Colin Firth Is Hot Golden Globes Favourite

3:42pm UK, Sunday January 16, 2011

Lorna Blount, Sky News Online

British actor Colin Firth is the hot favourite to be the big winner at tonight's Golden Globes.

His nomination for best actor in a motion picture drama is one of seven nominations for The King's Speech.

The star, who plays stuttering monarch King George VI, is odds-on favourite to win the award this weekend.

The movie has had a strong showing at the box office on both sides of the Atlantic and our punters expect Firth to enjoy a decent awards season starting with a win at the Golden Globes on Sunday."

I've had a Golden Globe nomination before and then didn't get an Oscar nomination. But I presume Colin will get one, and I presume Colin will win.

Actress Helena Bonham Carter

The Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), are often seen as a guide to later Oscar success and many pundits have tipped Firth for an Oscar win later this year.

His co-star Helena Bonham Carter, whose performance as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother sees her nominated as best supporting actress, said she expects Firth to win an Oscar.

She said: "I've had a Golden Globe nomination before and then didn't get an Oscar nomination. But I presume Colin will get one, and I presume Colin will win."

Last year's Golden Globe winner Slumdog Millionaire also won an Oscar

Firth received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this week.

The British film tells the story of the unlikely relationship between the monarch and an Australian speech therapist who helps him cope with his stammer.

It has also been nominated for best motion picture drama, best supporting actor, best director, best screenplay and best original score.

Its seven nominations put it ahead of its nearest rival, The Fighter, with six nominations.

The King's Speech has been heavily backed for Oscars success and earlier this year won the Cadillac People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The last two winners of the award - Precious and Slumdog Millionaire - both went on to pick up Oscars.

The British actor gets a Hollywood Walk of Fame star

Other British nominations include Hugh Laurie for his role as grumpy doctor Gregory House in the television drama House and Idris Elba for his role in the BBC detective drama Luther.

Former Lovejoy star Ian McShane also picked up a nomination for his part in the mini-series Pillars Of The Earth.