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== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
=== Early life and career beginnings ===
=== Early life and career beginnings ===
James Andrew McAvoy was born in [[Port Glasgow]], Scotland, the son of Elizabeth (née Johnstone), a psychiatric nurse, and James McAvoy Senior, a builder.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="lanearticle"/> He was brought up as a Roman Catholic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/hot-guys/ffm-James-McAvoy |title=Fun Fearless Males 2008: James McAvoy |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |work=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] |year=2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}})</ref> His parents divorced when he was seven, which McAvoy took hard.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="lanearticle"/> McAvoy's mother suffered from poor health and subsequently decided it was best that he live with his maternal grandparents, Mary and butcher James Johnstone, in the nearby [[Drumchapel]] area of [[Glasgow]] in a terrace council house.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="Tiscali">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/james_mcavoy_biog.html|title=James McAvoy Biography |publisher=[[Tiscali]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His mother lived with them intermittently.<ref name="lanearticle"/> To date, the actor regularly visits his grandparents.<ref name="familyfeud"/> His sister, Joy McAvoy, is a singer and actress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/98/James-McAvoy.html |title=James McAvoy Biography (1979–) |publisher=Advameg, Inc |work=Film Reference |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He also has a younger half-brother named Donald.<ref name="familyfeud"/> McAvoy has not been in contact with his father since childhood.<ref name="lanearticle">{{cite web |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1920915,00.html |title=The Real McAvoy |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=15 October 2006 |accessdate=2 July 2011 |first=Harriet |last=Lane}}</ref> According to his father, McAvoy avoided any contact with him after he moved in with his new lover.<ref name="familyfeud"/> Nonetheless, the actor had a good upbringing.<ref name="sallyguardian"/>
James Andrew McAvoy was born in [[Port Glasgow]], Scotland, the son of Elizabeth (née Johnstone), a psychiatric nurse, and James McAvoy Senior, a builder.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="lanearticle"/> He was brought up as a Roman Catholic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/hot-guys/ffm-James-McAvoy |title=Fun Fearless Males 2008: James McAvoy |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |work=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] |year=2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}})</ref> His parents divorced when he was seven, which McAvoy took hard.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="lanearticle"/> McAvoy's mother suffered from poor health and subsequently decided it was best that he live with his maternal grandparents, Mary and butcher James Johnstone, in the nearby [[Drumchapel]] area of [[Glasgow]] in a terrace council house.<ref name="familyfeud"/><ref name="Tiscali">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/james_mcavoy_biog.html|title=James McAvoy Biography |publisher=[[Tiscali]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His mother lived with them intermittently.<ref name="lanearticle"/> To date, the actor regularly visits his grandparents.<ref name="familyfeud"/> His sister, Joy McAvoy, is a singer and actress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/98/James-McAvoy.html |title=James McAvoy Biography (1979–) |publisher=Advameg, Inc |work=Film Reference |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He also has a younger half-brother named Donald.<ref name="familyfeud"/> McAvoy has not been in contact with his father since childhood.<ref name="lanearticle">{{cite web |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1920915,00.html |title=The Real McAvoy |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=15 October 2006 |accessdate=2 July 2011 |first=Harriet |last=Lane}}</ref> According to his father, McAvoy avoided any contact with him after he moved in with his new lover.<ref name="familyfeud"/> Nonetheless, the actor had a good upbringing.<ref name="sallyguardian"/> He attended [[St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Jordanhill|St. Thomas Aquinas]] Secondary in [[Jordanhill]], Glasgow, a [[Catholic school]], and briefly considered joining the [[Catholic priesthood]].<ref name="sallyguardian"/><ref name="tlkofsinfo"/> In a 2006 interview, the actor admitted that part of the reason why he considered becoming a priest was that he wanted to use it as an excuse to travel.<ref name="priesttrvael"/> During his education, he worked at a local bakery.<ref name="sallyguardian">{{cite web |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1650947,00.html |last=Vincent |first=Sally |title=Trying to be good |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=26 November 2005 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="tlkofsinfo"/>


He attended [[St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Jordanhill|St. Thomas Aquinas]] Secondary in [[Jordanhill]], Glasgow, a [[Catholic school]], and briefly considered joining the [[Catholic priesthood]].<ref name="sallyguardian"/><ref name="tlkofsinfo"/> In a 2006 interview, the actor admitted that part of the reason why he considered becoming a priest was that he wanted to use it as an excuse to travel.<ref name="priesttrvael"/> During his education, he worked at a local bakery.<ref name="sallyguardian">{{cite web |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1650947,00.html |last=Vincent |first=Sally |title=Trying to be good |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=26 November 2005 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="tlkofsinfo"/> His acting debut came at the age of 15 in ''The Near Room'' (1995). McAvoy lated admitted that he was not very interested in acting when joining the movie, but was inspired to study the craft after developing feeling's for his co-star, [[Alana Brady]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a212558/james-mcavoy-inspired-by-teenage-crush.html |first=Hugh |last=Armitage |title=James McAvoy inspired by teenage crush |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd |date=5 April 2010 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He continued to act while still a member of [[PACE Youth Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacetheatre.co.uk/youththeatre/pastmembers.asp |title=Former Members |publisher=[[PACE Youth Theatre]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy eventually graduated from the [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]] in 2000.<ref name="latimes07"/>
His acting debut came at the age of 15 in ''The Near Room'' (1995). McAvoy lated admitted that he was not very interested in acting when joining the movie, but was inspired to study the craft after developing feeling's for his co-star, [[Alana Brady]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a212558/james-mcavoy-inspired-by-teenage-crush.html |first=Hugh |last=Armitage |title=James McAvoy inspired by teenage crush |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd |date=5 April 2010 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He continued to act while still a member of [[PACE Youth Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacetheatre.co.uk/youththeatre/pastmembers.asp |title=Former Members |publisher=[[PACE Youth Theatre]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy eventually graduated from the [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]] in 2000.<ref name="latimes07"/> Throughout the early 2000s, McAvoy made guest appearances in television shows and began working on movies. In 2001, the actor appeared in a play entitled ''Out in the Open''. His performance in the play as a gay [[hustler]] impressed filmmaker [[Joe Wright]] so much that he stayed on his radar and offered McAvoy parts in his movies, but to no avail, the actor turned them down for years.<ref name="latimes07">{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/02/entertainment/ca-mcavoy2 |first=Mark |last=Salisbury |title=Ready for the next step |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |date=2 December 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>

