He founded the Theatre Company in 1991.
He owns the Rain Dog Theatre Company, named after Tom Waits's album "Rain Dogs".
He appeared in the music video for Oasis's song "Little by Little".
He has not seen his estranged mother, Elizabeth "Liz" McDonald of Clan Donald, since he was four years old.
He is close friends with Ewan McGregor, with whom he worked on Trainspotting (1996) and its sequel T2 Trainspotting (2017).
For his services to drama, he was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1999 New Year Honours List.
He placed seventh in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of the best British actors.
Before taking a role in 28 Weeks Later (2007), he turned down a role in 28 Days Later (2002).
He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (renamed the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland [RCS] in 2011) and founded his own theatre company, Rain Dog, in 1991.
He is of both Scottish and Irish descent.
He was honoured with the Special Acting Achievement Award by the Tallgrass Film Festival for his work in California Solo.
He was considered to replace David Tennant on Doctor Who (2005). He ultimately appeared in Stargate Universe (2009).
He once worked as a butcher at the age of 17.
His father, Joseph "Joe" Carlyle of Clan Bruce, died on 7 January 2006 at the age of 76 and was buried on 14 January 2006 in Maryhill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
He is a partner, along with Antonia Bird, Irvine Welsh and Mark Cousins, in the British film production company 4 Ways.
His wife gave birth to a son, Pearce Joseph Carlyle of Clan Bruce (b. Queen Mother's Hospital, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, April 2006).
He met his wife, a make-up artist, while filming Cracker.
He is a patron of School For Life in Romania.
His wife gave birth to a daughter, Ava Carlyle of Clan Bruce (b. 2002).
His wife gave birth to a son, Harvey Carlyle of Clan Bruce (b. March 2004).
He supports Glasgow Rangers Football Club.
He turned down a major role in Flight of the Phoenix (2004).
He is Paul Shirley's brother-in-law.
He was considered for the Matthew Modine role in If… Dog… Rabbit (1999).
He missed out on Christopher Eccleston's roles in Danny Boyle's Shallow Grave (1994) and 28 Days Later (2002). They appeared together in the Cracker (1993) story "To Be A Somebody".
He was initially offered David Thewlis's role in Divorcing Jack (1998), but had to leave when the shooting dates changed and he was unavailable.
He was considered for the Willem Dafoe role in Go Go Tales (2007).