Trivia

Was offered a role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but didn't like the prospect of a year long production keeping him away from his family.

Graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury with a degree in English and American Literature. Was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University in 2001.

As of 2022, has appeared in eight films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: In the Name of the Father (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995), The Full Monty (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), In the Bedroom (2001), Michael Clayton (2007), Selma (2014) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Of those, Shakespeare in Love (1998) is a winner in the category.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the order of the British Empire) in the 2005 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Drama.

Attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Has played both British and American leaders involved in the American Revolution: General Lord Charles Cornwallis in The Patriot (2000) and Benjamin Franklin in John Adams (2008).

He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performance in An Enemy of the People.

He was awarded the 1986 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ghosts.

Became an Associate Member of RADA.

Is the only actor nominated for two Golden Globes on the same year for portraying two American politicians: "Benjamin Franklin" (John Adams (2008)) and James A. Baker (Recount (2008)), winning for John Adams (2008). Both of these miniseries/television movie were produced by HBO.

He has performed at the Oxford Playhouse, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and on the stage at London's West End.

In Wilde (1997), he played Oscar Wilde's enemy, the Marquess of Queensberry. In The Happy Prince (2018), he played Father Cuthbert Dunne who administers the Last Rites to the dying Wilde, and in The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), a play written by Wilde (before being adapted into this movie of the same name), he plays Dr. Chasuble. In both The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and The Happy Prince (2018), he appears opposite Rupert Everett and Colin Firth in the first and second leading roles.