Throughout the early 2000s, McAvoy made guest appearances in television shows and began working on movies. In 2001, the actor appeared in a play entitled ''Out in the Open''. His performance in the play as a gay [[hustler]] impressed filmmaker [[Joe Wright]] so much that he stayed on his radar and offered McAvoy parts in his movies, but to no avail, the actor turned them down for years.<ref name="latimes07">{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/02/entertainment/ca-mcavoy2 |first=Mark |last=Salisbury |title=Ready for the next step |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |date=2 December 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>
He also started in ''Privates on Parade'' in the Donmar Warehouse, this time catching [[Sam Mendes]]'s attention.<ref name="lanearticle"/> Also during 2001, the actor appeared in ''[[Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]'', an eleven-hour [[World War II]] [[TV miniseries|miniseries]] [[executive producer|executively produced]] by [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Tom Hanks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2001/may/14/features.stevenspielberg |title=We're in this together |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |first=Rupert |last=Smith |date=14 May 2001 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> It was shown on the [[HBO]] network.<ref>{{cite news |title=TV Notes ; World War II, The Mini-Series |first=Lawrie |last=Mifflin | publisher=The New York Times Company |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 June 2001 | accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He caught the eye of critics in the [[TV film|made-for-television]] [[White Teeth#Television movie|2002 screen adaptation]] of the book ''[[White Teeth]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/james-mcavoy/2093449/biography |title=James McAvoy Biography |work=[[Moviefone]] |publisher=[[AOL|AOL Inc]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>
He also started in ''Privates on Parade'' in the Donmar Warehouse, this time catching [[Sam Mendes]]'s attention.<ref name="lanearticle"/> Also during 2001, the actor appeared in ''[[Band of Brothers (TV miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]'', an eleven-hour [[World War II]] [[TV miniseries|miniseries]] [[executive producer|executively produced]] by [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Tom Hanks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2001/may/14/features.stevenspielberg |title=We're in this together |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |first=Rupert |last=Smith |date=14 May 2001 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> It was shown on the [[HBO]] network.<ref>{{cite news |title=TV Notes ; World War II, The Mini-Series |first=Lawrie |last=Mifflin | publisher=The New York Times Company |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 June 2001 | accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> He caught the eye of critics in the [[TV film|made-for-television]] [[White Teeth#Television movie|2002 screen adaptation]] of the book ''[[White Teeth]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/james-mcavoy/2093449/biography |title=James McAvoy Biography |work=[[Moviefone]] |publisher=[[AOL|AOL Inc]] |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>

⚫
2003 marked the year McAvoy had his first international starring role, which would be Leto Atreides II, in the [[Sci Fi Channel]] television miniseries ''[[Frank Herbert's Children of Dune]]'', adapted from two of [[Frank Herbert]]'s novels. It is one of the highest-rated programs ever to be aired on the channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalwebbing.com/interviews/042104_anderson.html |title=Kevin J. Anderson Interview |first=Ian |last=Ascher |publisher=[[Digital Webbing]] |year=2004 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> More cable work came for him when he accepted the role of an unprincipled reporter in 2003's ''[[State of Play (TV serial)|State of Play]]''. The well-received six-part British drama [[television serial|serial]] tells the story of a newspaper's investigation into the death of a young woman and was broadcast on the [[BBC One]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/the_star_market_james_mcavoy.html |title=The Star Market: Can The Conspirator Energize James McAvoy’s Care |first1=Amos |last1=Barshad |first2=Claude |last2-Brodesser-Akner |work=New York Magazine |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/the-state-of-play-of-stat_b_188592.html |first=William |last=Bradley |title=The State of Play of "The State of Play" |work=[[Huffington Post]] |publisher=HuffingtonPost.com Inc |date=18 April 2009 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> Calling the program a "must-see", the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' recommend ''State of Play'' for it's cast's performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/02/james-mcavoy-bi.html |title=James McAvoy, Bill Nighy and a great British cast make 'State of Play' a must-see DVD |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=Tribune Company |date=27 February 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> During 2002, McAvoy shot scenes for ''[[Bollywood Queen]]''. Called ''[[West Side Story]]'' meets ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' with bindis, the movie deals with star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of clashing cultures. It was shown as a special presentation at the 2003 [[Sundance Film Festival]] and opened in UK theaters on 17&nbsp;October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117919845?refcatid=31 |first=David |last=Rooney |title=Bollywood Queen |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |date=2 February 2003 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/06/bollywood_queen_2003_review.shtml |title=Bollywood Queen (2003) |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=6 October 2003 |ccessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> In 2004, he acted in a supporting role in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Wimbledon]]'', also featuring [[Kirsten Dunst]] as a co-lead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/17/DDGIM8PKHQ1.DTL |title=Not so hot on the court, and an imperfect pairing off it |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=Frank J. Vega |first=Carla |last=Meyer |date=17 September 2004 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His next project was voicing a character named Hal in the 2004 English version of ''[[Strings (2004 film)|Strings]]'', a mythic [[fantasy film]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/strings-film-review-9453.html |title=Strings (PG) |work=[[View London]] |publisher=2 View Group Ltd |first=Matthew |last=Turner |date=25 May 2005 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Another 2004 release for him was ''[[Inside I'm Dancing]]'', an Irish production helmed by [[Damien O'Donnell]]. In it, the actor was cast as the principal character: a maverick with [[duchenne muscular dystrophy]].


