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She was Jean-Pierre Jeunet's first choice to play the title role in Amélie (2001), but dropped out for personal reasons. She did manage to leave her mark on the film however; Amelie is named after her.

One of only a few performers to get an Oscar-nomination for their debut performance.

Won the role of Bess in Breaking the Waves (1996) after Helena Bonham Carter dropped out at the last minute because of the film's explicit sexuality.

Is often mistaken for Harry Potter actress Emma Watson due to similarity in name. She does not try to correct people and tells people that she is "quite flattered that people think I'm 21".

Graduated from Bristol University with a degree in English

"The first Oscarcast, I was definitely functioning in a surreal mode. It was like I was watching myself watch the ceremony. Yet I had a good time. Hey, wearing a beautiful dress and being surrounded by beautiful people is not a terrible way to spend an evening. And I had a great time at all the parties. The second Oscarcast, I just went and planned on enjoying myself. People think of me as such a serious actress, but I find myself behaving like a gadabout." - On her sudden success and America's award shows.

"I wasn't prepared for the way people responded to 'Breaking the Waves.' Suddenly, I was being interviewed and being asked all sorts of questions. All my life, I've loved movies, but I didn't foresee the glamour of the Academy Awards. In England, the awards are reported as straight news. In America, they're considered the height of glamour." - On her two 1999 roles, "Angela's Ashes" and "Cradle Will Rock", which had Oscar-potential.

I was a normal, rather dutiful child. I didn't even rebel as a teenager.

On her childhood preparing her for an acting career: "I was taught the value of imagination at an early age. I didn't have a television. I read a lot of books and developed a good sense of storytelling. I was happy as well, and I think that helped. The more secure you feel, the more unbalanced you can let yourself become."

On Hollywood's perception of women as beauty objects: "I'm lucky I don't do the kind of work where the main thing is that you're the girl and you look gorgeous. I don't look like that. I'm a funny-looking bugger. I don't feel that I can compete, and I wouldn't want to. Life's too short to spend seven hours a day in the gym and starving yourself."