James McAvoy

What's going on here? Flixster members are collaborating to create the definitive resource for James McAvoy information on the Internet. We're adding all the images, info, and ideas that best tell this actor's unique story. To add your knowledge of James McAvoy, just log in and click the EasyEdit button at the top of the wiki pages. (Click here for help.) James McAvoy mini-bio: James McAvoy is a BAFTA-winning Scottish actor. He first appeared in film as Kevin Savage in David Hayman's The Near Room in 1995 and then as Anthony Balfour in Gillies MacKinnon's Regeneration in 1997. He later attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, in Glasgow, graduating in 2000. He continued acting with the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), the TV Series White Teeth (2002) and the film Bollywood Queen (2002). James McAvoy got his first big international break playing the role of Leto Atreides II in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries Children of Dune (adapted from Frank Herbert’s novels). Which aired in 2003. In the same year he was on the big screen in Stephen Fry’s directorial debut Bright Young Things, and appeared in BBC television serial State of Play, written by Paul Abbott. In 2004 he starred as Steve McBride in another Abbott-written drama series, Shameless on Channel 4, for which he was nominated for the British Comedy Award for Best TV Newcomer. He also played Rory O’Shea, an Irish teenager who has muscular dystrophy in Inside I'm Dancing and appeared in the romantic comedy Wimbledon. In 2005, he played Ben in the Royal Court Theatre's production Breathing Corpses. He had a supporting role in the adaptation of the C.S. Lewis fantasy novel The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as Mr. Tumnus and played Joe Macbeth in a new adaptation of Macbeth on the BBC. In 2006 he will star alongside Gillian Anderson and Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland. He will also take the lead in Starter for Ten, and will star alongside Christina Ricci in Penelope. McAvoy has roles in two as-yet unreleased films for 2007- Becoming Jane and Atonement. McAvoy is from from Scotstoun, Glasgow. He is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is married to his Shameless co-star, Anne-Marie Duff.

VITAL STATS

James McAvoy Information: James Andrew McAvoy (born 21 April 1979)is a scottish stage and screen actor known for is roles in Atonment,The Last King of Scotland,wanted,Herberts Children of Dune and the brittish TV series shameless. McAvoy has won the BAFTA rising star award and a BAFTA scotland award.He as also been nominated for an ALFS award,Two BAFTA awards,a europian film award, and a Globe award. Eye color: Blue Height: 5'7" Nickname(s): Jamesy, Jamesy Boy Notable feature(s): Scottish accent, blue eyes Education: Graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama family: Mother: Elizabeth Johnstone; Father: James McAvoy; Sibling: Joy McAvoy; Spouse: Anne-Marie Duff Resides in: Stoud Green, London Religious affiliations: Political affiliation: Personal interests/hobbies: Fan of science fiction and the Glasgow Celtic Football Club Charities/Causes: Other:McAvoy previously dated scottish actress Emma Neilsen (stage name Emma King)

Early Life
McAvoy was born in Glasgow,Scotland,the son of Elizabeth (nee Johnstone)a phychiatric
Nurse,and James McAvoy,a builder McAvoy's parents divorced when he was only seven,and he subsequently lived with his maternal grandparents,Mary and James Johnstone,in the drumchapel area in glasgow.His mother lived with them intermittently but McAvoy has not been in contact with his father since childhood McAvoy attended St. Thomas Aguinas secondary in Jordonhill,Glasgow,a catholic school,and briefly considered in joining the Catholic Priesthood.Graduated from the Royal Scottish Acadamy of Music and drama in 2000.His sister Joy McAvoy his a singer.
Career
McAvoys first roles were David Hayman's The near room 1995 and then as Anthony Balfour in Pat Barker's Regeneration in 1997.He received his first big break with a role in the Steven Speilberg-produced ministeries Band of brothers.His first international starring role was as Leto Atreides 2 in the 2003 Sci Fi channel misteries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (adopted from Frank Herberts novels).The same year he also appeared in several episodes of the BBC sitcom Early doors and also co-starred in Paul Abbot's acclaimed thriller serial State of Play.In 2004 he starred as Steve McBride in another Abbott-writen drama series,Shameless on Channel 4,for which he was nominated for the Carl Colt;and he played disabled character Rory O'Shea in the Irish film inside I'm Dancing.In 2005 he starred in three productions:he played Ben in the Royal Court Theatre's production Breathing Corpses and an adaptation of Macteth in the four- part BBC production shakespeare told;he also portrayed Mr. Tumnas,The Faun,in The Cronicles of Narnia;he also played Max/Johnny-2008 in Penelope.

