Stepping Into The Spotlight
tMF profiles one of the best actors we have today: James McAvoy!
By Deana Martin

James McAvoy rocketed to stardom this year with his much talked-about performance in Atonement, one of the 2007 Academy Award Best Picture nominees. While he didn't win a Best Actor nomination, he certainly made a big impression on movie-goers.

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James' turn as Robbie Turner in the British war/romance epic was heartbreaking and allowed McAvoy to show us the depths of his talent. The role demanded McAvoy to portray a near-perfect man, whose lack of flaws made the film all the more tragic. He proved with this performance that he may well be one of the best actors of his generation and has many new fans eagerly awaiting his next role.

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James really came to the attention of Hollywood in The Last King of Scotland where he appeared opposite Forest Whitaker, who took home the Best Actor Oscar for his performance. As Nicholas Garrigan, dictator Idi Amin’s personal physician, Jame took full advantage of his inherent Scottish charm, going toe to toe with Whitaker in every scene, and giving him a worthy partner with whom to give truth to his portrayal of Amin. Nevertheless, James took a backseat to Forest during the awards season, despite his own tour de force performance. It is perhaps this lack of ego that is helping to propel James to the forefront of Hollywood and is opening doors to roles he never dreamed he would be offered. He has an everyman quality about him that moviegoers can relate to on a very real level.

“The thing that attracts me to all the jobs I've done over the last few years was the offer of employment. I've had to audition for every single job I've ever done, I think. So it's not just a question of being attracted. Yes, I like the things I've done, and I've been very luck that the things I've done -- I think -- have a certain level of quality. But had I only got parts that were rubbish, I'd be doing them as well, because I'm an actor and I need the work. But I'm getting a little more choice. When I read The Last King of Scotland, I thought this is excellent, and I'd be very lucky to get this. That was my choice, but afterward I still had to convince somebody else to choose me.”

Chance encounters…

Born in Glasgow in 1979, James never dreamed of becoming an actor. He was your average working class kid, playing in a band with his buddies, thinking of maybe joining the Navy or being a missionary. But a chance encounter with David Hayman changed everything. Actor/director Hayman spoke at his school about his illustrious career. In contrast to the ridicule his classmates blasted at Hayman, James decided to approach Hayman after his lecture to tell him that he had enjoyed hearing him speak. James asked if he could be included in Hayman’s next project, in any capacity at all. Next thing he knew, he'd been given a small part in Hayman’s The Near Room. With a newfound direction in life, James eventually found himself at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, working simultaneously as a baker in the early mornings.

"I actually went to drama school at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama in Glasgow …. I've never worked as hard as when I was at drama school. You were there until 9 or 10 at night, at least that's the way it was then. "

James found consistent work on television. He was a member of the cast for the Sci-Fi Channel’s Children of Dune, and worked on Paul Abbott’s BBC mini-series State of Play and his BBC drama Shameless. Many in the United States who have only recently discovered James McAvoy should consider buying the first season of Shameless on DVD. Sundance Channel has just recently started airing the second season of Shameless for those of us desperate to know how the Steve (played by James) and Fiona storyline comes to an end.

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During the short time he was working on the series, McAvoy proved he was an actor who was going to make the leap from small screen to big.

'I realized how much I loved doing it, and how happy I was. And I stopped fighting it. I realized it was fine to be cautious but not too negative. I'd stopped myself from enjoying the work too much when I was younger because of my fear of lack of success. I think I'd started to apply that to my whole life; I was negative, just in case something bad happened. But then suddenly I realized that and decided, "Right, I'd better get on with it, I love what I'm doing, whatever's going to happen will happen, and it will be fine."'

The makings of a leading man…

It was while James was filming Shameless that he was cast in his first acclaimed leading role as the title character in Rory O’Shea Was Here (AKA: Inside I’m Dancing). Rory was crippled with muscular dystrophy, only able to move one hand, but had the heart and drive of a rebellious rock star. This film is simply a gem. McAvoy and his acting partner Steven Robertson are utterly convincing as disabled young men yearning for independence. James earned a London Critics Circle Film Award nomination for Best British Actor of the Year for his performance. Soon after, James found himself in a supporting role in Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe as Mr. Tumnus, the fawn who sets the plot in motion. James’ sparkling blue eyes reveal the depths of Mr. Tumnus’ burdens, as he has to choose between helping Lucy and fear of retribution for his defiance.

