It is the first Australian film announced for TIFF, although Encore understands that at least one more title – a thriller starring a rising female actress- has already been selected for the festival.

According to TIFF, The King’s Speech “tells the story of the man who would become King George VI, the father of the current Queen, Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ‘Bertie’ VI (Colin Firth) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded nervous stammer and considered unfit to be King, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.”

It stars Guy Pearce, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.

The Weinstein Co. has distribution rights for North America, Germany, France, Benelux, Scandinavia, China, Hong Kong and Latin America.

Transmission will release it in Australia/New Zealand on December 26.

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Unfortunately, Helena did not win the award she was nominated for – congratulations to the equally-talented actress Julie Walters for her award-winning performance in Mo!

The actress begged her director husband to be a part of the film and when he agreed he presented her with some research she had to work with.

And the Brit admits Burton’s ideas for the character really helped her become the Red Queen.

She tells WENN, “He said to think of Elizabeth I and I said that I got that. He said it was Bette Davis in the film of Elizabeth I, The Privates Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex. So I watched that and then Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest.

“The voice kind of came from my daughter; I thought that the Red Queen had arrested development and that I was pitching her about two years old… She’s like a toddler, she has a tantrum all the time. She’s a toddler tyrant – toddlers are tyrants!

“They’ve got no sympathy for any other living creatures… the toddler thing was a big thing. My two year old daughter – she is quieter now – was retrospective inspiration. Two is kind of the time when you don’t have any empathy for any other living creature. You slap things and it’s all about me. That’s OK in a toddler but not in a grown-up toddler.”

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The Alice In Wonderland star loved singing in her partner Tim Burton’s musical film adaptation of Sweeney Todd and is keen to do more.

She revealed: “I love singing. But I didn’t have long enough to practice. There is talk of something but it’s too early to talk about it.”

The 44-year-old actress has two children – six-year-old Billy and two-year-old Nell – with director Tim and believes singing is so good for you it helped her get pregnant, although Tim wasn’t so keen on her vocal exercises.

She revealed: “Singing is exciting and daunting – the more you do it, the more you realise how much hard graft it is. But you know what? I bet you that I got pregnant because I was singing for Sweeney Todd. I was breathing properly because I was singing and it produces happy hormones too. It is very healthy, a great thing to do. Afterwards I said I was going to sing every day and continue to do my exercises and Tim said… ‘no, you’re not!’

“Of course you fall out of the habit but I would love to do another musical.”

:: Alice In Wonderland is released on Blu-ray and DVD on Friday June 4.

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