=== Critical success ===
=== Critical success ===
⚫
McAvoy rounded out 2004 by appearing in the first two seasons of ''[[Shameless (UK TV series)|Shameless]]'' as [[Steve McBride (Shameless)|Steve McBride]], the moral hero of the [[BAFTA]]-winning [[Channel 4]] program, giving the actor a big break in his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/04/25/sex-with-angelina-it-was-a-total-nightmare-86908-20393772/ |title=Sex with Angelina Jolie was a nightmare, reveals James McAvoy |first=John |last=Dingwall |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=25 April 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His public profile was raised in 2005 with the release of [[Walt Disney Pictures]]'s ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''. McAvoy starred in the fantasy [[adventure film]] made by [[Andrew Adamson]] and based on [[C. S. Lewis]]'s'[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|children's novel]] as [[Mr. Tumnus]], a faun who befriends [[Lucy Pevensie]] (played by [[Georgie Henley]]) and joins [[Aslan]]'s ([[Liam Neeson]]) forces. It was given a UK release of December&nbsp;9. At the UK box office, this movie opened at number one, earning around £8.7&nbsp;million at 498 theaters over the weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/uk/?yr=2005&wk=49&p=.htm |title=United Kingdom Box Office: December 9–11, 2005 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb|IMDb Inc]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> Worldwide, ''Narnia'' grossed £463&nbsp;million, making it the [[List of highest-grossing films|39th highest-grossing film of all-time worldwide]].<ref name="3bo">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |title=Worldwide Grosses |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> That succeeding year he also accepted the principal role of Brian Jackson, a nerdy university student who wins a place on a ''[[University Challenge]]'' quiz team in the mid-1980s, in ''[[Starter for 10 (film)|Starter for 10]]''. He was directed by [[David Nicholls]], who adapted the film's screenplay from [[Starter for Ten (book)|his own book]]. The British/American production was given distribution in the UK on November&nbsp;10. ''10'' scored a rating of 89% on [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on a sample of 75 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/starter_for_ten/ |title=Starter for 10 (2006) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Flixster]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> In spite of the positive buzz, the movie flopped at the box office, unable to recover its production costs of £5.7&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starterforten.htm |title=Starter for 10 |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/810158?view=synopsis |title=Synopses: Starter for 10 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref>
⚫
2003 marked the year McAvoy had his first international starring role, which would be Leto Atreides II, in the [[Sci Fi Channel]] television miniseries ''[[Frank Herbert's Children of Dune]]'', adapted from two of [[Frank Herbert]]'s novels. It is one of the highest-rated programs ever to be aired on the channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalwebbing.com/interviews/042104_anderson.html |title=Kevin J. Anderson Interview |first=Ian |last=Ascher |publisher=[[Digital Webbing]] |year=2004 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> More cable work came for him when he accepted the role of an unprincipled reporter in 2003's ''[[State of Play (TV serial)|State of Play]]''. The well-received six-part British drama [[television serial|serial]] tells the story of a newspaper's investigation into the death of a young woman and was broadcast on the [[BBC One]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/the_star_market_james_mcavoy.html |title=The Star Market: Can The Conspirator Energize James McAvoy’s Care |first1=Amos |last1=Barshad |first2=Claude |last2-Brodesser-Akner |work=New York Magazine |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/the-state-of-play-of-stat_b_188592.html |first=William |last=Bradley |title=The State of Play of "The State of Play" |work=[[Huffington Post]] |publisher=HuffingtonPost.com Inc |date=18 April 2009 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> Calling the program a "must-see", the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' recommend ''State of Play'' for it's cast's performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/02/james-mcavoy-bi.html |title=James McAvoy, Bill Nighy and a great British cast make 'State of Play' a must-see DVD |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=Tribune Company |date=27 February 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> During 2002, McAvoy shot scenes for ''[[Bollywood Queen]]''. Called ''[[West Side Story]]'' meets ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' with bindis, the movie deals with star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of clashing cultures. It was shown as a special presentation at the 2003 [[Sundance Film Festival]] and opened in UK theaters on 17&nbsp;October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117919845?refcatid=31 |first=David |last=Rooney |title=Bollywood Queen |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |date=2 February 2003 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/06/bollywood_queen_2003_review.shtml |title=Bollywood Queen (2003) |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=6 October 2003 |ccessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> In 2004, he acted in a supporting role in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Wimbledon]]'', also featuring [[Kirsten Dunst]] as a co-lead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/17/DDGIM8PKHQ1.DTL |title=Not so hot on the court, and an imperfect pairing off it |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=Frank J. Vega |first=Carla |last=Meyer |date=17 September 2004 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His next project was voicing a character named Hal in the 2004 English version of ''[[Strings (2004 film)|Strings]]'', a mythic [[fantasy film]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/strings-film-review-9453.html |title=Strings (PG) |work=[[View London]] |publisher=2 View Group Ltd |first=Matthew |last=Turner |date=25 May 2005 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Another 2004 release for him was ''[[Inside I'm Dancing]]'', an Irish production helmed by [[Damien O'Donnell]]. In it, the actor was cast as the principal character: a maverick suffering from [[duchenne muscular dystrophy]]. Ruther Stein of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' gave the movie a positive review, noting that McAvoy gave the showier performance, and played it "for all it's worth."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/18/DDGIMBCJAG1.DTL#ixzz1QvVdqoid |title=Irish charmer is a free spirit on wheels |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=Frank J. Vega |first=Ruthe |last=Stein |date=18 February 2005 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>

⚫
McAvoy rounded out the year by appearing in the first two seasons of ''[[Shameless (UK TV series)|Shameless]]'' as [[Steve McBride (Shameless)|Steve McBride]], the moral hero of the [[BAFTA]]-winning [[Channel 4]] program, giving the actor a big break in his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/04/25/sex-with-angelina-it-was-a-total-nightmare-86908-20393772/ |title=Sex with Angelina Jolie was a nightmare, reveals James McAvoy |first=John |last=Dingwall |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=25 April 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> His public profile was raised in 2005 with the release of [[Walt Disney Pictures]]'s ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''. McAvoy starred in the fantasy [[adventure film]] made by [[Andrew Adamson]] and based on [[C. S. Lewis]]'s'[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|children's novel]] as [[Mr. Tumnus]], a faun who befriends [[Lucy Pevensie]] (played by [[Georgie Henley]]) and joins [[Aslan]]'s ([[Liam Neeson]]) forces. It was given a UK release of December&nbsp;9. At the UK box office, this movie opened at number one, earning around £8.7&nbsp;million at 498 theaters over the weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/uk/?yr=2005&wk=49&p=.htm |title=United Kingdom Box Office: December 9–11, 2005 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb|IMDb Inc]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> Worldwide, ''Narnia'' grossed £463&nbsp;million, making it the [[List of highest-grossing films|39th highest-grossing film of all-time worldwide]].<ref name="3bo">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |title=Worldwide Grosses |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> That succeeding year he also accepted the principal role of Brian Jackson, a nerdy university student who wins a place on a ''[[University Challenge]]'' quiz team in the mid-1980s, in ''[[Starter for 10 (film)|Starter for 10]]''. He was directed by [[David Nicholls]], who adapted the film's screenplay from [[Starter for Ten (book)|his own book]]. The British/American production was given distribution in the UK on November&nbsp;10. ''10'' scored a rating of 89% on [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on a sample of 75 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/starter_for_ten/ |title=Starter for 10 (2006) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Flixster]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> In spite of the positive buzz, the movie flopped at the box office, unable to recover its production costs of £5.7&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starterforten.htm |title=Starter for 10 |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/810158?view=synopsis |title=Synopses: Starter for 10 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref>


