18. Colin Firth received the Best Actor Oscar in 2011 for his role in "the King's Speech". Which of the main characters did Firth portray?
From Quiz A Lot of Firth
Answer:
Prince Albert, later King George VI
The story opens with Prince Albert, Duke of York, (known to his family as Bertie) closing a major Exhibition, and giving a stumbling, stammering speech. His wife persuades him to seek help from an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush) who demonstrates a technique of speaking while classical music plays through a headset. Whenever he is upset or self-conscious, the old stammer reasserts itself, causing great anguish, as public speaking is an important part of the Royal duties.
After his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicates, Bertie continues discreetly taking lessons from Lionel, who coaches him in his Coronation speech. The climax of the film is the famous address to the Empire in 1939 immediately after Britain has declared war on Germany.