He also played a dramatic role in 1998's "Gods and Monsters", which was based on the life of James Whale (Ian McKellen), who directed "Frankenstein". The film was written and directed by Bill Condon, and follows the loss of creativity, ambiguous sexuality and unlikely bonds between a heterosexual gardener and a homosexual, tortured and ailing filmmaker. He lent his voice for the unreleased animated film "Big Bug Man". In 2002, he starred alongside Michael Caine in the political drama "The Quiet American" which was well received by critics. In 2004, he appeared as part of an ensemble cast in the Academy Award-winning film "Crash".