At age five changed name to Ben McGuire for five years

Dabbled in theater during high school

Moved to London to become a teacher at age 17

Began "Mum's Underground" theater group

Worked as postman, laborer, library assistant during college

Taught juvenile delinquents and children with learning disabilities for five years

Pioneered new teaching program involving puppets and video

Decided to act full time; small roles in repertory theater and on English TV ("The Real Charlotte" for "Masterpiece Theater" and TV series "Boon" and "Hard Cases")

Made his feature-film debut in "The Courier"

Won acclaim for his role as an IRA informer in the TV movie "Act of Betrayal"

Cast as Sir Richard Burton in the epic "Mountains of the Moon" directed by Bob Rafelson

Played the abusive husband opposite Julia Roberts in "Sleeping with the Enemy"

Cast opposite Sean Young in the thriller "Love Crimes"

Cast as an IRA assassin opposite Harrison Ford in "Patriot Games" based on the Tom Clancy novel

Starred in the adaptation of Mary Shelley's iconographic monster tale "Frankenstein"

Cast as Inspector Hansen in the TV movie "The Ripper" about the search for Jack the Ripper in London of 1888

Cast as a police investigator in "When the Sky Falls" based on the true-life story of Irish investigative reporter Veronica Guerin

Cast as the widowed father opposite Anne Hathaway in "Ella Enchanted"

Co-starred in the musical comedy The Boys and Girl From County Clare"

Played the role of psychotic IRA gunman in "Johnny Was"