[[Forrest Whittaker]] had suggested McAvoy to director [[Kevin Macdonald]] for the role of Nicholas Garrigan in 2006's [[Academy Award]]-winning low-budgeted ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]''.<ref>''[[The Last King of Scotland]]'' DVD Commentary [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] (2006).</ref> McAvoy portrayed a Scottish doctor that becomes the personal physician to dictator [[Idi Amin]] (played by Whittaker) while in [[Uganda]]. While the movie is based on factual events of Amin's rule, the story between the two is fictional and adapted from [[Giles Foden]]'s [[The Last King of Scotland|acclaimed 1998 novel]]. He assessed his character to be a "completely selfish prick."<ref name="priesttrvael">{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/21982/ |title=The Dictator’s M.D.: James McAvoy |work=[[New York Magazine]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] |first=Rebecca |last=Marx |date=1 October 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> An overwhelmed McAvoy fainted during his first take of what would be the hardest scene for him to shoot, Nicolas's torture.<ref>{{cite news |title=James McAvoy Passed Out In The Last King Of Scotland |publisher=Artisan News Service |date=3 May 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy was named Best Actor of the year by the [[BAFTA Scotland|BAFTA Scotland Awards]], where the film swept the major categories,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7101198.stm |title=Last King rules at Scots Baftas |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> and received a nomination from the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]. The movie itself walked away with three wins, including the honor for [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Outstanding British Film of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6254717.stm |title=Baftas 2007: The winners |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=11 February 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> This was accompanied by praised for McAvoy's performance. [[Joe Morgenstern]] wrote in the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' that McAvoy played his part "superbly" and was "an actor of exceptional fluency and verve."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115948365312777288.html?mod=2_1168_1 |title=A Monster for the Ages: Whitaker's Amin Electrifies Gory and Powerful 'Last King' |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |first=Joe |last=Morgenstern |authorlink=Joe Morgenstern |date=29 September 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> [[New York Magazine]]'s David Edelstein said "the charismatic McAvoy finds an ever-shifting blend of opportunism and decency" as Nicolas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/21684/index1.html |title=All Hail "The Queen" |work=New York Magazine |publisher=The New York Times Company |first=David |last=Edelstein |date=24 September 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> ''San Francisco Chronicle'' writer Ruther Stein stated in her review that he "essentially creates" his role's portrait.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/06/DDG97LHNJA1.DTL#ixzz1Qujx7It |title=Whitaker mines Amin's heart of darkness in 'King' |first=Ruthe |last=Stein |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=Frank J. Vega |date=6 October 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref>
[[Forrest Whittaker]] had suggested McAvoy to director [[Kevin Macdonald]] for the role of Nicholas Garrigan in 2006's [[Academy Award]]-winning low-budgeted ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]''.<ref>''[[The Last King of Scotland]]'' DVD Commentary [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] (2006).</ref> McAvoy portrayed a Scottish doctor that becomes the personal physician to dictator [[Idi Amin]] (played by Whittaker) while in [[Uganda]]. While the movie is based on factual events of Amin's rule, the story between the two is fictional and adapted from [[Giles Foden]]'s [[The Last King of Scotland|acclaimed 1998 novel]]. He assessed his character to be a "completely selfish prick."<ref name="priesttrvael">{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/21982/ |title=The Dictator’s M.D.: James McAvoy |work=[[New York Magazine]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] |first=Rebecca |last=Marx |date=1 October 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> An overwhelmed McAvoy fainted during his first take of what would be the hardest scene for him to shoot, Nicolas's torture.<ref>{{cite news |title=James McAvoy Passed Out In The Last King Of Scotland |publisher=Artisan News Service |date=3 May 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy was named Best Actor of the year by the [[BAFTA Scotland|BAFTA Scotland Awards]], where the film swept the major categories,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7101198.stm |title=Last King rules at Scots Baftas |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> and received a nomination from the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]. The movie itself walked away with three wins, including the honor for [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Outstanding British Film of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6254717.stm |title=Baftas 2007: The winners |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=11 February 2007 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref> This was accompanied by praised for McAvoy's performance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115948365312777288.html?mod=2_1168_1 |title=A Monster for the Ages: Whitaker's Amin Electrifies Gory and Powerful 'Last King' |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |first=Joe |last=Morgenstern |authorlink=Joe Morgenstern |date=29 September 2006 |accessdate=1 July 2011}}</ref>


