Colin Firth finds 'bliss' in Queensland (THE CANBERRA TIMES)

Oscar winning actor Colin Firth talks to reporters on the Gold Coast about his new movie The Railway Man which is being filmed in Queensland, saying "it has just been bliss".

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Colin Firth discusses new film Rae Wilson, APN Newsdesk | 19th June 2012 1:46 PM (Fraser Coast Chronicle)

COLIN Firth will always remember Ipswich as the place he was dragged across a rail yard, thrown in a cell and kicked.

He joked he was not sure he had the full picture of the area when he spoke to media at the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

The Oscar-winning King's Speech actor is in Australia to film the historical film The Railway Man.

Though the film, relating the experience of a prisoner of war on the Burma Railway, was predominately filmed in Asia, some of it has been produced at the North Ipswich Railyards and around the Gold Coast.

Firth said it was difficult to play such a tortured role while he was staying on the Gold Coast.


read more:  http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2012/06/19/colin-firth-discusess-new-film-ipswich-gold-coast/

Colin Firth visits Ipswich 15th June 2012 9:04 AM (THE IPSWICH ADVERTISER)

STARGAZERS will be out and about in Ipswich this week.

Filming for one of 2013's Hollywood blockbusters, The Railway Man, is due to begin in Ipswich.

Heart-throb Colin Firth, together with Swedish icon Stellan Skarsgard and War Horse star Jeremy Irvine, will be on location at the Railway Workshops from the middle of the week, according to the film's publicist Tracey Mair.

Aussie actor Nicole Kidman will not join her male co-stars.

Firth is best known for his roles in Bridget Jones' Diary, The King's Speech, Mamma Mia! and Pride and Prejudice.


READ MORE: http://www.ipswichadvertiser.com.au/story/2012/06/15/colin-firth-due-to-arrive/

Colin Firth spotted in Brisbane and Gold Coast Jacinda Tutty June 12, 2012 (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD)

The Gold Coast's Fellini Ristorante posted this photo on Facebook yesterday with the caption 'and guess who was in last night'.

Colin Firth's much touted visit to Ipswich has turned into doorstops in Brisbane and Gold Coast with the movie star spotted wining and dining in the cities.

On Monday night he had dinner at Ristorante Fellini on the Gold Coast and staff posted a photo of the occasion on Facebook last night.

He was also spotted on Sunday night at Tartufo at Brisbane’s Emporium, run by Tony Percuoco, brother of the owner of Fellini Ristorante, Carlo Percuoco.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/colin-firth-spotted-in-brisbane-and-gold-coast-20120612-207rq.html

Colin Firth brings star power to Ipswich Jacinda Tutty June 12, 2012 - 5:14PM (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD)

Move over Hollywood, Ipswich is about to hit the big screen thanks to a new movie starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

Famous for his role as the swoon-worthy Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, Firth stars in The Railway Man - an adaptation of the memoir by Eric Lomax who was a prisoner of war forced to work on the notorious Burma Railway.

The project will be partly shot at Ipswich's Workshops Rail Museum and on the Gold Coast.
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Filming has begun in Ipswich, with Firth set to arrive on Friday.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has been making preparations for the visit.

“I'm very excited to be welcoming Colin Firth to Ipswich," he said.

"We've been holding it under wraps for a while now but we hope he has a pleasant experience. He's excited about meeting me and I'm excited about meeting him.


Read more:http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/firth-brings-star-power-to-ipswich-20120612-207rq.html

Colin Firth turns on the charm in Brisbane From: The Courier-Mail June 12, 2012 12:00AM (COURIER)

On Sunday Firth spent time mentoring an exclusive group of Brisbane actors in a Q&A session with actress Sigrid Thornton at the Cremorne Theatre, QPAC.

Sunshine Coast actress Meisha Lowe won a ticket to the event after applying through Actors Equity.

Lowe told Confidential Firth labelled his role in The Railway Man "emotionally challenging."


She said Firth told the audience he decided as a 14-year-old he wanted to be an actor and still "wondered when he should grow up and get a real job".

Following the Q&A, Firth, Thornton, director Chris Brown and a group of friends dined at Italian restaurant Tartufo at Emporium in Fortitude Valley, a haunt often frequented by celebrities.

Tartufo owner Tony Percuoco has met Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson and Michael Buble at his restaurants but Mr Darcy had him "starstruck".

Living up to his sex-symbol status, Percuoco told Confidential Firth was without his Italian-born wife but spoke perfect Italian to the waitresses.

"Very rarely do I get starstruck but last night he had the whole persona. He spoke Italian perfectly."

READ MORE:  http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/colin-firth-turns-on-the-charm-in-brisbane/story-e6freq7o-1226391525008

Ipswich plays host to Hollywood star Colin Firth but co-star Nicole Kidman won't be in town by: Brittany Vonow From: The Courier-Mail

IPSWICH is about to hit the big screen, thanks to a new movie starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

Heart-throb Firth was in Brisbane yesterday, speaking to students at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Kidman and Firth, famous for his role as a rich Austen bachelor in Pride and Prejudice, will star in The Railway Man, a story of a man forced to confront his past as a prisoner of war after the fall of Singapore.

The movie has already been filmed in Scotland and Thailand.

Firth plays the tortured role of Scottish soldier Eric Lomax and the Aussie Kidman plays his wife.

Filming for the project is expected to begin at the North Ipswich Rail Workshops and continue on the Gold Coast.


Firth's female co-star is yet to be sighted, film sources saying her part had been completed in Scotland and Thailand.

Nevertheless, news has sparked excitement in the community, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale saying Kidman would be treated like royalty if she were to grace the town with her presence.


READ MORE:  http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/movies/no-nicole-at-all-for-ipswich-film-shoot/story-e6freqex-1226390611770

Colin Firth: Hollywood stars film next week Rebecca Lynch | 8th June 2012 7:43 PM (FRASER COAST CHRONICLE)

FILMING for one of 2013's Hollywood blockbusters is due to begin in Ipswich next week, The Queensland Times can reveal.

Heart-throb Colin Firth, together with Swedish icon Stellan Skarsgard and War Horse star Jeremy Irvine will be on location at the city's railway workshops from the middle of the week, according to the film's publicist Tracey Mair.

But Ms Mair said that Aussie screen legend Nicole Kidman would not joining her male co-stars in the city, after having previously said all the leads would be travelling to Ipswich.

"Kidman's scenes were actually completed in Scotland, the UK and Thailand, but the rest of the cast, including Firth, will be filming on the Gold Coast and in Ipswich mid-next week," Ms Mair said.

Since The Queensland Times first revealed The Railway Man would be filmed in Ipswich, a major online news site dubbed the city an "unlikely location" for the filming of a major movie.


READ MORE: http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2012/06/08/hollywood-stars-film-next-week-ipswich/