Colin Firth: I’m no icon

Colin Firth thinks the phrase "British icon" refers to people who have become over familiar.

The English star has been acting since the early 80s, with a career spanning stage and screen.

He bagged an Oscar in 2011 for his portrayal of King George VI in The King's Speech, but laughs off suggestion that he is a British icon.

"A great British icon is not the phrase I'd use about anybody, but there are people you admire that happen to be British. I think it's a phrase that gets attached to anyone who's been around long enough to become over familiar," Colin smiled to gq-magazine.co.uk.

Many believe that Colin has what it takes to portray James Bond and while he hasn't yet played 007, he does take on the role of a suave agent in new movie Kingsman: The Secret Service.

The film co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, Sir Michael Caine and newcomer Taron Egerton. Colin, 54, was impressed with Taron's performance and on-set attitude, praising the young star's modesty.

"I wouldn't presume to advise Taron on anything, he knows his job as well as anyone I've ever worked with - he's got that innately. He's got a great deal of grace and humility and as a colleague he treats everybody extremely well. If he wasn't, if he was behaving like a sh*t, I dare say I might intervene. But contrary to popular belief, most people in our business are very, very decent," Colin divulged.

"That's one of the things that I really, really appreciated on set, that Colin is enough of a good bloke - he would never presume to give me advice unless I sought it. That's part of what he did to level the playing field. Despite the vast gap in our stature as performers - how established Colin is and how green I am - him doing that made me feel very confident," Taron added.