Oscar for beste kortfilm (spillefilm) (1995; for verk: Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life, sammen med: Ruth Kenley-Letts, tema for: 67th Academy Awards) BAFTA Award for Best Short Film (1994; for verk: Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life, tema for: 47th British Academy Film Awards) British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance (2010; for verk: The Thick of It, tema for: British Academy Television Awards 2010) Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor (2010; for verk: In the Loop) Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast (2010; vinner: Chris Addison, Tom Hollander, Anna Chlumsky, Paul Higgins, David Rasche, James Gandolfini, Steve Coogan, Gina McKee, Olivia Poulet, for verk: In the Loop)
Han har spilt flere roller i film og TV, men er mest kjent for sin rolle som Malcolm Tucker, spin doctor i BBC serien The Thick of It og i oppfølgerfilmen In the Loop. I 1995 vant hans kortfilm "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life" Oscarprisen for beste kortfilm (Academy Award for Live Action Short Film).
Fra 2014 spiller han den tolvte Doktoren, den trettende inkarnasjonen av hovedrollen i tv-serien Doctor Who.