Following that, he played Irish attorney [[Thomas Langlois Lefroy|Tom Lefroy]] and love-interest to [[Jane Austen]] in ''[[Becoming Jane]]'', a 2007 historical movie inspired by the author's early life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/809/809705p1.html |title=TIFF Review: Penelope |first=Kim |last=Voynar |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[News Corporation]] |date=12 September 2006 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Next up was ''[[Penelope (2006 film)|Penelope]]'', which premiered at the [[2006 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Moira |title=From Toronto: Let the film festival begin!|date=6 September 2006 |publisher=The Seattle Times |work=Frank A. Blethen |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Also starring co-producer [[Reese Witherspoon]], it generated polarized reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/penelope2008/ |title=Penelope (2006) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> The breakthrough role in McAvoy's career came in ''[[Atonement (2007 film)|Atonement]]'', Joe Wright's 2007 adaption of [[Ian McEwan]]'s novel of [[Atonement (novel)|the same title]]. A romantic [[war film]], it focuses on lovers Cecilia and Robbie ([[Keira Knightley]] and McAvoy) lives's being torn apart after her jealous younger sister ([[Saoirse Ronan]]) falsely accuses him of a crime. Upon reading the script, McAvoy thought to himself, "if I don't get the part I'm not reading the book because it'll be devastating." "It's an amazing role and I really wanted it."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/09/03/james_mcavoy_atonement_2007_interview.shtml |first=David |last=Jones |title=James McAvoy: Atonement |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=3 September 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy has called the movie "incredibly sad" but considers it an uplifting experience. He also shared that he hoped viewers will be left "absolutely devastated and harrowed."<ref name="ryanseacrestonair"/> Screenings of ''Atonement'' were held at the [[2007 Toronto International Film Festival]] (it was one of most acclaimed films there), and [[Venice Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2007/09/17/tiff-interview-christopher-hampton-screenwriter-of-atonement/ |first=Ryan |last=Stewart |title=TIFF Interview: Christopher Hampton, Screenwriter of 'Atonement' |work=Moviefone |publisher=AOL Inc |date=17 September 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/first-night-atonement-venice-film-festival-463519.html |title=First Night: Atonement, Venice Film Festival |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |date=30 August 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> ''Atonement'' was a big awards contender; it was nominated for fourteen BAFTAs and seven Academy Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3195081.ece |title=The 2008 BAFTA nominations in full |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |publisher=[[News International]] |date=16 January 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/movies/awardsseason/24oscarlist.html |title=List of Academy Award Nominees and Winners |work=New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=24 February 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Both McAvoy and Knightley were nominated for their performances at the [[65th Golden Globe Awards]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3669876/Golden-Globes-Atonement-leads-the-way.html |title=Golden Globes: Atonement leads the way |first1=Catherine |last1=Elsworth |first2=Iain |last2=Gray |work=The Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=17 December 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the film was lauded by critics, with [[Metacritic]] reporting it to have an approval rating of 85.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/atonement |title=Atonement |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' writer Ray Bennett said the duo gave "compelling and charismatic performances".<ref>{{cite news |title=Atonement |first=Ray |last=Bennett |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=7 December 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>
Following that, he played Irish attorney [[Thomas Langlois Lefroy|Tom Lefroy]] and love-interest to [[Jane Austen]] in ''[[Becoming Jane]]'', a 2007 historical movie inspired by the author's early life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/809/809705p1.html |title=TIFF Review: Penelope |first=Kim |last=Voynar |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[News Corporation]] |date=12 September 2006 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Next up was ''[[Penelope (2006 film)|Penelope]]'', which premiered at the [[2006 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Moira |title=From Toronto: Let the film festival begin!|date=6 September 2006 |publisher=The Seattle Times |work=Frank A. Blethen |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Also starring co-producer [[Reese Witherspoon]], it generated polarized reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/penelope2008/ |title=Penelope (2006) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> The breakthrough role in McAvoy's career came in ''[[Atonement (2007 film)|Atonement]]'', Joe Wright's 2007 adaption of [[Ian McEwan]]'s novel of [[Atonement (novel)|the same title]]. A romantic [[war film]], it focuses on lovers Cecilia and Robbie ([[Keira Knightley]] and McAvoy) lives's being torn apart after her jealous younger sister ([[Saoirse Ronan]]) falsely accuses him of a crime. Upon reading the script, McAvoy thought to himself, "if I don't get the part I'm not reading the book because it'll be devastating." "It's an amazing role and I really wanted it."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/09/03/james_mcavoy_atonement_2007_interview.shtml |first=David |last=Jones |title=James McAvoy: Atonement |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=3 September 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> McAvoy has called the movie "incredibly sad" but considers it an uplifting experience. He also shared that he hoped viewers will be left "absolutely devastated and harrowed."<ref name="ryanseacrestonair"/> Screenings of ''Atonement'' were held at the [[2007 Toronto International Film Festival]] (it was one of most acclaimed films there), and [[Venice Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2007/09/17/tiff-interview-christopher-hampton-screenwriter-of-atonement/ |first=Ryan |last=Stewart |title=TIFF Interview: Christopher Hampton, Screenwriter of 'Atonement' |work=Moviefone |publisher=AOL Inc |date=17 September 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/first-night-atonement-venice-film-festival-463519.html |title=First Night: Atonement, Venice Film Festival |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |date=30 August 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> ''Atonement'' was a big awards contender; it was nominated for fourteen BAFTAs and seven Academy Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3195081.ece |title=The 2008 BAFTA nominations in full |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |publisher=[[News International]] |date=16 January 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/movies/awardsseason/24oscarlist.html |title=List of Academy Award Nominees and Winners |work=New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=24 February 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Both McAvoy and Knightley were nominated for their performances at the [[65th Golden Globe Awards]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3669876/Golden-Globes-Atonement-leads-the-way.html |title=Golden Globes: Atonement leads the way |first1=Catherine |last1=Elsworth |first2=Iain |last2=Gray |work=The Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=17 December 2008 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the film was lauded by critics, with [[Metacritic]] reporting it to have an approval rating of 85.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/atonement |title=Atonement |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' writer Ray Bennett said the duo gave "compelling and charismatic performances".<ref>{{cite news |title=Atonement |first=Ray |last=Bennett |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |date=7 December 2007 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref>
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|title=Exclusive: A Chat with James McAvoy |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=16 February 2007 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=19775 |title=Exclusive: James McAvoy Talks Wanted |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] |date=19 October 2006 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> While shooting action scenes for ''Wanted'', he suffered several injuries, including a twisted ankle and an injured knee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/892/892941p2.html |title=Wanted: James McAvoy Interview |first=Patrick |last=Kolan |publisher=News Corporation |work=IGN |date=22 July 2008 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Nonetheless the actor said he had a "good time" doing the movie. McAvoy had never done this type of genre before and thought of ''Wanted'' as a chance to be more versatile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/26/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main4213571.shtml |title=James McAvoy Is "Wanted" |work=[[CBS News]] |publisher=[[CBS Broadcasting Inc]] |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Loosely based on the comic book miniseries [[Wanted (comic)|of the same name]] by [[Mark Millar]], it saw a June&nbsp;2008 release worldwide. It received favorable reviews from the press, who generally liked that it was fast-paced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1174279-wanted/ |title= Wanted (2008) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> At the box office, ''Wanted'' was a success, grossing £207&nbsp;million against a £45&nbsp;million production budget.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wanted.htm |title=Wanted |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Next was ''[[The Last Station]]'' (2009), a biopic that details the final months of celebrated writer [[Leo Tolstoy]] and also stars McAvoy's wife.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-26/gossip/29436940_1_first-child-james-mcavoy-anne-marie-duff |title=James McAvoy and wife Anne-Marie Duff expecting first child |first=Cristina Everett |work=[[New York Daily News]] |publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman |date=26 January 2010 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> It was shown at a limited amount of screens in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thelaststation.htm |title=The Last Station |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Although most critics' awards paid attention to co-stars [[Helen Mirren]] and [[Christopher Plummer]], the [[Satellite Awards]] nominated McAvoy for Best Supporting Actor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/11/30/satellite-award-nominations-2009-nine-precious/ |title=Satellite Award Nominations 2009: 'Nine,' 'Precious' Lead Pack |first=Allyssa |last=Lee |work=Moviefone |date=30 November 2009 |publisher=AOL Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref>
|title=Exclusive: A Chat with James McAvoy |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=16 February 2007 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=19775 |title=Exclusive: James McAvoy Talks Wanted |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] |date=19 October 2006 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> While shooting action scenes for ''Wanted'', he suffered several injuries, including a twisted ankle and an injured knee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/892/892941p2.html |title=Wanted: James McAvoy Interview |first=Patrick |last=Kolan |publisher=News Corporation |work=IGN |date=22 July 2008 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Nonetheless the actor said he had a "good time" doing the movie. McAvoy had never done this type of genre before and thought of ''Wanted'' as a chance to be more versatile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/26/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main4213571.shtml |title=James McAvoy Is "Wanted" |work=[[CBS News]] |publisher=[[CBS Broadcasting Inc]] |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Loosely based on the comic book miniseries [[Wanted (comic)|of the same name]] by [[Mark Millar]], it saw a June&nbsp;2008 release worldwide. It received favorable reviews from the press, who generally liked that it was fast-paced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1174279-wanted/ |title= Wanted (2008) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> At the box office, ''Wanted'' was a success, grossing £207&nbsp;million against a £45&nbsp;million production budget.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wanted.htm |title=Wanted |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Next was ''[[The Last Station]]'' (2009), a biopic that details the final months of celebrated writer [[Leo Tolstoy]] and also stars McAvoy's wife.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-26/gossip/29436940_1_first-child-james-mcavoy-anne-marie-duff |title=James McAvoy and wife Anne-Marie Duff expecting first child |first=Cristina Everett |work=[[New York Daily News]] |publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman |date=26 January 2010 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> It was shown at a limited amount of screens in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thelaststation.htm |title=The Last Station |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> Although most critics' awards paid attention to co-stars [[Helen Mirren]] and [[Christopher Plummer]], the [[Satellite Awards]] nominated McAvoy for Best Supporting Actor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/11/30/satellite-award-nominations-2009-nine-precious/ |title=Satellite Award Nominations 2009: 'Nine,' 'Precious' Lead Pack |first=Allyssa |last=Lee |work=Moviefone |date=30 November 2009 |publisher=AOL Inc |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref>


