In 2007 she won Best Actress for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen, and starred in Phil Spector in 2013.
She joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of eighteen.
Out of all the movies she filmed, her favorite role was playing the sadistic history teacher in Teaching Mrs. Tingle.
She married Taylor Hackford in December of 1997.
She was in Gosford Park with Maggie Smith.