- 2009: Played a powerful Vatican insider in the film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel, "Angels & Demons"
- 2008: Co-starred with Colin Farrell as down on their luck brothers in Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream"
- 2008: Co-starred with Hugh Jackaman and Michelle Williams in "Deception"
- 2006: Cast in "Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker" based on Stormbreaker, the first novel in the Alex Rider series
- 2006: Re-teamed with Renee Zellweger in the biopic "Miss Potter" about 'Peter Rabbit' author Beatrix Potter
- 2005: Voiced genius inventor, Rodney Copperbottom in the animated feature "Robots"
- 2005: Co-starred with Scarlett Johansson in the sci-fi drama "The Island" directed by Michael Bay
- 2005: Made his musical theater debut in a remake of "Guys and Dolls" in London's West End
- 2005: Once again cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith"
- 2004: Appeared with fellow actor Charley Boorman, on a motorcycle journey across Europe, Asia and North America, which was filmed for a reality type series aired on Bravo
- 2004: Starred opposite Tilda Swinton in the thriller "Young Adam"
- 2003: Had lead opposite Renee Zellweger in "Down With Love"
- 2003: Portrayed a young Albert Finney in the movie "Big Fish"; Tim Burton's story about fathers and sons
- 2002: Reprised role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones"
- 2001: Portrayed a penniless writer who falls for a courtesan (Nicole Kidman) in the film musical "Moulin Rouge!"; the duet with Kidman called "Come What May" was a hit and placed on charts around the world
- 2001: Appeared in the fact-based war film "Black Hawk Down"
- 2000: Cast as Irish writer James Joyce in the biopic "Nora"
- 1999: Portrayed financier Nick Leeson, who brought down Barings Bank, in the biopic "Rogue Trader" (premiered in USA on Cinemax)
- 1999: Cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
- 1998: Returned to the London stage for the revival of "Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs"; staged by his uncle, Denis Lawson
- 1998: Garnered praise for his turn as an American glam rocker in "Velvet Goldmine"; performed songs on the soundtrack
- 1997: Earned Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role in the NBC medical drama, "ER" as a robber who takes Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) hostage
- 1997: Reteamed with Danny Boyle and John Hodge for "A Life Less Ordinary" opposite Cameron Diaz
- 1996: American TV debut, an episode of HBO anthology series "Tales From the Crypt"
- 1996: Had featured role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in "Emma"
- 1995: Breakthrough screen role as a heroin addict in Boyle's "Trainspotting"; written by Hodge (1996 US release)
- 1994: First collaboration with Danny Boyle, "Shallow Grave"; scripted by John Hodge
- 1993: Feature film debut, "Being Human"
- 1993: British TV debut, "Lipstick on Your Collar" (Channel 4)
- 1993: Had first leading role as Julien Sorel in the BBC TV miniseries "Scarlet and Black"
- Left home at age 16 to work with the Perth Repertory Theatre in Scotland




