(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Colin Firth has laughed that he wh**ed himself out as a posh actor after realising people perceived him that way.

The 50-year-old actor has enjoyed a hugely successful Hollywood career, appearing in the Bridget Jones's movies as well as receiving critical acclaim for his roles in A Single Man and The Kings Speech.

Colin often portrays stereotypical well-spoken English gentlemen, which he thinks is hilarious as he doesnt see himself that way at all. His destiny became fixed at acting school, after people told him he was like a character from Evelyn Waughs novel about the upper classes, Brideshead Revisited.

When I was starting out, I thought I was so cutting edge I had nothing to do with the middle classes. But at drama school people saw me as a Brideshead Revisited type. So I wh**ed myself out immediately! he told British newspaper The Daily Express.

Ive embraced typecasting as a way of being employed. Im more afraid of not being employed.

Colin admits he does sometimes get frustrated with being typecast. The talented star insists he could skilfully depict a host of different characters, yet movie bosses continue to see him as the archetypical gentleman.

I dont know how many times Ive read a script and thought, Nobody knows how good Id be at this character but they want me to play that other one, he lamented. (C) Cover Media