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James’ days as supporting player were coming to an end. When David Nicholls' was searching for the lead for his 1980s John Hughes-styled British dramedy Starter For 10, he knew James was the man for the job.

'I'd noticed him years ago, in his first scene in State of Play,' says David Nicholls. 'As soon as he came on screen, he had this terrific presence and charisma. I remember leaning over to someone and saying, "Who is he?" He had all the attributes we needed for Starter for Ten: a real affability, an ability to be both comic and dramatic - and at the same time, not to be too maddening, even though there's quite a lot of foolishness to the character. James appeals to both men and women, I think: he's one of the boys, but he also has a great sensitivity. He's masculine without being macho.'

Starter for 10 is one of James’ finest performances, cementing the fact that not only can he carry a film, he can shine in it. James portrayed the awkward Brian, who more than anything wanted to be on the college University Challenge team, absolutely perfectly. Just as Nicholls’ had hoped, James’ charisma and charm showed through Brian’s fumblings, making for an extremely likeable yet flawed leading man.

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Despite not being that “Brad Pitt-type guy” he still managed to land the male lead in a number of recent films including Becoming Jane, Penelope and the previously-mentioned Atonement. Recently, he even got Brad Pitt’s girl when he was cast opposite Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Summer Blockbuster Wanted. James is a serious Hollywood star in the making. Thankfully, he shies away from the whole “celebrity thing”, opting for a more grounded life, which will hopefully keep him around for much longer than some of his contemporaries.

“I ... do my own dishes? I try and get myself up for housework; I see my pals and play football; read; write; cook; pastimes like hiking and things like that. I don't really .... go to 'the opening of an envelope.' I don't really turn up to all the events, you know what I mean? If I'm involved, I'll go, and if there's a good friend who needs support, I'll go, but otherwise ... I don't go. I'm probably just a bit like my grandparents; I like staying in.”

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James McAvoy's profile was written exclusively for tMF by Deana Martin.

Sources: (1) IMDb profile (2) Wikipedia (3) Combustiblecelluloid interview (4) Cinematical interview (5) The Guardian interview.

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Comments (9)

Simply awesome!

This is a great read not only for those who admire James McAvoy, but to all moviefanatics who appreciate serious, no-nonsense films.

Great way to start Deana! Very comprehensive and insightful, what a profile!

jedmed , March 24, 2008

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Thanks Jed! I could have written so much more about James, but at some point I had to stop. Not included in the profile, but must-sees as well, would be James turn as Macbeth in the BBC's Shakespeare Retold and as Paul Bettany's devious younger brother in Wimbledon.

yiddidea , March 25, 2008 | url

Character of the Month

I think James McAvoy is character of the month on TNT (they love drama!). I haven't seen him in anything yet but Atonement is on my "to rent" list!

Melissa Donovan , March 25, 2008 | url

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yeah, I saw that TNT spot the other day. The graphics they used in it were pretty funny.

yiddidea , March 25, 2008 | url

What a profile, indeed...

This is truly awesome! Nice work.

Jeremy , March 25, 2008

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Thanks Jeremy!

yiddidea , March 26, 2008 | url

The most exciting actor in years!

Very nicely written, Deana. One small correction: His character's name in Starter for 10 is Brian, not David. I've seen almost everything James McAvoy has done (many more than once) and he is a force to behold. You just know when someone is going to be a major talent - and James is that someone. Can't wait to see what he does in years to come.

Paula , April 01, 2008

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Good catch Paula! I went back and edited that, thanks.

I agree, I think we are seeing the beginnings of one of the next major movie stars.

yiddidea , April 01, 2008 | url

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I think we are seeing the beginnings of one of the next major movie legends.

nez , June 24, 2008

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