Star: Colin Firth’s wife Livia is “running through his money so fast”

Over the past few years, we’ve gotten to know Colin Firth’s wife Livia more and more. Livia is an environmental activist whose pet cause is recyclable fashion or fashion made from sustainable materials. She’s also a highly educated documentary film producer and Vogue UK journalist, and she does a lot of work with non-profits and NGOs. Basically, she seems like a really cool lady, someone with a great deal of class, grace and intelligence, and basically just the kind of woman that you wish more men would go for, you know? I think highly of Colin Firth because of his talent, intelligence and humor, but the fact that he’s with Livia makes me adore him.

I bring this up because – out of nowhere – Star Magazine has this totally weird hit-piece about Livia and how she’s spending Colin’s money like crazy, to the point where Colin is signing onto to films he doesn’t want to do, just so he can keep up with Livia’s shopping habits. Bizarre, right?

Being married to one of the highest-paid British actors has its privileges – like homes everywhere from Malibu to South Africa – but insiders say 52-year-old Colin Firth’s wife of 16 years, Livia, 43, has been recklessly abusing them!

“She’s running through his money so fast, he’s considering doing a third Bridget Jones movie just to keep his bank balance up,” a source tells Star. “His friends worry she’s going to send him to the poorhouse if she doesn’t rein it in.”

Livia’s extravagances include splurging on European furnishings and asking Colin to bankroll her siblings, says the source.

“Having to do a movie he doesn’t want to do isn’t what Colin had in mind for his post-Oscar career, but he’s so guileless it probably hasn’t occurred to him that Livia’s spending is the problem.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition]

I think this is BS. I hope this is BS. I also don’t know if Colin and Livia have homes all over the place, right? From what I know, they have homes in England and Italy and that’s it. When he’s filming somewhere else, the studio probably just rents some place for him. This story sounds more like a way to excuse Colin for signing on the third Bridget Jones movie. Couldn’t it just be that Colin wanted to work with the Bridget Jones team again? He’s said in the past that he liked doing those movies, and I know he liked Renee Zellweger a lot – although I think Colin and Hugh Grant really do kind of hate each other. Who knows?

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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68 Responses to “Star: Colin Firth’s wife Livia is “running through his money so fast””

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  1. Lauli says:

    I like Livia very much and I’d be really surprised if this is true.

  2. Effy says:

    I call a total BS on this!

    • Hubbahun says:

      +1 – deffo BS.

      • Amelia says:

        Seriously, is ‘source’ just a substitute word for ‘idiot-so-called-‘writer’-in-the-office-who’s-bored-and-making-sh*t-up’ ?

    • RocketMerry says:

      +3
      I’m with Amelia on this one, a bored writer invented this. Ugh.

    • Veruca says:

      I thought everyone hated Hugh Grant.

      • Polk8dot says:

        They both seem like thrifty, money wise people. I can’t imagine her running from Harrods to Gucci to LV to other designer stores and just throwing money away.
        And if she does do that – then bloody hell, splurge on a stylist, lady! The way she dresses, her hairstyles, are just not flattering on her. I get that she is going for understated, old-time chic, but not everybody can pull that of.
        Also, PLEASE Colin, for the love of movies, DO NOT do another Bridget Jones movie!!! This ‘franchise’ was already over even before the second installment. How he could look at himself after that movie came out is beyond me.
        And I am sooooo hoping Hugh Grant’s inexplicably lasting career is finally over. Do not let him resuscitate it with BJ3.

    • LadyAnne says:

      Absolutely. Pure crap.

  3. alons -y alonso says:

    I call shenanigans on this one. That, and the only reason i watch the Bridget Jones films is to see the Colin Firth and Hugh Grant slap -down.

    • Ally8 says:

      I would love a Bridget Jones movie without Bridget Jones. I would be called Darcy vs. Cleaver or something. The scenes with just Grant and Firth are my favorite in the movies.

  4. jinni says:

    I’m going to believe this only because it seems so out of left field for Star to be focusing on these people, that they just have to have some kind of legit insider info otherwise why would they write about Colin’s wife.

    • Zimmer says:

      I’m with you. Just b/c a person has many wonderful qualities, doesn’t mean they don’t have a vice. Also, as far as I know, Italians are famous for their love of finer things, that’s one of the great things about their culture

      • Eleonor says:

        Ahahah as an italian myself I must thank you, btw the only fine thing I’m really fond of is FOOD. It’s stronger than me. Like eating carbs you know 😉

    • Bobby sue says:

      +1 sadly

  5. Ms Kay says:

    Er… I call BS on this one!

    On another note, I really find her outfits really :-S on the 3 pics!

