COLIN FIRTH & TARON EGERTON

2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service clicked with audiences thanks to the rapport of delinquent-turned-debonair-spy Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and his mentor Harry (Colin Firth). The pair return in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (in cinemas now).

Did your lives change after the first film? Egerton I’d never been in a movie before. Firth I remember your first days on the set of Kingsman, telling me how everything was so new, and I said, “This is pretty new to me as well.” There’s something quite strange about me being an action star. I’m only beginning to realise at my age that you shouldn’t ever think you’ve reached cruising altitude. I did not expect to be over 50 and doing a film that was so physically challenging. Egerton It’s very nice to have you as my partner for that stuff. Because I was never the kid in school who was picked first for the rugby team. Firth I was the kid in school who was picked last for the rugby team. We are fellow amateurs. Why does the chemistry work so well? Firth Taron’s not afraid of making fun of me. Egerton Likewise, in reverse. And I think we both instinctively respond to 99 per cent of the same ideas. I can feel how Colin will respond to something before I’ve talked to him. Firth I’ll tell this story carefully so that I don’t name names, but do you remember when we were on the plane coming back from Comic-con? Egerton: [ Laughing] Oh, yes! Firth I was watching a movie and marvelling at how bad a certain actor was. I wasn’t bitching— I just found this particular actor’s approach to be so jaw-dropping. Egerton And I was sitting behind you. At the moment you pulled your earphones off and looked at me in disbelief, I could not breathe I was laughing so hard. Firth So there you have it. A shared sense of taste.