In 2006,McAvoy starred alongside Forrest Whitaker as Dr. Garrigan in The Last King of Scotland.The films is an adaptation of Gilles Foden's novel of the same name and gives a fictionalized account of the regime of the Brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin during the 1970s,as seen by is (fictional)personal physician and adviser.The character of Garrigan is a composite of several men who were close to Amin,most notably Englishman Bob Astles,who were a top adviser to Amin during is regime and became known in Uganda as The White Rat.

That same year, McAvoy took the lead role in Starter for 10.The film,which was adopted from the novel of the Starter for Ten by David Nicholls,follows the exploits of the nerdy Brian Jackson as he navigates his first year at Bristol University during the mid -1980s McAvoy won the new Mary Selway/orange rising star award at the 2006 BAFTA awards for his role.He also completed filming of Penelope in 2006,but due to distribution problems the film was not put in wide realise until 2008.

In 2007 McAvoy appeared in two critically acclaimed films:Become Jane,a fictional romance inspired by the life of Jane Austen,and Atonement,an adaptation of Ian McEwans award-winning 2001 novel.McAvoy was nominated for a golden globe award for is role in Atonement.During this time he workshopped.

Scenes for the film Three way split for the directors Neil Hunter and Tom Hunsinger but will not take part in the actual film.

McAvoys latest film wanted,was realised on 25 June 2008.Loosely based on the comic book miniseries by the same name,McAvoy plays Wesley Gibson,a twenty five year old everyman who is offered the opportunity to avenge the death of his father,who was an assassin.The character is then trained by is fathers partner,Sloan (Morgan Freeman)and by sloans second -in -command,Fox,played by Angelina Jolie.McAvoy will appear in the forthcoming film The last Station,planned for worldwide.

Release in Spring 2009 The film is based on the 1990 novel by Jay Parini about the final year of Leo Tolstoy's life,and co-stars McAvoy's wife,Anne-Marie Duff.He has been reportedly tipped to play Bilbo.

Baggins,the lead role in the new movie version of The Lord Of The Rings prequal The Hobbit but has denied he as been cast in a role at this point.

McAvoy is a celebrity supporter of the Brittish Red Cross with whom he traveled to Uganda to raise the awareness of the projects there.

Personal Life
McAvoy previously dated scottish actress Maddy Freeman (stage name Maddy King)they began dating when he was 16 and broke up in 2003 He married Anne-Marie Duff in 2006 they live in London.He enjoys science fiction and his a fan of Celtic football club He considers himself a spiritual person but no longers practises Catholicism.


Main biography
Trained at Royal Scottish acadamy of Music and drama
McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were the first actors to tackle the complex roles letro 2 and his twin sister Ghanima Atreides, the strange pressident Children of Dune (2003) based on Frank Herbert's novel of the same name.Although Letro and Ghanima were only nine years old in the novel.The ages were bumped up
with seven years making them about sixteen for the Sci -Fi channel ministeries in March 2003.


Trained at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and drama McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were the first actors to tackle the complex roles Letro 2 and his twin sister Ghanima Atreides,the strange prescient Children of Dune (2003)based on Frank Herbert's novel of the same name.Although Letro and Ghanima were only nine years old in the novel,their ages were bumped up about seven years making them about sixteen for the SCI-FI Channel's miniseries in March 2003 His sister is Joy McAvoy,a singer in the Scottish girl group Streetside. As a child,he wanted to become a missionary. after his parents divorced,McAvoy and his sister moved in with their maternal Grandmother. After growing up in Glasgow, he moved to London at age 20. Before he went into acting,he wanted to join with the navy. While filming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Wich and the Wardrope (2005)Georgie Henley never saw McAvoy in his Mr. Tumnas costume before filming their scenes together.Henley's scared reaction upon seeing McAvoy is genuine surprise. Former roommate of Jesse Spencer when they were both living in London. Fan of Glasgow Celtric Football Club. Joe Wright considered him for a role in his Pride and prejudice(2005).Both director and actor refused to name the part. Born to James McAvoy,a builder,and his then wife Elizabeth Johnstone,a physchiatric nurse. Attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary in Jordonhill,Glasgow. Enjoys Science Fiction,including Star Trek and the new battlestar Galactica. Was ranked 18 entertainment weekly's 30 under 30 the actors list. (2008) While growing up, he wanted to be a priest. Chosen as one of peoples magazine's Sexiest Men Alive for (2007)
Personal quotes
We're in a horrible,repugnant place now where kids are told it's their right and due to be hugely famous.Not good at their job,not good at anything,just hugely famous.This is not sane.Little girls think they'll be famous if they have vast breast implants and might aswell die if they don't.
Where it gets difficult is when you don't get two or three jobs back to back where you're playing leads and doing 13, 14 hours a day,six days a week,and you suddenly think,hang on a minute,how can you have a life like this?Do I work to live or live to work?How can I work propaly when I have no life to inform the work?