He also appeared onstage in 2009 at [[Apollo Theater]]'s ''Three Days of Rain''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/charlesspencer/4589089/Three-Days-of-Rain-at-the-Apollo-review.html |title=Three Days of Rain at the Apollo - review |first=Charles |last=Spencer |work=The Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> He accepted the job of voicing the male titular character in ''[[Gnomeo and Juliet]]'' (2011), an [[animated movie]] based on [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41530407/ns/today-entertainment/t/garden-variety-gnomeo-juliet/ |title=A garden-variety 'Gnomeo & Juliet' |first=Christy |last=Lemire |work=[[MSNBC]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |date=11 February 2011 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> In [[Robert Redford]]'s historical American drama ''[[The Conspirator]]'', McAvoy played the role of an idealistic war hero who reluctantly defends [[Mary Surratt|a co-conspirator]] charged in the [[Abraham Lincoln assassination]]. It premiered at the [[2010 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/09/12/toronto-film-festival-robert-redfords-the-conspirator-is-closing-in-on-a-distributor/ |title=Toronto Film Festival: Robert Redford's 'The Conspirator' is closing in on a distributor |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Keith |last=Staskiewicz |publisher=[[Time Warner Inc]] |date=12 September 2010 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> While this movie garnered mixed reception, critics lauded the actor for his work. In Gleiberman's assessment of ''The Conspirator'', he found it "stiff-jointed" and tedious, but regarded McAvoy as "an avid presence".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20482437,00.html |title=The Conspirator (2011) |work=Entertainment Weekly |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |publisher=Time Warner Inc |date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> In mid-2010, McAvoy was cast as telepathic [[superhero]] [[Professor X]], leader and founder of the [[X-Men]], in ''[[X-Men: First Class]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/james-mcavoy-cast-young-professor-x-x-men-first-class-17837 |title=James McAvoy Cast as Young Professor X in 'X-Men: First Class' |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |work=[[The Wrap]] |publisher=The Wrap News Inc |date=27 May 2010 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> He joined an ensemble that included [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Jennifer Lawrence]] and [[Kevin Bacon]]. Based on the [[Marvel Comics]] and a prequel to the [[X-Men (film series)|film series]], it is set primarily during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] and focuses on the relationship between Professor&nbsp;X and [[Magneto]] and the origin of their groups. McAvoy admitted that he was not familiar with the comics as a child, but was a fan of the cartoons since the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2011 |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/115/1158473p1.html |title=X-Men: First Class: James McAvoy Interview |publisher=News Corporation |work=IGN |accessdate=9 June 2011|last=Tilly |first=Chris}}</ref> Released to the UK on 1&nbsp;June, ''First Class'' topped its box office with ticket sales of around £5&nbsp;million during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/uk/?yr=2011&wk=22&p=.htm |title=United Kingdom Box Office June 3–5, 2011 |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> ''First Class'' was reviewed favorably; "A richly layered, intelligently worked-out prequel," wrote the ''[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/123032008.html |title=A taut 'X-Men' prequel |work=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]] |publisher=Michael J. Klingensmith |first=Colin |last=Covert |date=3 June 2011 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref>
He also appeared onstage in 2009 at [[Apollo Theater]]'s ''Three Days of Rain''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/charlesspencer/4589089/Three-Days-of-Rain-at-the-Apollo-review.html |title=Three Days of Rain at the Apollo - review |first=Charles |last=Spencer |work=The Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> He accepted the job of voicing the male titular character in ''[[Gnomeo and Juliet]]'' (2011), an [[animated movie]] based on [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41530407/ns/today-entertainment/t/garden-variety-gnomeo-juliet/ |title=A garden-variety 'Gnomeo & Juliet' |first=Christy |last=Lemire |work=[[MSNBC]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |date=11 February 2011 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> In [[Robert Redford]]'s historical American drama ''[[The Conspirator]]'', McAvoy played the role of an idealistic war hero who reluctantly defends [[Mary Surratt|a co-conspirator]] charged in the [[Abraham Lincoln assassination]]. It premiered at the [[2010 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/09/12/toronto-film-festival-robert-redfords-the-conspirator-is-closing-in-on-a-distributor/ |title=Toronto Film Festival: Robert Redford's 'The Conspirator' is closing in on a distributor |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Keith |last=Staskiewicz |publisher=[[Time Warner Inc]] |date=12 September 2010 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> While this movie garnered mixed reception, critics lauded the actor for his work. In Gleiberman's assessment of ''The Conspirator'', he found it "stiff-jointed" and tedious, but regarded McAvoy as "an avid presence".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20482437,00.html |title=The Conspirator (2011) |work=Entertainment Weekly |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |publisher=Time Warner Inc |date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=8 June 2011}}</ref> In mid-2010, McAvoy was cast as telepathic [[superhero]] [[Professor X]], leader and founder of the [[X-Men]], in ''[[X-Men: First Class]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/james-mcavoy-cast-young-professor-x-x-men-first-class-17837 |title=James McAvoy Cast as Young Professor X in 'X-Men: First Class' |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |work=[[The Wrap]] |publisher=The Wrap News Inc |date=27 May 2010 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> He joined an ensemble that included [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Jennifer Lawrence]] and [[Kevin Bacon]]. Based on the [[Marvel Comics]] and a prequel to the [[X-Men (film series)|film series]], it is set primarily during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] and focuses on the relationship between Professor&nbsp;X and [[Magneto]] and the origin of their groups. McAvoy admitted that he was not familiar with the comics as a child, but was a fan of the cartoons since the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2011 |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/115/1158473p1.html |title=X-Men: First Class: James McAvoy Interview |publisher=News Corporation |work=IGN |accessdate=9 June 2011|last=Tilly |first=Chris}}</ref> Released to the UK on 1&nbsp;June, ''First Class'' topped its box office with ticket sales of around £5&nbsp;million during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/uk/?yr=2011&wk=22&p=.htm |title=United Kingdom Box Office June 3–5, 2011 |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Inc |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> ''First Class'' was also reviewed favorably.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/123032008.html |title=A taut 'X-Men' prequel |work=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]] |publisher=Michael J. Klingensmith |first=Colin |last=Covert |date=3 June 2011 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 07:19, 24 July 2011

James McAvoy
An up-close picture of a blue-eyed dark-haired Caucasian man in his early 30s. The man is wearing a dark blue shirt and looking into the camera lens. People, trees and a tall bulding can be seen in the background.
McAvoy at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival
Born
James Andrew McAvoy

(1979-04-21) 21 April 1979 (age 45)
Port Glasgow, Scotland
OccupationActor
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)Anne-Marie Duff
(2006–present)

James Andrew McAvoy (Template:Pron-en MAK-ə-voi; born (1979-04-21)21 April 1979) is a Scottish stage and screen actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in 1995's The Near Room and continued to make mostly television appearances until the early 2000s. His notable television work includes State of Play and Shameless. Besides screen acting, McAvoy has appeared on stage with Three Days of Rain in 2009 and done voice work for animated films including Gnomeo and Juliet (2011).

Starting in 2003, McAvoy began to build his film resume with Bollywood Queen. That film was followed with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), a commercial hit. His performance in Kevin Macdonald's The Last King of Scotland achieved him not only critical praise, but the Scottish BAFTA Award for Best Actor and a nomination for the BAFTA Awards. 2007's critically acclaimed Atonement marked the breakthrough in McAvoy's career. It also earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination and his second BAFTA nomination. Another big point in the actor's career was starring in Wanted (2008). Since then he has notably played Professor X in X-Men: First Class.

He has been married to Anne-Marie Duff since 2006. They have one child together: a son born in 2010. After filming in Uganda and seeing the conditions there, McAvoy became a supporter of the British Red Cross charity.

