Colin Firth isn't offered big Hollywood roles.

The 49-year-old actor - who has been nominated for an Academy Award for his role in 'A Single Man' - insists his successes haven't opened too many doors but he is content with the work that comes his way.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "They're not bombarding me with offers, although that ones that have come along have been too preposterous to contemplate, so it's not as if I spend my day resisting $20 million pay cheques.

"I work with the options I have in front of me and my reasons for choosing a job can vary enormously depending on circumstances.

"Sometimes I take a job because it's a group of people I'm dying to work with, and sometimes it can be a desire to shake things up a bit and not take myself too seriously."

The British star, who has previously worked on comedy films including 'Mamma Mia!' and 'Bridget Jones's Diary', also claimed he needs to vary the type of movie roles he accepts in order to preserve his sanity.

He explained: "A life of very, very serious, po-faced films would drive me nuts. I need - and I'm fortunate to have - a fairly varied menu in that respect."