Ruth Gemmell about Colin's research for the film:
"He got really into it," she says. "He's the kind of actor who totally throws himself into a part. I know he went to lots of games with Mark Strong who plays his best friend in the film and he immersed himself in football memorabilia for the whole time we were working. Football gets you like that. I think it gives people a common bond, a sense of belonging.

"But Colin is not as serious as people think. He's also a very sweet man."

When actress Ruth Gemmell found herself in bed on the film set with "Mr Darcy" - the screen's ultimate fantasy man - she fell asleep. "He was talking about football... he was explaining the difference between the Premier League and the Nationwide League, and I'm afraid I got a bit bored and dropped off. I know it was a bit rude and the truth was I had actually asked him. But when he started to tell me my eyes just glazed over!" [Daily Mirror, March 30 1997]

At the premiere of Fever Pitch, Colin told a story about how "in one crowd scene the make-up artist had to re-do my eyelashes in front of a thousand soccer fans. They all chanted:'We are not worthy'. I think they meant it good-naturedly..." [Press Association Newsfile 3/27/97]