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

James Andrew McAvoy was born in Port Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Elizabeth (née Johnstone), a psychiatric nurse, and James McAvoy Senior, a builder.[1][2] He was brought up as a Roman Catholic.[3] His parents divorced when he was seven, which McAvoy took hard.[1][2] McAvoy's mother suffered from poor health and subsequently decided it was best that he live with his maternal grandparents, Mary and butcher James Johnstone, in the nearby Drumchapel area of Glasgow in a terrace council house.[1][4] His mother lived with them intermittently.[2] To date, the actor regularly visits his grandparents.[1] His sister, Joy McAvoy, is a singer and actress.[5] He also has a younger half-brother named Donald.[1] McAvoy has not been in contact with his father since childhood.[2] According to his father, McAvoy avoided any contact with him after he moved in with his new lover.[1] Nonetheless, the actor had a good upbringing.[6] He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary in Jordanhill, Glasgow, a Catholic school, and briefly considered joining the Catholic priesthood.[6][7] In a 2006 interview, the actor admitted that part of the reason why he considered becoming a priest was that he wanted to use it as an excuse to travel.[8] During his education, he worked at a local bakery.[6][7]

His acting debut came at the age of 15 in The Near Room (1995). McAvoy lated admitted that he was not very interested in acting when joining the movie, but was inspired to study the craft after developing feeling's for his co-star, Alana Brady.[9] He continued to act while still a member of PACE Youth Theatre.[10] McAvoy eventually graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2000.[11] Throughout the early 2000s, McAvoy made guest appearances in television shows and began working on movies. In 2001, the actor appeared in a play entitled Out in the Open. His performance in the play as a gay hustler impressed filmmaker Joe Wright so much that he stayed on his radar and offered McAvoy parts in his movies, but to no avail, the actor turned them down for years.[11] He also started in Privates on Parade in the Donmar Warehouse, this time catching Sam Mendes's attention.[2] Also during 2001, the actor appeared in Band of Brothers, an eleven-hour World War II miniseries executively produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.[12] It was shown on the HBO network.[13] He caught the eye of critics in the made-for-television 2002 screen adaptation of the book White Teeth.[14]

2003 marked the year McAvoy had his first international starring role, which would be Leto Atreides II, in the Sci Fi Channel television miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, adapted from two of Frank Herbert's novels. It is one of the highest-rated programs ever to be aired on the channel.[15] More cable work came for him when he accepted the role of an unprincipled reporter in 2003's State of Play. The well-received six-part British drama serial tells the story of a newspaper's investigation into the death of a young woman and was broadcast on the BBC One.[16][17] Calling the program a "must-see", the Chicago Tribune recommend State of Play for it's cast's performances.[18] During 2002, McAvoy shot scenes for Bollywood Queen. Called West Side Story meets Romeo and Juliet with bindis, the movie deals with star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of clashing cultures. It was shown as a special presentation at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and opened in UK theaters on 17 October.[19][20] In 2004, he acted in a supporting role in the romantic comedy Wimbledon, also featuring Kirsten Dunst as a co-lead.[21] His next project was voicing a character named Hal in the 2004 English version of Strings, a mythic fantasy film.[22] Another 2004 release for him was Inside I'm Dancing, an Irish production helmed by Damien O'Donnell. In it, the actor was cast as the principal character: a maverick with duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Critical success

McAvoy rounded out 2004 by appearing in the first two seasons of Shameless as Steve McBride, the moral hero of the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 program, giving the actor a big break in his career.[23] His public profile was raised in 2005 with the release of Walt Disney Pictures's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. McAvoy starred in the fantasy adventure film made by Andrew Adamson and based on C. S. Lewis's'children's novel as Mr. Tumnus, a faun who befriends Lucy Pevensie (played by Georgie Henley) and joins Aslan's (Liam Neeson) forces. It was given a UK release of December 9. At the UK box office, this movie opened at number one, earning around £8.7 million at 498 theaters over the weekend.[24] Worldwide, Narnia grossed £463 million, making it the 39th highest-grossing film of all-time worldwide.[25] That succeeding year he also accepted the principal role of Brian Jackson, a nerdy university student who wins a place on a University Challenge quiz team in the mid-1980s, in Starter for 10. He was directed by David Nicholls, who adapted the film's screenplay from his own book. The British/American production was given distribution in the UK on November 10. 10 scored a rating of 89% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on a sample of 75 reviews.[26] In spite of the positive buzz, the movie flopped at the box office, unable to recover its production costs of £5.7 million.[27][28]

Forrest Whittaker had suggested McAvoy to director Kevin Macdonald for the role of Nicholas Garrigan in 2006's Academy Award-winning low-budgeted The Last King of Scotland.[29] McAvoy portrayed a Scottish doctor that becomes the personal physician to dictator Idi Amin (played by Whittaker) while in Uganda. While the movie is based on factual events of Amin's rule, the story between the two is fictional and adapted from Giles Foden's acclaimed 1998 novel. He assessed his character to be a "completely selfish prick."[8] An overwhelmed McAvoy fainted during his first take of what would be the hardest scene for him to shoot, Nicolas's torture.[30] McAvoy was named Best Actor of the year by the BAFTA Scotland Awards, where the film swept the major categories,[31] and received a nomination from the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The movie itself walked away with three wins, including the honor for Outstanding British Film of the Year.[32] This was accompanied by praised for McAvoy's performance.[33]

Following that, he played Irish attorney Tom Lefroy and love-interest to Jane Austen in Becoming Jane, a 2007 historical movie inspired by the author's early life.[34] Next up was Penelope, which premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.[35] Also starring co-producer Reese Witherspoon, it generated polarized reviews.[36] The breakthrough role in McAvoy's career came in Atonement, Joe Wright's 2007 adaption of Ian McEwan's novel of the same title. A romantic war film, it focuses on lovers Cecilia and Robbie (Keira Knightley and McAvoy) lives's being torn apart after her jealous younger sister (Saoirse Ronan) falsely accuses him of a crime. Upon reading the script, McAvoy thought to himself, "if I don't get the part I'm not reading the book because it'll be devastating." "It's an amazing role and I really wanted it."[37] McAvoy has called the movie "incredibly sad" but considers it an uplifting experience. He also shared that he hoped viewers will be left "absolutely devastated and harrowed."[38] Screenings of Atonement were held at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival (it was one of most acclaimed films there), and Venice Film Festival.[39][40] Atonement was a big awards contender; it was nominated for fourteen BAFTAs and seven Academy Awards.[41][42] Both McAvoy and Knightley were nominated for their performances at the 65th Golden Globe Awards, respectively.[43] Additionally, the film was lauded by critics, with Metacritic reporting it to have an approval rating of 85.[44] The Hollywood Reporter writer Ray Bennett said the duo gave "compelling and charismatic performances".[45]

Wanted and after

One of the biggest highlights of McAvoy's career was starring opposite Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman in Wanted, an action movie where he personified Wesley Gibson, a young American slacker who learns he is heir to a legacy of assassins. When McAvoy screen-tested for the role, he was initially rejected because the studio was seeking an actor with conventional Hollywood leading-man looks and physique. He later recalled being considered the "runt of the litter" of those who tested, but ultimately got the part in late 2006 since the studio "wanted someone geeky."[46][47] While shooting action scenes for Wanted, he suffered several injuries, including a twisted ankle and an injured knee.[48] Nonetheless the actor said he had a "good time" doing the movie. McAvoy had never done this type of genre before and thought of Wanted as a chance to be more versatile.[49] Loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar, it saw a June 2008 release worldwide. It received favorable reviews from the press, who generally liked that it was fast-paced.[50] At the box office, Wanted was a success, grossing £207 million against a £45 million production budget.[51] Next was The Last Station (2009), a biopic that details the final months of celebrated writer Leo Tolstoy and also stars McAvoy's wife.[52] It was shown at a limited amount of screens in the US.[53] Although most critics' awards paid attention to co-stars Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer, the Satellite Awards nominated McAvoy for Best Supporting Actor.[54]

