THE son of two university lecturers, Firth was born in England’s Hampshire county on Sept. 10, 1960. Part of his early childhood was spent in Nigeria with missionary grandparents, but he returned for schooling in his native country and eventually enrolled in the Drama Center in Chalk Farm.

    While playing Hamlet in a school production during his final term, the actor was discovered, and he went on to make his London stage debut in the West End production of Julian Mitchell’s “Another Country.”

    Firth’s first published work, “The Department of Nothing”, appeared in “Speaking with the Angel” (2000). This collection of short stories was published to benefit the TreeHouse Trust, in aid of autistic children.

    Firth contributed with his writing for the book, “We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples,” released in 2009. The book explores the culture of peoples around the world, portraying both its diversity and facing threats. It counts with the contributions of many Western writers, such as Laurens van der Post, Noam Chomsky, Claude Levi-Strauss; and also indigenous peoples, such as Davi Kopenawa Yanomami and Roy Sesana. The royalties from the sale of this book go to the indigenous rights organization, Survival International.

    Firth has performed songs in many of his films, the most recent being “Mamma Mia!” He performs the song “Lady Come Down” alongside Rupert Everett in “The Importance of Being Earnest” as well as one song in “St. Trinian’s with Everett” which appeared in the credits, an adaptation of “Love Is in the Air.” (SD-Agencies)