  6. Eleonor says:

    Oh please, Livia has a successufull career, she doesn’t eveb need her husband money.

  7. Elceibeno says:

    Lol the red dress actually looks funny. I hope she didn’t pay for it.

  8. carrie says:

    if it’s STAR’s poor excuse to explain why he’ll be in BRIDGET JONES 3,thank you to LIVIA!!!!!!

  9. Mel says:

    They’ve been married for 16 years? Wow, I feel old now.
    I hope Colin doesn’t do another Bridget Jones, the 2nd one wasn’t very good – I’d like for them to leave it at that.

  10. Lizzie says:

    There seems to be a campaign against Livia at the moment. A few days ago we were getting loads of posts about her making their sons wear hand me down clothes etc. Someone is obviously jealous of her and wants to discredit her. (she tweeted that she had not given any interview about the clothes)

    • L says:

      As if there’s something WRONG with making kids wear handme downs. Hell that’s how my mother dressed 5 kids-only the oldest two ever got brand new stuff and then it went down the line.

  11. Shelley says:

    This woman has an atrocious fashion sense. And why would anyone talk about her let alone make things up about her??
    This story must be true

    • maria says:

      Colin Firth isn’t the best paid actor in UK, on the contrary, as his films are all Indies.I’m not even sure if the house in Italy are of Colin and Livia’s or of her parents as they surely have a country house in Umbria. As far as the GCC is concerned Eco age had AMEX as sponsor last year, I don’t know nothing about 2013. She’s having success and the green monster (venomenous jealousy)is at work. Many frustrated ladies want to destroy her

      • ol cranky says:

        I’ve loved Colin Firth since Apartment Zero but he’s done a lot of schlock for the pay over the years – “What a Girl wants”; “St Trinian” (and the sequel), Mamma Mia, Easy Virture . . . he intersperses it with the quality/indy stuff

    • mystified says:

      Couldn’t agree more.

  12. marie says:

    I think Star is just looking for a reason as to why another Bridget Jones’s movie is being made and someone to blame it on.

    • Apples says:

      I agree.

      Due to fan pressure, I think Colin doesn’t really have a choice of whether or not to do the movies. If he refused, fans would rake him over the coals. If he does the movie- he gets $$, pleases fans. Also,a bad movie plot won’t be blamed on him, or the other actors, since they have already proven themselves in their respective roles.

  13. sasa says:

    She totally looks like Elisabetta Canalis.

  14. s says:

    agh! her clothes are HORRIBLE!

  15. pipemoker says:

    oh please, one day she’s the “stingy” wife who made everyone wear patched up clothes(sun), now she’s the irresponsible spender bankrupting him to the point of ruining his career? as if making 2 indie pictures (the railway man & devil’s knot) post his Oscar win (gambit & arthur newman don’t count, he signed up way before he won) is sign of financial desperation. STUPID.

  16. Kate says:

    Clearly the only solution is for him to just marry me. Problem solved!

    • j.eyre says:

      I was coming to say the same thing: i am sure this story is ABSOLUTELY TRUE and I hear she allows the children to wear white after Labor Day! She is even rumored to enjoy watching the Kardashians – she is an animal and Colin should flee her immediately… and, well, if he happens to end up in my arms – well, there go.

  17. Annie says:

    “His” money? Whatever happened to sharing assets as a family to become stronger together and support each other? People don’t understand marriage anymore. The merge of lives AND assets. Nothing is a worse red flag to me than protecting your money from the person you supposedly love. But I guess everyone is getting married with divorce in mind and that is sad. If you’re on the fence about this person in any way, don’t marry them. You don’t have to. In that sense I’m very traditional still because my father always said that family is about sharing everything and taking care of each other and any man who protects his money from you doesn’t trust you/love you/know you 100%. And this is a man with money. He would never not include my mom in everything, even if he does draw limits to spending, like any reasonable person would, but calling it “his money” he would never. That is a classy man. He always said he works hard to provide to a family because his father never did despite having many children who needed him. He says that if that is not your thing, don’t start a family because you’re missing the point.
    He now hates my BIL because he dared to tell my sister that it’s HIS money, HIS house. He believes in equal distribution of assets and that guy is everything my dad is not in many ways so that makes him sad that she married him. And very pissed off lol.

    Please don’t bankroll her family, though, and put a limit on her spending, but don’t call it YOUR money when you’re a family. I mean unless you’re Hugh Hefner, but then again why marry an obvious gold digger. There’s a reason he didn’t marry Holly. She wouldn’t accept a prenup, I bet.

    If you feel like you need to protect yourself from someone in ANY WAY don’t marry them. If I was rich I’d share my money with a fellow hardworking man even if he made less than me. Never with a Kfed or a Casper Smart, obviously.

