Natural inside London, both his parents were actors. He 1st incurred profits within ''A Knight's Tale''. When casting director Jane Jenkins saw him in an early cut of a film, he had the role of Russell Crowe's roommate in the Oscar winning A Beautiful Mind. He starred by having Crowe once again in the Oscar nominated Master and Commander.

He is married to the actress Jennifer Connelly, whom he met during a production of The Beautiful Mind. It have a boy, Stellan, natural August 5, 2003.He is considered to be a leading candidate for the role of the Joker in the next Batman film.

Filmography
The Da Vinci Code_(film) (2006) (filming) .... Silas Firewall (2005) (post-production) Wimbledon (2004) .... Peter Colt Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) .... Dr. Stephen Maturin, Surgeon A Reckoning (2003) .... Nicholas Dogville (2003) .... Tom Edison A Heart of Pine tree state (2002) .... Rickie A Beautiful Mind (2001) .... Charles Herman ''A Knight's Tale'' (2001) .... Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir William's Herald Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) (2000) .... Jimmy A Suicide Club (2000) .... Shaw David Copperfield (TV) (2000) .... James Steerforth Dead New borns (2000) .... Quentin Gangster No. 1 (2000) .... Young Gangster Each Woman Knows the Secret (miniseries) (1999) .... Rob Fallowing a Rain (1999) .... Steph Coming House (TV) (1998) .... Edward Carey-Lewis Killer Net (miniseries) (1998) .... Joe Hunter A Land Girls (1998) .... Philip Bent (1997) .... Captain Sharpe´s Waterloo (TV) (1997) .... Prince William of Orange