First film role came with a bit part in the 1971 drama Sunday Bloody Sunday
Made his West End stage debut in 1982, starring for several months in the play Another Country
Big-screen breakthrough came in 1986, with acclaimed roles in the dramas My Beautiful Laundrette and A Room with a View, both of which premiered on the same day in the U
S
Returned to the stage in a 1989 National Theatre production of Hamlet, but dropped out in mid-performance, reportedly due to "nervous exhaustion
" Named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 1990 and '94
Took a five-year break from acting following 1997's The Boxer, during which he reportedly studied shoe making; returned to the big screen in 2002, playing Bill "The Butcher" in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York
Collaborated with his wife Rebecca Miller, the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller, on indie The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
While on the set of Lincoln (2012), played up his reputation as a method actor by starting a rumor that he insisted on traveling to and from the set only in a horse-drawn carriage
Became the first actor to win three Best Actor Academy Awards with his win for Lincoln in 2013
Received a knighthood in 2014 for his services to drama
Announced his retirement from acting in 2017
Awards
2018BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor:nominated
2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
2017Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor:nominated
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:winner
2013BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor:winner
2013Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Actor:winner
2012New York Film Critics Online-Best Actor:winner
2012New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor:winner
2012Boston Society of Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2012Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2012Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
2012Washington D.C. Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2012Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Actor:winner
2012Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:nominated
2009Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:winner
2008Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor:nominated
2008BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor:winner
2007Utah Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2007Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Actor:nominated
2007Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Austin Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2007Alliance of Women Film Journalists-Best Actor:winner
2007New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor:winner
2007National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2007New York Film Critics Online-Best Actor:winner
2007St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Las Vegas Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Kansas City Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Florida Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2007Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2007Ohio Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
2007Phoenix Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007San Diego Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2007Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2007Southeastern Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
2003Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor:winner
2003BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2002Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
2002Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:winner
2002Toronto Film Critics Association-Best Actor - Runner-up:winner
2002Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
2002New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor:winner
2002Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1994BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1993Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1993BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1990BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:winner
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1989Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:winner
1989New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor:winner
1988Montréal World Film Festival-Best Actor:winner
1988Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
1988National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor:winner
1986New York Film Critics Circle-Best Supporting Actor:winner
1986National Board of Review-Best Supporting Actor:winner