1973–1994: Rise to prominence Wilkinson made his acting debut on stage at the
Nottingham Playhouse. In 1976 he appeared his first film, the thriller '''', directed by
Andrzej Wajda, an adaption of
Joseph Conrad's novel
The Shadow-Line. He was simultaneously appearing in this series on television and on the West End stage in
Henrik Ibsen's
Ghosts, in which he played Pastor Manders.
1995–2008: Breakthrough and acclaim and Wilkinson in the
Todd Field drama film
In the Bedroom (2001) Wilkinson had a small but important role as the dying father, Mr. Dashwood, in the
Ang Lee-directed
Sense and Sensibility (1995), and played a villain in the adventure drama
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). The following year, he gained acclaim for his leading role as Gerald Cooper, an ex-foreman who reluctantly joins a group of unemployed steelworkers as a stripper, in the
ensemble cast comedy-drama
The Full Monty (1997). For his performance, he won the
BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. That same year, he portrayed
Marquess of Queensberry in the biographical drama
Wilde and Hugh Stratton in the romantic drama
Oscar and Lucinda. '' in 2009 Wilkinson won wider critical acclaim for his portrayal of grieving father Matt Fowler in
Todd Field's film,
In the Bedroom (2001), with co-stars
Sissy Spacek and
Marisa Tomei. For this performance, he won the
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Actor. He then took roles in the period films
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and
Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003). For his role as Roy/Ruth Applewood in the
HBO film
Normal he received a nominations for the
Primetime Emmy Award and
Golden Globe Award. The following year he played Dr. Howard Mierzwiak in the
Michel Gondry-directed science fiction romantic comedy
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) starring
Jim Carrey and
Kate Winslet. He portrayed
Carmine Falcone in
Christopher Nolan's superhero film
Batman Begins (2005). He also acted in films such as the horror film
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005),
Julian Fellowes' drama
Separate Lies (2005), and
Woody Allen's ''
Cassandra's Dream'' (2007). In 2007, Wilkinson played Arthur Edens, an attorney with
bipolar disorder, in
Michael Clayton. The performance, which
Variety described as "terrific", earned him an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. In 2008, Wilkinson portrayed American polymath
Benjamin Franklin in the HBO mini-series
John Adams, for which he received a
Primetime Emmy Award and
Golden Globe Award, That same year he starred in another HBO project, the political drama
Recount, in which Wilkinson portrayed American political adviser and lawyer,
James A. Baker, in Baker's capacity as Chief Counsel to
George W. Bush during the
2000 U.S. Presidential Election, receiving an
Emmy Award nomination. He portrayed
Friedrich Fromm, acting alongside
Tom Cruise, in the
World War II thriller
Valkyrie and acted in the
Guy Ritchie action film
RocknRolla (both 2008). He gained acclaim portraying
Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., in the 2011 television miniseries
The Kennedys, for which he was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award. He and his wife portrayed husband and wife
Joe and
Rose Kennedy. Earlier that year, he appeared in the comedy film
The Green Hornet and the action film
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. The following year he acted in the comedy
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel starring opposite
Judi Dench,
Bill Nighy,
Dev Patel and
Maggie Smith. David Rooney of
The Hollywood Reporter praised his performance writing, "Observed with sensitivity and played with a deep well of sorrow by Wilkinson, this story breathes real tenderness into the movie's reflections on growing older and making peace with past mistakes". In 2013 he portrayed
Lord Mansfield in the costume drama
Belle starring
Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The following year Wilkinson portrayed
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, in
Ava DuVernay's historical drama film
Selma (2014), and had a role in
Wes Anderson's comedy
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). He had a lead role alongside
Vince Vaughn and
Dave Franco in the comedy
Unfinished Business (2015). In 2016, he portrayed journalist
Ewen MacAskill in
Snowden starring
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and barrister
Richard Rampton in
Denial acting alongside
Rachel Weisz and
Timothy Spall. He briefly reprised his role as Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. in
The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017). He voiced Threarah in the
BBC One series
Watership Down (2018), and played Peregrine, Earl of Brockenhurst in the
Julian Fellowes historical drama
Belgravia (2019). His final appearance was in a television version of
The Full Monty. ==Personal life and death==