EXCLUSIVESarah Ferguson & Colin Firth Send Sparks Flying After Business Meal Turns Into 'Four-Hour' Chat Over Wine & Dessert, Pals Encouraging Royal To 'Go For It' With A-Lister After Prince Andrew Scandal
Mar. 11 2022, Published 12:01 a.m. ET
Fergie's new fling!
Sarah Ferguson is nothing if not loyal. Since her 1996 split from Prince Andrew, she has not only stayed close to her ex, but stood by his side despite the ongoing sex abuse allegations. (In February, the disgraced royal paid a reported $16 million settlement to his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.) But even the Duchess of York has her limits.
“Fergie’s always been Andrew’s biggest supporter, but this lawsuit took a lot out of her,” says a source. “Her friends have been pushing her to get out and date again to help get her mind off all the horrible things going on with him.”
As it turns out, the source says the duchess has already found a hunky distraction — British actor Colin Firth!
Ferguson, 62, hit it off with the Love Actually heartthrob, 61, when they met to discuss her new romance novel, Her Heart for a Compass, which the duchess is reportedly hoping to make into a movie.
“She wanted to offer Colin a role, and it was supposed to be a quick business meal, but it turned into this epic, four-hour romantic dinner,” spills the source. “They had wine and dessert and could hardly tear themselves away. She was on cloud nine when she left.” (A second source played down talk of a romance, but spilled Firth would be perfect for the role.)
“Colin is the quality type of man Sarah deserves,” a source says of the star. While Ferguson was swept off her feet, she’s proceeding cautiously with Kingsman: Secret Service actor, who split from his wife of 22 years, Livia, in 2019, the first source adds.
“She’s got high hopes for a movie and has a better chance of getting it greenlit by a studio if he signs on, but having a relationship with him could make work complicated,” explains the source. “Still, her pals are telling her to go for it. Sarah needs some fun in her life!”
