1978 Worked as a dresser at the National Theatre.

1993 West End debut in “The Woman in Black”.

1995 Was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

1995 TV acting debut, “The Vacillations of Poppy Carew”.

1996 Feature film debut, “Stealing Beauty” directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

1996 Offered well-received turns as Troilus in “Troilus and Cressida” and Silvius in “As You Like It”.

1998 Cast in the title role of the period romance “Shakespeare in Love”; co-starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck.

1998 Co-starred opposite Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth”.

1998 Returned to the London stage in “Real Classy Affair”.

1999 Cast as one of three men attracted to the same woman in “The Very Thought of You/Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence”.

2001 Cast in title role of “Edward II” at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre; reprised role in London’s West End in spring 2002.

2001 Co-starred in “Enemy at the Gates” with Jude Law and Ed Harris.

2002 Starred opposite Heather Graham in the controversial romance “Killing Me Softly” directed by Chen Kaige.

2003 Cast as religious reformer Martin Luther in the biopic “Luther”.

2004 Appeared in the WWII drama “The Great Raid”.

2004 Starred in “The Merchant of Venice” a Shakespearian adaptation, set in 16th century Venice.

2006 Played a gay schizophrenic in the film adaptation of the Augusten Burroughs book, “Running With Scissors”.

2007 Portrayed James Gregory, Mandela’s censor officer and prison guard in “Goodbye Bafana” based on the book by Gregory titled Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.