    • Katie says:

      Well, even if what they’re saying is true and she’s spending like crazy, the article makes it seem as if Colin Firth is not upset or even blaming his wife. So clearly (if this is all true), HE doesn’t feel like she’s spending HIS money. However, when there is a vast disparity in earning, I do think that when the partner who doesn’t earn the money spends it frivolously, and drains the bank account to almost nothing, then it shows a lack of respect for their SO’s hard work.

    • NeoCleo says:

      THANK YOU for highlighting the “his money”. They’re married, a couple, it’s THEIR money. Besides, I just love looking at the two of them , they are so beautiful together. Even if things are not ideal between them (does that ever happen?) they sure put out a strong vibe of being a truly loving couple.

  18. RN says:

    It’s disquieting to read the thought processes that are fueling speculation of this woman. It’s basically, “Why would the Star even talk about this person? Must be true then! Der de der”. Man, the lack of any critical thinking illustrates why some people just fumble their way through life.

    • jinni says:

      Yes, those of us that believe this story are just “fumbling” our way through life because we decided to believe that this particular bit of gossip might be true. Because a comment on a gossip blog that you don’t agree with means we’re utterly clueless in all aspects of our lives. I’m sure before you decide to believe a gossip story you do deep, critical analysis and research on the subjects the story is about.

      Look, it’s gossip. It’s not that deep. I don’t know about you, but most of the stuff on this site aren’t things I deem worthy of deep, critical thought. I, like many, come here to have some harmless fun. It’s not as if by believing this story it’s really going to ruin this woman’s life.

  19. serena says:

    They may hate eachother but, man, those two together make me hot.

  20. Tamara says:

    we will never know the truth so way wasting time to speculate whether it is true or not?

  21. RobN says:

    I tend to believe it only because I can’t imagine bothering to make up dirt about these two. They don’t crave attention, they don’t get papped everywhere, nobody ever says anything that is even remotely controversial. They aren’t a usual target for rumor mongers and that makes me wonder why you’d do it now if it weren’t true.

  22. LAK says:

    I thought it’s renee holding up the BJ 3 because of the fat issue.

    Colin and hugh have always been signed up for years now.

    • Lizzie says:

      http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/third-bridget-jones-film-uncertain-16254171.html?r=RSS#ixzz2G1RwzqR9

      I think the hold up is to do with the script not Rennee’s weight. This is one of the most recent articles

    • Bijlee says:

      I don’t blame her. Gaining all that weight is not healthy she’s probably very worried about her health as she should be. Plus losing it is a pain in the ass.

    • Ally8 says:

      Why even have it be about her extra pounds at this point. Make it about how Bridget lost all that weight and still has the same problems and neuroses.

      Or perhaps now Mark Darcy has lost interest & is cheating on her with Rebel Wilson, coz he had a type.
      http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2313103/

      • Polk8dot says:

        That is exactly what I thought – why would she need to put ANY weight on again? It was endearing in BJ1, but in BJ2 it turned into a cheap shtick.
        Let her keep Renee’s normal weight and deal with all the other stuff that was so spectacularly fucked up in her life.
        There was enough in the characters of Bridget and Darcy’s to make it a fresh, enjoyable, intelligent FUN. Why can’t 2 smart characters be interesting, with great dialog and awesome acting? Why do we always have to stoop to some filthy, gross, fat jokes and innuendos in hopes of bigger box office?

      • LAK says:

        her weight and failing attempts to lose the extra pounds is a fundamenatl psychosis of Bridget. Thin Bridget doesn’t work.

  23. boredsuburbanhousewife says:

    He looks fantastic in that first photo. He has really aged well and they make an elegant couple. I hope they are happy and this is made up — maybe he just likes to spoil her!

    Also, the Hugh-Colin slap down is indeed one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

    And in terms of being game for anything, including artistic humiliation, nothing tops his turn in Mamma Mia and his disco suit.

  24. bondbabe says:

    She needs to spend money on a new wardrobe—doesn’t matter whose money it is! Gah.

  25. Viv says:

    Well, I have been to that eco-store of hers and that one is definitely not a money-maker. My better half was all like: Thank God her husband’s rich because this store is likely hemmorrhaging money like there’s no tomorrow.
    Not a bad thing to spend it on supporting sustainability if you can afford it.

  26. KellyinSeattle says:

    I know, well – no matter how wealthy I was – I couldn’t give up diving around and finding treasures at the Goodwill!

  27. Cazzie says:

    Livia Firth has some obnoxious interviews where she basically chastises poor people for wanting to take an occasional flight and go on holiday. And god forbid they want to shop – she has an ethical shopping line for that. If you’re not buying one of her $130 ethical t-shirts or a $500 ethical purse, you’re destroying the planet and global warming is all your fault.

