It is an image few women will forget in a hurry – Colin Firth and his wet shirt as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

But the actor, 53, has admitted his wife was left cold by the sight of him in his ‘sodden shirt’ and breeches.

Giving an interview Firth claimed neither he nor and Livia, 44, whom he married in 1997, understood what all the fuss was about the famous ‘wet shirt’ scene.

Dampened the mood? Colin Firth claims his wife Livia did not go wild for his famous scene in Pride & Prejudice

Their adolescent sons Luca, 13, and Matteo, 11, will likely be equally unimpressed to see their father emerge from the pond, his white shirt clinging to his chest.

Reacting to the hype, Firth, said: ‘I’ve spent years trying to figure out why Mr Darcy’s fully clothed swim in his breeches and shirt caused such a sensation.

'My wife certainly wouldn’t go weak at the knees if I came home in a sodden shirt.’

It would seem plenty of others would, however. The appearance as Mr Darcy has led to the actor featuring on several ‘sexiest man’ lists in recent years.

And People Magazine named him the ‘sexiest man alive’ in 2007.

But Firth said he doesn’t think of himself as a sex symbol. He told the Sun on Sunday’s Notebook magazine: ‘All I can say is that I’m glad people feel that way, but I don’t feel it when I look in the mirror. I don’t get chased down the street, nor has anyone ever thrown their underwear at me.

'I’ve certainly never seen myself as a sex symbol.’

Baffled: The couple, who married in 1997 and have two sons, cannot work out what all the fuss is about

Last year BBC bosses admitted Firth almost missed out on the Pride and Prejudice part because they didn’t think he was handsome enough to be Mr Darcy.

Fortunately for him, they overcame their misgivings and he was cast in what became a career-shaping role.

Admitting the semi-naked scene has helped keep him in demand as an actor, Firth said: ‘There was a time when the [heart throb] image seemed tiresome, but the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. It made it much easier for me to find work and it changes your entire stature in the business.’

Since Pride and Prejudice Firth has gone on to star in several films including Bridget Jones, Love Actually and The King’s Speech, for which he won BAFTA and Oscar awards.