The world would be a duller place without Moulin Rouge.

Later stage work included the original productions of Kafka's Dick (1986) and Our Country's Good (1988) at the Royal Court Theatre and work for the Royal National Theatre including "The Government Inspector". He appeared in the original radio production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy playing the character Vroomfondel. Broadbent and Barlow played many male and female character roles in comically less-than-epic tellings of historical and religious stories such as The Messiah The Complete Guide to Sex The Greatest Story Ever Told Revolution!! and All The World's A Globe.

He is known for his roles in Iris (2001 for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) Moulin Rouge! (2001 for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role) Topsy-Turvy (1999) Bridget Jones' Diary (2001) Hot Fuzz (2007) The Iron Lady (2011) and Cloud Atlas (2012). James "Jim" Broadbent (born 24 May 1949) is an English theatre film and television actor. He also appears in the later Harry Potter films as Horace Slughorn.