But last night it emerged that actor Colin Firth, whose roles include the King himself, had been made an Italian citizen.
His career was kickstarted by his 1995 portrayal of Mr Darcy in the television adaptation of Pride And Prejudice.
Since then he has amassed a £25million fortune.
His new film Kingsman: The Golden Circle opened in UK cinemas last week.
Last night exuberant Italian authorities did little to hide their glee, going out of their way to remind the public of Firth’s award-winning performance as the stammering King George VI.
A spokesman for Italy’s Interior Ministry said: “The very famous actor, who won an Oscar for the film The King’s Speech, is married to a citizen from our country and has often declared his love for our land.”
The 57-year-old actor applied for dual citizenship following last year’s Brexit vote, with a source close to the actor saying: “Colin was horrified by Brexit and is worried about the consequences.”
His decision is said to be partly prompted by his marriage to Italian film director and producer Livia Giuggioli.
Ironically, his new citizenship was first announced by Rome on Friday, just hours after Theresa May had taken the stage in Florence to assure Britain’s 600,000 Italians that their place here was safe.
The couple first met in 1995 and they married two years later. Speaking in 2011, he told how he first spotted Livia on the steps of an old church in Colombia’s Cartagena.
“And that was it – it was a bolt to the heart,” he said.
The Firths live principally in London with their two sons, Luca, 16, and Matteo, 14, though they own a second home in Umbria.
Welcoming the decision last night, Firth confirmed that his wife would be reciprocating by applying for British citizenship.
“A connection with Italy has existed in my family for more than two decades now. I was married there and had two children born in Rome,” he said.
“My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries. We feel that we’ve made a gift of that to each other. Our children have been dual citizens since the beginning.
“We never really thought much about our different passports.
“But now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible that we should all get the same.”
Rejecting clams he was betraying Britain, he added: “I will always be extremely British [you only have to look at or listen to me]. Britain is our home and we love it here.
“Despite the enticements of my profession to relocate to more remunerative climes I’ve always chosen to base my career out of the UK and pay my taxes here. That hasn’t changed.
“Like almost everybody I have a passionate love of Italy and joining my wife and kids in being dual citizens will be a huge privilege.”