Grew up in Cork, Ireland; discovered by Hubbard Casting in a pool hall there

Unsuccessfully auditioned for the lead in the feature "The War of the Buttons"

First professional work, landed role in a Knorr soup commercial

Made feature debut in a bit role in "A Man of No Importance"

First significant part, Finbar in "The Disappearance of Finbar"

Had pivotal role as the assassin in Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins"

Appeared in the quirky fantasy-comedy "The Killer Tongue"

Portrayed the young Samson in the TNT TV-movie "Samson and Delilah"

Filmed "B. Monkey" starring as the twisted boyfriend of Rupert Everett's Paul (released in the USA in 1999)

Co-starred with Matthew Modine in "The Maker"; aired on HBO in the USA

Played Kevin Boyle, the leader of a gang that bullies Brad Renfro, in "Telling Lies in America"

Appeared in the British TV-movie "The Tribe"

Had featured role as the lovestruck teenage son of a wealthy British family in the 19th Century-set drama "The Governess"

Starred as fictional glam-rock icon Brian Slade in Todd Haynes' "Velvet Goldmine"; also performed songs for the soundtrack

Played the younger incarnation of Julian Sands' documentary filmmaker in Mike Figgis' "The Loss of Sexual Innocence"

Cast by Ang Lee in the Civil War drama "Ride With the Devil," playing a ruthless killer

Featured alongside Jessica Lange in "Titus," famed theater director Julie Taymor's feature directorial debut

Had featured role in the A&E miniseries version of "The Magnificent Ambersons"

Starred as the coach of a girls football (soccer) team in "Bend It Like Beckham"

Cast in the feature based on the best selling novel "Prozac Nation"

Starred opposite Clive Owen in "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"

Co-starred with Colin Farrell in Oliver Stone's "Alexander"

Portrayed American icon Elvis Presley in the CBS TV movie, "Elvis"; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Actor

Played a former tennis pro opposite Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's "Match Point"

Cast in the J.J. Abrams-helmed "Mission: Impossible III," opposite Tom Cruise

Cast as Henry VIII in the Showtime series, "The Tudors"; earned a Golden Globe (2008) nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series

Co-starred with Jonathan Keri Russell and Freddie Highmore in the child-prodigy drama, "August Rush"