RA has been wonderful in whatever he's been in. I haven't seen him in much, but he made Robin Hood watchable, and for the longest time I actually thought he had a northern accent, because that's how good he is. It didn't help matters when I watched North & South, and he had a northern accent in that too. He portrayed Mr Thornton very well - appropriate balances of brooding, angst, romanticism and the mans man. Although I imagined Mr Thornton as a little older in the book, it made no difference because he filled the shoes too well, and I enjoyed every minute of his performance. And I was surprised to find that he had an uncredited role in Star Wars as a Naboo Fighter Pilot