards for South African-born actress Janet Suzman, who becomes a ‘Dame,’ and for Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, who received a CBE. Long-serving British light entertainment star Bruce Forsyth, 83, picked up a knighthood, while comic actors Bernard Cribbins, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden were all made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). There was also a CBE for lawyer Mark Stephens, currently defending WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange over a Swedish extradition request for alleged sexual misconduct.
