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James McAvoy Profile |
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Birth Date: April 21, 1979
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Birth Place: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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Birth Name: James Andrew McAvoy
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Height: 5'7"
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Biography |
James Andrew McAvoy (born 21 April 1979) is a Scottish stage
and screen actor best known for his starring roles in The
Last King of Scotland, Atonement, Becoming Jane and the TV
series Shameless.
McAvoy was born in Scotstoun, Glasgow, the son of Elizabeth
(née Johnstone), a psychiatric nurse, and James McAvoy, a
builder. His sister, Joy McAvoy, is a singer. McAvoy's
parents divorced when he was seven, and he subsequently
lived with his maternal grandparents, Mary and James
Johnstone. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary in
Jordanhill, Glasgow, a Catholic school, and considered
becoming a priest. He was in the Pace Youth Theatre for over
six years, trained by Mhari Gilbert, and graduated from the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2000.
McAvoy's first roles were in David Hayman's The Near Room in
1995 and then as Anthony Balfour in Pat Barker's
Regeneration in 1997. McAvoy got his first big international
break with a role in the Stephen Spielberg-produced
miniseries Band of Brothers. His first international
starring role was as Leto Atreides II in the Sci Fi Channel
miniseries Children of Dune (adapted from Frank Herbert’s
novels) which aired in 2003, and the same year he co-starred
in Paul Abbott's acclaimed thriller serial State of Play. 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.
In 2005, he played Ben in the Royal Court Theatre's
production Breathing Corpses, as well as the role of Mr.
Tumnus, the Faun in Disney and Walden Media's The Chronicles
of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He also
starred in Wimbledon as Carl Colt and as Macbeth in
Shakespeare Retold.
In 2006, he starred alongside Forest Whitaker in an
adaptation of Giles Foden’s novel The Last King of Scotland
based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi
Amin’s regime as seen by his (fictional) personal physician
during the 1970s. He took the lead, Brian Jackson, in
Starter for Ten (the adaptation of the David Nicholls novel
of the same name). McAvoy won the new Mary Selway/Orange
Rising Star Award at the 2006 BAFTA Awards.
In 2007 he appeared in two critically acclaimed films —
Becoming Jane and Atonement, the latter of which is based on
Ian McEwan's 2001 novel. McAvoy was nominated for a Golden
Globe for his role in Atonement. McAvoy recently finished
work on the film adaptation of Wanted. He workshopped scenes
for the movie Three Way Split for directors Neil Hunter and
Tom Hunsinger, but will not take part in the actual film.
He is rumoured to be appearing in the movie Frost Flowers,
Channel 4 mini series The Devil's Whore and starring as Kurt
Cobain in an upcoming biopic about the Nirvana singer.
He is married to his Shameless co-star, Anne-Marie Duff. In
his spare time, McAvoy enjoys sci fi, and is a fan of Celtic
Football Club. |
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Other Information |
Trained at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were the first actors to tackle
the complex roles Leto II & his twin sister Ghanima
Atreides, the strange prescient "Children of Dune" (2003)
(mini) based on Frank Herbert's novel of the same name.
Although Leto 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
Parents divorced when he was seven.
As a child, he wanted to become a missionary.
Shares a birthday with Luis Guzmán.
After his parents divorced, McAvoy and his sister moved in
with their maternal grandmother.
Grew up in Glasgow. Moved to London at 20.
Before he went into acting, he wanted to join the Navy.
While filming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe (2005), Georgie Henley never saw McAvoy in
his Mr. Tumnus 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 Celtic Football Club.
Joe Wright considered him for a role in his Pride &
Prejudice. Both director and actor refused to name the part. |
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since January 18, 2008