Colin Firth was third choice for King's Speech lead

It's been revealed that the actor wasn't first in line for the leading role

The Oscar whispers may have already started for Colin Firth's turn in The King's Speech, but it's been revealed that the actor wasn't first in line for the leading role, with two other actors considered before him.

We bet they are kicking themselves now…!

David Seidler, the writer of the celebrated flick, has revealed his first choice for the role of George VI was Paul Bettany, while director Tom Hooper wanted Hugh Grant.

'When I initially wrote the screenplay, I immediately had Geoffrey Rush in mind for (speech therapist) Lionel Logue, but I thought Paul Bettany would be the actor to play the king,' Seidler told The Telegraph.

He added that he was eventually pleased with the choice of Firth: 'I was lucky that it was decided the role would go to Colin. As soon as he read for it, I knew he was perfect.'

The newspaper initially reported that Grant had turned down the lead role, with Hooper later confirming: 'I wasn’t interested in Hugh doing a light version. It was a blessing, really, because once I started talking to Colin Firth and getting to know him, the rightness of him playing the part was so profound.'

Firth collected the best actor Golden Globe last Sunday and received a BAFTA nomination in the same category this week, too.

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