C -cc-cc-Colin Firth had one more speech to deliver and he did so humbly and humorously, joking that “I’m afraid I have to warn you that I’m experiencing stirrings somewhere in the upper abdominals which are threatening to form themselves into dance moves.”

This is the first Academy Award for Firth, a British actor who was nominated last year for his performance in A Single Man.  Somewhat ironically – Firth’s character in The King’s Speech has an alarming stutter – his was one of the most articulate speeches of the evening (Melissa Leo’s already-infamous f-bomb and the painfully labored dialogue between the hosts spring to mind).

Firth’s portrayal of King George VI, who overcame a speech impediment to become an inspirational English leader during World War II, has inspired critics, stutterers, and fans worldwide to find their own voices.