HAMPSHIRE-born Colin Firth beat Hollywood heart-throbs George Clooney and Jeff Bridges to be named leading actor at tonight's BAFTA awards.

The 49-year-old won for A Single Man, in which he plays gay college professor George Falconer, who is mourning the death of his long-term partner.

The role has also earned Firth his first Oscar nomination.

Firth will be forever remembered as Jane Austen's dashing Mr Darcy.

He gained heart-throb status as the wet-shirted hero striding across TV screens the BBC's 1990s adaptation of classic novel Pride and Prejudice.

Firth went on to play Mark Darcy, the modern-day love interest of thirty-something journalist Bridget Jones, starring opposite Renee Zellweger in two movies.

Other memorable roles for the actor, who is married to Italian film-maker Livia Giuggioli, are as a soccer-mad teacher in the film version of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch and the brooding painter Vermeer in Girl With A Pearl Earring.

Though known for playing intense, introspective characters, Firth has also taken on more light-hearted roles, testing out his vocal chords as banker Harry Bright in the Abba-themed movie musical Mamma Mia.

Firth was born in Grayshott, but grew up in Winchester. He was educated at the former Dean Primary School in Alresford and Montgomery of Alamein Secondary School in Winchester before moving to Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh.

A Single Man is the much-acclaimed debut feature film from fashion designer Tom Ford is based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood.

The movie had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year, where it earned Firth a best actor gong.

The actor was also nominated for a Golden Globe, but lost out to Bridges.

The BAFTAs was held at the Royal Opera House in London tonight.