Colin Firth is reportedly dumping his English gentleman persona in favour of grittier roles.

His latest movie "Where the Truth Lies" - an intense thriller, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival - shows the hunky actor playing a 1950s entertainer hiding his dark, sex-obsessed personality under an amiable façade, reports Ireland Online.

Director Atom Egoyan admits that one of Firth's scenes, where his character viciously attacks an audience member, is one of the most graphically violent scenes he has ever filmed.

Firth, famed for portraying dashing romantic heroes like Darcy in "Bridget Jones' Diary", says: "The romantic comedy thing came relatively late in my life. I'm rather surprised I'm still so associated with it. I just go where I find it most interesting. I feel very comfortable in this sort of drama."