Actor Colin Firth, well known
for his roles as an quintessential Englishman, has taken Italian
citizenship.
Firth, 57, has been married to Italian producer and
environmentalist Livia Giuggioli for 20 years.
The Italian interior ministry said it had granted citizenship
to a person "married to a citizen of our country and who has
declared his love for our land on several occasions".
Firth, who remains a British national, has obtained Italian
citizenship after Brexit, which has created uncertainty for EU
citizens living in Britain and British national residing in the
EU.
"My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries.
We feel that we've made a gift of that to each other," Firth
said in a statement.
"Our children have been dual citizens since the beginning. We
never really thought much about our different passports. But
now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible
that we should all get the same. Livia is applying for a British
passport.
"I will always be extremely British (you only have to look at
or listen to me).
"Britain is our home and we love it here. Despite the
enticements of my profession to relocate to more remunerative
climes I've always chosen to base my career out of the UK and
pay my taxes here. That hasn't changed".
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