Raised in a devout Roman Catholic household, along with four siblings. Her father is a nuclear physicist ; her mother is a pianist.
Born in England, but grew up in Australia after moving there at age 2.
After college, spent a year in Japan, teaching English, modeling and traveling.
Attended Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts at the same time as Hugh Jackman.
First received attention in the Australian films Love and Other Catastrophes (1996) and Kiss or Kill (1997).
Was cast in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) after Steven Spielberg saw her performance as Fanny Price in the 1999 film adaptation of Mansfield Park.
First role after the birth of her son Luka was as T.S. Eliot's troubled first wife in a 2006 London revival of play Tom & Viv.
Awards
1996, Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Nominee
2001, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Nominee
2011, AACTA Awards — Best Lead Actress: Nominee
1995, Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama: Nominee
2009, Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Lead Actress: Winner
2005, Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Lead Actress: Nominee
1997, Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Nominee
2015, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Nominee
Relationships
Luka — Son
Gerald Lepkowski — Significant Other
College
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia (BA in literature); Edith Cowan University, Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts, Perth, Western Australia, Australia (1992)
