Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth

The King's Speech

The extraordinary relationship between Bertie, the future King, and Lionel, the commoner who teaches him not to stammer, turns out to have been pretty special for the actors playing them as well. Firth, 50, and Rush, 59, spent three weeks together rehearsing, dining and socializing. Even so, when filming began, Rush was startled by Firth in action. He "made me better," Rush says. "I didn't have to act listening. I was mesmerized by the hidden areas of truth he was uncovering."

See Geoffrey Rush talk about his favorite performances:

See Colin Firth talk about his favorite performances:

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