Left home at age 16 to work with the Perth Repertory Theatre in Scotland

British TV debut, "Lipstick on Your Collar" (Channel 4)

Had first leading role as Julien Sorel in the BBC TV miniseries "Scarlet and Black"

Feature film debut, "Being Human"

First collaboration with Danny Boyle, "Shallow Grave"; scripted by John Hodge

Breakthrough screen role as a heroin addict in Boyle's "Trainspotting"; written by Hodge (1996 US release)

American TV debut, an episode of HBO anthology series "Tales From the Crypt"

Had featured role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in "Emma"

Earned Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role in the NBC medical drama, "ER" as a robber who takes Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) hostage

Reteamed with Danny Boyle and John Hodge for "A Life Less Ordinary" opposite Cameron Diaz

Garnered praise for his turn as an American glam rocker in "Velvet Goldmine"; performed songs on the soundtrack

Returned to the London stage for the revival of "Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs"; staged by his uncle, Denis Lawson

Portrayed financier Nick Leeson, who brought down Barings Bank, in the biopic "Rogue Trader" (premiered in USA on Cinemax)

Cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"

Cast as Irish writer James Joyce in the biopic "Nora"

Portrayed a penniless writer who falls for a courtesan (Nicole Kidman) in the film musical "Moulin Rouge!"; the duet with Kidman called "Come What May" was a hit and placed on charts around the world

Appeared in the fact-based war film "Black Hawk Down"

Reprised role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones"

Had lead opposite Renee Zellweger in "Down With Love"

Portrayed a young Albert Finney in the movie "Big Fish"; Tim Burton's story about fathers and sons

Appeared with fellow actor Charley Boorman, on a motorcycle journey across Europe, Asia and North America, which was filmed for a reality type series aired on Bravo

Starred opposite Tilda Swinton in the thriller "Young Adam"

Made his musical theater debut in a remake of "Guys and Dolls" in London's West End

Voiced genius inventor, Rodney Copperbottom in the animated feature "Robots"

Once again cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith"

Co-starred with Scarlett Johansson in the sci-fi drama "The Island" directed by Michael Bay

Cast in "Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker" based on Stormbreaker, the first novel in the Alex Rider series

Re-teamed with Renee Zellweger in the biopic "Miss Potter" about 'Peter Rabbit' author Beatrix Potter

Co-starred with Colin Farrell as down on their luck brothers in Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream"

Co-starred with Hugh Jackaman and Michelle Williams in "Deception"