Born and raised in London

Joined Royal Shakespeare Company, appeared in shows like "The Taming of the Shrew" and "The Changeling"

Breakthrough stage role, as Mary in revival of "The Children's Hour"

Early British TV appearance in the film "Summer Day's Dream"

Film debut, starring in Lars Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves"; earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Actress

TV debut in British production of "The Mill on the Floss"; shown theatrically in Europe; premiered at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival; shown on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre" in the USA

Starred opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Boxer"

Received raves for her portrayal of cellist Jacqueline du Pre in the biopic "Hilary and Jackie"; also earned second Best Actress Academy Award nomination

Played Angela McCourt in the film version of "Angela's Ashes"

Had title role in Alan Rudolph's "Trixie" as an amateur detective

Starred opposite John Turturro in the period romance "The Luzhin Defence"

Cast as the rebellious head housemaid in the Robert Altman-directed period mystery "Gosford Park"

Reteamed with Christian Bale in "Equilibrium"

Played the blind girl in "Red Dragon," the prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

Co-starred with Adam Sandler in "Punch-Drunk Love" which premiered at Cannes

Starred opposite Christian Bale in the sci-fi thriller "Equilibrium" (lensed 2002)

Played Peter Sellers' long-suffering first wife in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers," which premiered at Cannes; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Voiced Victoria Everglot in Tim Burton's animated feature "Corpse Bride"

Cast opposite Tom Wilkinson in Julian Fellowes' directorial debut "Separate Lies"

Cast in Richard E. Grant's directorial debut, the autobiographical "Wah-Wah," an account of his extraordinary childhood spent in Swaziland

Cast as the intended sister-in-law to Renee Zellweger's Beatrix in "Miss Potter" a biopic of children's author Beatrix Potter

Co-starred in the fantasy film, "Water Horse" about the fabled Loch Ness Monster