HIS performance moved his mother to tears.

That was how Dr Shirley Firth described Oscar-winning son Colin’s portrayal of the real-life struggle of King George VI in The Kings Speech.

Dr Firth said: “We watched a documentary on the real King’s speech about King George and his relationship with Lionel Logue, and we went again to see the movie and just realised how closely Colin’s performance paralleled the King’s struggle with his speech, and I was moved to tears.”

His parents said they were delighted for their son’s Oscar success, having kept up with the events throughout Sunday night via the BBC and Guardian websites.

His father, David, said: “He has managed to get this recognition after 30 years in the business, which had been successful even before Oscars appeared on the scene, so it’s nice to have this at this stage of his life.”

Mr Firth said the relationship between Colin, the film’s director Tom Hooper, and co-star Geoffrey Rush, was central to its success.

He said: “I think they understood each other, they were clear about what they were trying to achieve and the way they were able to work together was the key factor in the success of the film.”

His parents, who still live in Winchester, said Colin had enjoyed Freda Kelsell’s acting classes, along with his siblings, in Alresford when he was in his early teens.

Dr Firth said: “All our children went there and they all loved it. She got them all interested and we say to her now ‘it’s your fault!’”

Firth, 50, who also won a Bafta and Golden Globe for Best Actor this year, continued to enjoy acting in his youth through his time at Montgomery of Alamein School, now Kings’, and Barton Peveril College.

College principal Jonathan Prest led the tributes to its famous old boy. He recalled his flourishing talent in college productions of Moliere’s Scapino and Sweeney Todd.

He said: “Colin is a fantastic role model for our students and we’re all incredibly proud of his achievements.”

Penny Edwards, Firth’s drama teacher at Barton Peveril, added: “I’m really proud of the range of roles in his long acting career.”

As well as being hot stuff in Hollywood, he has now been immortalised in food form at the Bangkok Brassiere restaurant in Winchester.

Owner Abdul Kayum dreamed up ‘The Colin Firth Thai Mango Chicken’ to raise money for the Southampton and Winchester Visitors' Group that supports refugees and asylum seekers — a cause the actor is passionate about.