Raised in an aristocratic family

Joined the Cambridge Footlights while an undergraduate

Began acting career appearing in repertory theater

Early TV credit, a guest appearance on the BBC series "The Duchess of Duke Street" (date approximate)

Appeared in the British miniseries "My Son, My Son" (BBC)

Moved to Los Angeles

Debut on American TV, co-starring with Anthony Hopkins in "The Bunker" (CBS), a drama about Adolph Hitler

Played the Emperor Nero in the CBS miniseries "Peter and Paul"

Feature acting debut in "Priest of Love"

Cast as the Prince Regent in the CBS movie "The Scarlet Pimpernel"

Returned to England

Established Lionhead Productions with Andrew Morgan

Was associate producer of the syndicated miniseries "A Married Man", starring Anthony Hopkins

Co-starred in the HBO drama "Fellow Traveller", about the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s

Portrayed Noel Coward in "Goldeneye", a syndicated biopic of James Bond creator Ian Fleming

Appeared in "Damage", starring Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche

Again supported Anthony Hopkins in "Shadowlands"

Wrote the teleplay adaptation of "Little Lord Fauntleroy"; received International Emmy

Played the mysterious Bishop in the thriller "Savage Hearts"

Co-starred as an army officer in "Regeneration"

Had featured role as the Minister of Defence in the James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies"

Acted alongside Catherine Denueve in "Place Vendome"

Produced and scripted a British TV adaptation of Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper"

Played the upper-class Lord Richmond in the British miniseries "Aristocrats"

Had recurring role as a Scottish nobleman in the BBC series "Monarch of the Glen"

Feature screenwriting debut, "Gosford Park"; also served as an associate producer; received Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

Penned the screenplay adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's "Vanity Fair"; directed by Mira Nair

Made directorial debut with "Separate Lies" a drama starring Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson