Born in London

After parents' divorce when he was a teenager, moved to Glasgow with his mother

Briefly worked for local council as a social worker before enrolling in drama schhol

Was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company; appeared in "Coriolanus" and "All's Well That Ends Well", among other productions

Breakthrough TV role, "A Question of Attribution" (shown in USA in 1992)

US TV debut, featured in two-part episode of "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" (ABC)

Co-starred in the Scottish TV series "Doctor Finlay" (aired on "Masterpiece Theatre" in USA in 1993)

Feature film debut, "Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book'", directed by Stephen Sommers

Accepted small role in "Rob Roy" because he wanted to work with Tim Roth

Had featured role in "Stealing Beauty"

Breakthrough feature roles in the USA in Angela Pope's "The Hollow Reed" and Nancy Meckler's "Alive and Kicking/Indian Summer"

Reteamed with Sommers for the thriller "Deep Rising"

Played one of a quartet of amateur thieves in the stylish "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" by director Guy Ritchie

Appeared in "The Red Violin"

Reunited with director Ritchie and actor Jason Statham on "Snatch"

Played the lead singer of heavy metal band in "Rock Star"

Starred in the British play "Antarctica"

Cast as a coachman in the period thriller "From Hell"

Co-starred in the British independent film "The Bunker"

Cast as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" starring Sean Connery

Cast in the Matthew Vaughn thriller "Layer Cake" starring Daniel Craig and

Reunited with Jason Statham to star in "The Transporter 2" scripted by Luc Besson

Once again teamed with director Vaughn to co-star in "Stardust" based on Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel