Gained prominence on stage in 1972 as Snoopy in the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Lived in Paris from 1975 to '77 and attended the Jacques Lecoq School of Mime, Movement and Theater
Shared an apartment with Mel Gibson in 1979 while appearing on stage with him in a Sydney production of Waiting for Godot
Suffered a nervous breakdown in 1992 which he claims provided the insight for his Oscar-winning performance in Shine
Actively involved in Melbourne community groups and regularly turns down high-paying parts in Hollywood in favor of directing and performing on stage in Australia
Earned his first executive-producer credit for The King's Speech, which he helped develop into a film after the work was first presented to him as a stage play
Awards
2017Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie:nominated
2011Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Supporting Actor:nominated
2011AACTA Awards-Best Lead Actor:nominated
2011BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:nominated
2010L.A. Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up):winner
2010Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
2010Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
2010Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:winner
2010National Society of Film Critics-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2006Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Supporting Actor:nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie:winner
2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:winner
2004Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:winner
2002Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
2001BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
2000Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
2000Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:nominated
1999BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
1998Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
1998Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
1998Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:winner
1998Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:nominated
1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:winner
1997BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:winner
1997Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor:winner
1996Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:winner
1996Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:winner
1996Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor:winner
1996Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
1996New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor:winner