Who didn’t cheer when everyone’s favourite Mr Darcy received an Oscar for his role as stuttering monarch George VI in The King’s Speech?

Finally the industry was ready to acknowledge that Colin Firth has evolved from middle-class totty, best known for his brooding and breeches in Pride And Prejudice, to become one of the finest actors of his generation.

For almost 30 years, he’s been quietly beavering away, slowly but surely making his steady ascent to Hollywood. Then fashion designer Tom Ford cast him as the lead in 2009’s melancholic A Single Man for which he earned his first Oscar nod.

He lost out to Jeff Bridges that time around, but in February this year came the moment to pop the champagne and celebrate - he’d finally done it.

It’s just a shame the 51-year-old actor was five months too late to (mentally at least) join in the fiesta.

“I remember thinking I’d probably wake up in July and get very excited about it – and that’s exactly what happened,” says Firth, who’s in town to talk about his new spy film Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, which is already generating Oscar buzz.

“It was all a bit lonely because the party was over,” he says with a grin, those infamous dimples softening his features.

He still can’t remember receiving the golden statuette: “No, that’s what’s completely extraordinary but I think when major things happen to us, whether good or bad, there’s a slight shock. It has a slightly numbing effect.”

From the moment his Oscar nomination was announced, Firth’s life became a whirlwind of press junkets, red carpets and award ceremonies. It’s a time he describes as “turbulent”.

He toured the world picking up gongs including a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, a British Independent Film Award and Critics Choice Film Award for Best Actor before finally scooping the Academy Award.

And with each statuette came a charming, self-effacing acceptance speech, underpinned by a droll sense of humour – which is exactly what Mr Firth exhibits in the flesh.

Asked how he feels about being displaced as “Britain’s Best Looking Man” by F1 driver Jenson Button in a recent poll, he says: “Lorraine Kelly just told me this in front of a rolling camera. I’m crushed.”

Then talk turns to the rather more serious subject matter of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Based on John Le Carre’s novel, it’s a suspenseful, slow-burning spy film of the old school variety.