He was born July 3, 1965 in Glasgow Scotland. He was the middle of 5 children and at the tender age of 6, his father abandoned his mother. He grew up in a very rough part and admits into gettiing into some trouble, but that his mother Betty always kept him in line. He worked as a Painter, Decorator and Disc Jockey. One night, as he left a pub he was working at, people told him to give them his coat and records and when he refused, a guy jumped on his back, stabbed him, and scarred his face. He nearly died. When he saw his face after his intensive recovery, he cried thinking that he could not return to his old life again. His close friends Robert Carlyle and his wife Caroline suggested acting for him. He said it wasn't for him but then on a second thought, he decided to give it a go. He worked in the Rain Dog theatre for 3 years before Mel Gibson gave him his first big break in Braveheart (1995). Gibson, seeing what a wonderful actor he was, gave him a even bigger role.