He also appeared onstage in 2009 at Apollo Theater's Three Days of Rain.[55] He accepted the job of voicing the male titular character in Gnomeo and Juliet (2011), an animated movie based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.[56] In Robert Redford's historical American drama The Conspirator, McAvoy played the role of an idealistic war hero who reluctantly defends a co-conspirator charged in the Abraham Lincoln assassination. It premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.[57] While this movie garnered mixed reception, critics lauded the actor for his work. In Gleiberman's assessment of The Conspirator, he found it "stiff-jointed" and tedious, but regarded McAvoy as "an avid presence".[58] In mid-2010, McAvoy was cast as telepathic superhero Professor X, leader and founder of the X-Men, in X-Men: First Class.[59] He joined an ensemble that included Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Kevin Bacon. Based on the Marvel Comics and a prequel to the film series, it is set primarily during the Cuban Missile Crisis and focuses on the relationship between Professor X and Magneto and the origin of their groups. McAvoy admitted that he was not familiar with the comics as a child, but was a fan of the cartoons since the age of 10.[60] Released to the UK on 1 June, First Class topped its box office with ticket sales of around £5 million during its opening weekend.[61] First Class was also reviewed favorably.[62]

Personal life

A black and white image of a blonde women wearing a stain dress and dark-haired male standing beside each other. She is looking to her left and holding a clutch purse with her right hand. He is wearing an all black suit and smiling.
Duff and McAvoy in February 2007

McAvoy previously dated Scottish actress Emma Nielsen (stage name Emma King) for six years until 2003.[63] While working on Shameless, McAvoy started a relationship with his character's love interest, Anne-Marie Duff, who is nine years his senior.[64] When they first began dating, McAvoy and Duff mutually agreed not to speak to the press about their relationship.[63][65][66] At the age of 27, he married Duff, then 36, on 18 October 2006 in a quiet ceremony.[64][66] When asked by Ryan Seacrest, during his radio show, if he wished he had waited longer to get married so he could exploit his fame better, McAvoy replied that he had married the woman of his dreams. "The world seemed less scary.... And I started to like myself a little bit more," McAvoy added of how he knew they were in love.[38]

They have one child together, a son named Brendan, born in 2010.[67] During interviews, the actor has opted not to discuss his son and have not announced their child's birth date.[68] He had dropped out the cancer dramedy 50/50 in early 2010, shortly before filming was to begin, reportedly in fear that he would miss the birth of their child.[69] Despite his wealth, McAvoy leads what has been called a modest life. Prior to marrying Duff, he purchased a second floor flat in North London during 2006 for about £178,000. Also, he and his wife drive a 1990s Nissan Micra that is worth less than £1,000.[70] The couple enjoy an intense relationship and rarely leave their flat, choosing to instead read or do sudoku puzzles together. Of this lifestyle, the actor said it is "mundane, and I love it that way".[1]

After McAvoy won an award from the BAFTAs, his estranged father spoke to the Sunday Mirror, stating that he would love to get in touch with his son, but did not know how to reach him. Though the actor did not read the piece, he heard about it and was unmoved.[2] He enjoys fantasy themes which he said started from the age of 11 with The Lord of the Rings.[71] His big interest outside acting and science fiction is football; he is a huge fan of Celtic Football Club, stating that his dream role would be to play Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone.[72] McAvoy considers himself a spiritual person who no longer practices Catholicism.[7] Speaking to Sky News, McAvoy said he believed that British filmmakers belittle and dumb down their productions to please American audiences. "It's like we're patronising them and short changing ourselves," the actor commented.[73] He has also branded 3-D films a "waste of money", accusing movie studios of using the effect to get more money out of their theater audiences.[74]

Charity

At one point, McAvoy did a "terrifying" base jump from the world's tallest hospital building in a bid to help raise money for a Ugandan children's charity Retrak, an organization which assists children on the streets with contacting their families. On Live With Regis and Kelly, he said he took part in the jump as a way to raising the profile of the charity's work.[75] Additionally, McAvoy is a celebrity supporter of the British Red Cross with whom he travelled to Uganda to raise awareness of the projects there. He had become involved with the charity after shooting The Last King of Scotland there for several months and was shocked by what he saw in the landlocked country.[76]

In February 2007, he visited northern Uganda and spent four days seeing projects supported by the British Red Cross. The actor travelled to camps for internally displaced people, who were forced to flee their homes.[77] There, McAvoy saw for himself the life-saving work being carried out by staff members and volunteers. “It’s amazing to think that some of the people I met have been in these camps for five, ten, sometimes even 15 years. The conditions in the camps were awful and it’s horrific to think this has been going on for so long and that so few people actually know about it. The Red Cross is providing essential support to those in the camps and also to those who are starting to return home."[77]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Near Room Kevin
1997 Regeneration Anthony Balfour
1997 The Bill Gavin Donald TV series (one episode, "Rent")
2000 Lorna Doone Sergeant Bloxham TV film
2001 Band of Brothers Pvt. James W. Miller TV miniseries (one episode, "Replacements")
2001 Swimming Pool Mike Also known as The Pool
2001 Murder in Mind Martin Vosper TV series (one episode, "Teacher")
2002 White Teeth Josh TV film
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Gowan Ross TV series (one episode, "Payment in Blood")
2002 Foyle's War Ray Pritchard TV series (one episode, "The German Woman")
2003 Frank Herbert's Children of Dune Leto Atreides II TV miniseries
2003 Bright Young Things The Earl of Balcairn
2003 Early Doors Liam TV series (four episodes, Series 1 only)
2003 State of Play Dan Foster TV serial (six episodes)
2003 Bollywood Queen Jay
2004 Wimbledon Carl Colt
2004 Strings Hal Tara (voice) English version
2004 Inside I'm Dancing Rory O'Shea Also known as Rory O'Shea Was Here
Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
2004 Shameless Steve McBride TV series (thirteen episodes, Series 1 and Series 2 only)
Nominated — British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Newcomer
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Mr. Tumnus, The Faun Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year
2005 ShakespeaRe-Told Joe Macbeth TV series (one episode, "Macbeth")
2006 The Last King of Scotland Dr. Nicholas Garrigan BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor
Rising Star Award, BAFTA
Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated — British Independent Film Award for Best Actor
Nominated — European Film Award for Best Actor
Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
2006 Starter for 10 Brian Jackson
2007 Becoming Jane Thomas Lefroy
2007 Penelope Johnny Martin/Max Premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, released to foreign territories in 2007.
2007 Atonement Robbie Turner Empire Award for Best Actor
London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year
Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — European Film Award for Best Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Irish Film Award for Best International Actor
2008 Wanted Wesley Gibson Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
2009 The Last Station Valentin Bulgakov Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
2011 Gnomeo and Juliet Gnomeo (voice) Animated film
2011 The Conspirator Frederick Aiken
2011 X-Men: First Class Professor Charles Xavier / Professor X
2011 Arthur Christmas Arthur (voice) 3-D animated film

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