    Really, only a shopaholic with guilt issues would take the projection so far. She should leave other people alone and focus on how flying around the world to talk about ‘green’ issues makes you look like a complete idiot.

    • Lizzie says:

      Cazzie you should post links to these alleged interviews otherwise they are just
      hearsay. I have listened to/read a lot of her interviews and I must say I don’t recall any where she chastises poor people, so I would like to see them for myself. As it is you are just sounding spiteful.

  28. JaneFr says:

    “Livia’s extravagances include splurging on European furnishings”
    That made me LOL. Maybe because I live in Europe, where european furnishings are just …furnishings. No splurging there people !

  29. Isabella says:

    I am very sad for this. I consider Colin Firth a great actor, but his choices confuses me, it seems that he has not have any decent film since The King’s Speech, I also noticed that Livia never mentioned Colin as part of her”success” and I also consider that she has a poor taste. Now that Colin has not been invited to the Golden Globes and the Oscars, or any other important carpet Livia has not even appeared by herself in any important event. She needs Colin to be by her side so she could “shine” a little. This is so sad.

    • Susi says:

      What?? Why would Livia appear at acting events without Colin, ever? She’s not an actor. What a ridiculous thing to say. She may however go to other “important events” with him supporting her or by herself, they just aren’t events that have anything to do with acting. Oh and I realise that she also makes docos, but documentary makers have other events that are important, docos are awarded at some movie awards events, but they are not a focus and very few are represented at these awards ceremonies. This does not lessen her worth or undermine her own career and life choices in any way.

  30. Beth says:

    I read awhile ago that Hugh and Colin were all about a third movie and Renee was holding out because she didn’t want to have to put on all that weight again, and even wanted “fat suit” instead.

    This story doesn’t match her reputation, and I hope it’s not true, because Colin will always be Mr. Darcy to me, and this sort of scandal cannot be tolerated to taint the walls of Pemberley, y’all.

    • Susi says:

      No I read that too and I think it’s true, there were quotes from her about it listed. I think she’s against it, not because she’s not committed, but because she is aware of how much damage she has already done to her body and has been told how bad it is to quickly gain a lot of weight and then lose it again. I totally understand this. Clearly the woman has had eating disorders etc. It is not healthy for someone with those issues to do this sort of thing. Not healthy physically, emotionally or mentally. If she puts on this kind of weight again, it could then trigger a backslide into extreme anorexia. Really, she has to put her own health first and I think that is fair enough.

  31. Paddy says:

    I don’t like her, she looks way too pleased with herself & also looks hard and mean

  32. Jordan says:

    Wow, STAR magazine has a real hate-on for women, don’t they? What’s worse is that women are probably their biggest audience.

  33. Susi says:

    Okay, I have to go into bat for someone here. An old schoolfriend of mine is the niece of someone who is in the movie business. She went to visit her uncle on set when we were in high school and Hugh Grant was at the peak of his career. Hugh was just about the loveliest, nicest, down-to-earth person in the world. He met her and her sisters, took the whole family out for lunches and dinners, signed a million photos for her friends at school and also stuff for her mum to auction off for our school, etc. Meanwhile, the female star of the movie was a complete cow who refused to meet them, would not let them take a photo of her, and was generally a complete b*tch. They managed to get one photo of her, on set from about 100m away, from behind.

    The point is, I just don’t think Hugh Grant is this horrible person that everyone paints him to be. Yes he once (or quite probably more than once) used the services of a hooker and got caught. That does not mean he is irredeemably bad and that no one likes him. That is a very black-and-white way of looking at things. Look at it this way, he is very close friends with all of his exes to this day and has a very loyal group of friends. I think Hugh is a nice guy.

    • Jayna says:

      I love Hugh. He’s human. He has admitted he can be a grouch, a bore, etc. He also makes fun of himself, makes fun of his acting. I know of no actors, who all have egos, that would dismiss their acting, saying their acting range is very limited, except him. I think his 50s have been a little rough for him, but he’s not the only person to not be as happy in certain periods of their life. I love his dry sense of humor.

      I can only guess who the actress was. I have a strong feeling it was Julia Roberts.

  34. Moi says:

    After 16 years of marriage, I’m sure they can handle any issues on their own. This is one where I feel that it’s not our business.

  35. insomniac says:

    No opinion on the story other than hoping it isn’t true, but thank you for the photos of lovely Colin!

  36. Agnes says:

    I found this story weird. They have been married for a long time. it’s “their” money, not “his”. it’s not like she’s a gold digging random, for god’ s sake.