James McAvoy biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Actor James McAvoy was born on April 21, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland. With a number of strong dramatic performances, McAvoy has emerged as a leading film actor. He grew up in Glasgow, moving with his grandparents after his parents divorced when he was 7. As a child, he thought of becoming a missionary and later considered joining the navy before acting caught his attention. McAvoy went to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama to study acting.

At the age of 20, McAvoy moved to London, hoping to advance his career. He landed some film and television work in England, appearing on such shows as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries and Foyle’s War. In the United States, McAvoy also won roles on the critically acclaimed 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers about World War II and the 2003 science fiction miniseries Children of Dune based on the book by Frank Herbert.

Career Breakthrough

Playing a faun named Mr. Tumnus, McAvoy scored a career breakthrough with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005). Based on the beloved book series by C. S. Lewis, the film explored the journey of four children to the fantastical, imaginary world of Narnia where animals talk and the forces of good and evil are battling for control of the mythic land. McAvoy won over audiences with his sincere and entertaining role as a half-man half-goat creature. He quickly became an actor to watch, winning the Orange Rising Star Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in 2006.

Career Highlights

Taking on decidedly less family friendly fare, McAvoy played a fictional counterpart to the tyrannical Ugandan president, Idi Amin, in The Last King of Scotland (2006). The film shows the charisma and brutality of Amin, played by Forest Whitaker, largely through the eyes of McAvoy’s character, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, a Scottish doctor. After a chance meeting, Garrigan becomes Amin’s personal physician. At first charmed by Amin, Garrigan eventually sees light about the vicious ruler and suffers at his hands as a result. For his performance, McAvoy was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2007.

Two of McAvoy's most recent efforts are Becoming Jane (2007) and Atonement (2007). He stars in Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway as writer Jane Austen.