His first role was in Bruce Beresford's acclaimed film Black Robe (1991) and he has since appeared in over twenty films. Young played Cate Blanchett's tortured lover Ejlert Lovborg in Andrew Upton's adaptation of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. After a 2005 debut season at the Sydney Theatre Company the production was invited to Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. The process of restaging the production in New York was filmed for the documentary In the Company of Actors (2007).
Directing was a 'natural progression' for Young. The Rose of Ba Ziz, narrated by Hugo Weaving, is about a much-loved king who leaves his kingdom because he has an allergy and doesn't want the flowers that set it off to be destroyed. The film was made over five days.
Young has assisted veteran independent Australian filmmaker, Dutch born Paul Cox in various capacities since starring in Cox's film Exile in 1994. Young recently edited Cox's documentary Kalaupapa Heaven and his soon to be released feature Salvation.
A portrait of Young by artist James Powditch (entitled Once Upon A Time in the Inner West) was an Archibald Prize 2008 finalist.
