Stanley Tucci reveals his 20-year friendship with Colin Firth shaped their roles as partners in new film

Stanley Tucci’s friendship with Colin Firth seems to have proved extremely inspirational when it came to their new film together, Supernova. The two actors may have grown up on different sides of the pond, but the bond between them has remained strong for over 20 years as they weathered the true highs and lows of life together. In Supernova, which is already available to watch in the US and set for release in the UK in March, Stanley and Colin were reunited on-screen, playing long-term partners novelist Tusker and Sam, a musician, respectively. 

The poignant film sees the two men travel across England to reunite with friends and family. Tusker has been diagnosed with dementia, meaning that the precious moments he and Sam spend together take on a whole new significance. 

Now it seems that their real-life friendship has helped the actors to portray a realistic and complex relationship in this highly-anticipated release. 

As reported by the Daily Mail, Stanley opened up on BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show, acknowledging the film's poignancy and discussing the approach that was taken.

“I know it sounds like not much of a fun film, but there is a lightness of touch and it was such a beautiful script,” he said, before going on to discuss exactly how his and Colin’s real-life friendship helped to shape their on-screen relationship.

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“He and I are both 60 years old and we've known each other for over 20 years,” Stanley revealed. “And as you go through this stage of your life with children, marriages and ageing parents you have experienced a lot – and a lot of that is unhappy stuff." 

“We have seen each other through those times, but also through the happiest times, that can't help but infuse our relationship on screen.”

Their decades-long friendship even seems to have strengthened during the filming as the two actors spent so much time together.

“We stayed next door to each other, we worked together all day, I'd cook for us every evening, and then we would get the train home together. We seemed never to get tired of each other,” he reportedly recalled.

Where did Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth meet?

The two actors first met after filming another film together, Conspiracy, back in 2001. Stanley and Colin are now understood to live close by each other in London, where American-born Stanley has settled with his wife, literary agent Felicity Blunt - sister of his former The Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt. 

According to Entertainment Weekly, the decision for the two friends to collaborate on Supernova came after director Harry Macqueen sent the script to Stanley. He reportedly loved it and passed it on to his old friend. Opening up about Stanley’s performance in Supernova, Oscar-winner Colin was full of praise. 

"I think Stan has surpassed himself here, which is quite a bar to surpass," he said of his close friend.