NOTES FROM A TRAVELLER

Attending the Academy Awards really 
is as glamorous as it looks. And being in Los Angeles the week running up to Oscar night is a fantastic time to visit California. I love the States anyway — I went to school for a year in St Louis when my father moved to Missouri for work.

Playing a king of England is an education. The history of who has ruled this little island over the centuries is perhaps the thing that intrigues visitors most. It was an extraordinary position for George VI, who grew up never thinking he would actually one day be king. And to have a speech impediment at the time when live radio broadcasts started. Well, phew.

My wife Livia is Italian and we have a place in Italy so as you can imagine I'm a huge fan of the food, Umbrian cuisine in particular. My mastery of the language is quite pathetic but I can do the hand gestures.

For any first-time visitor to London a night at the theatre is a must. When I was appearing at the Donmar Warehouse 
I had appalling stage fright as we hadn't had a proper dress rehearsal. I locked myself in the loo 15 minutes before curtain time and tried to think of my first line. I couldn't remember it so I popped outside to get some air, but then found that I was locked out. Five minutes before curtain up I had to go back through the front and through the audience. Then 
I couldn't remember the access code to get backstage and I had to beg to be allowed in.

I take my work for Oxfam seriously. I've been fortunate to travel to Ethiopia 
on its behalf and found it breathtaking. The people were in harmony with the wildlife and the breathtaking scenery, much of it so green and lush.

Colin Firth stars in The King's Speech showing on selected flights.

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