Thewlis's breakout role was "Naked" (1993; dir. Mike Leigh), as the main character, Johnny, a homeless, highly intelligent, embittered, rambling street philosopher, for which Thewlis was named Best Actor by the National Society of Film Critics (United States), the London Film Critics Circle, the Evening Standard, the New York Film Critics' Circle and the Cannes Film Festival. That same year, he appeared on television as a sexual predator named James Jackson in "Prime Suspect 3", opposite Helen Mirren and Ciarán Hinds. Before that, his first television appearance was in "Valentine Park".