Colin Firth Wins for Gay Role

Colin Firth took the best actor honor at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday for his portrayal of a gay professor struggling with his lover's death in A Single Man, the directorial debut of designer Tom Ford.

Firth, who starred in Bridget Jones's Diary, credited Ford upon accepting his award, according to Agence France-Presse.

"I'm here for the gift that Tom Ford gave me," said Firth, who received the award, known as the Volpi Cup.

A Single Man also won the Queer Golden Lion, an award independent of the official festival for films with gay themes or content, it was announced on Friday. The film, directed by Ford, is an adaptation of the 1964 Christopher Isherwood novel.