The director/producer/writer Frank Howson cast Pearce in his first three films, "Heaven Tonight", "Hunting", and "Flynn", and paid for him to go to the Cannes Film Festival in 1991 for the premiere of the Howson-directed "Hunting". The accompanying Howson-funded publicity campaign brought Pearce to the attention of the international film industry. He made his first major film breakthrough shortly after, with his role as a drag queen in "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" in 1994. Since then, he has appeared in several US productions including "L.A. Confidential", "Ravenous", "Rules of Engagement", "Memento", "The Count of Monte Cristo", and "The Time Machine".