James McAvoy Biography
James McAvoy is a Scottish actor who attained recognition for portraying Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2005 and Wesley Gibson in Wanted in 2008. He attained more recognition for portraying Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise and his roles in Atonement, Filth, Split, and Glass.
James McAvoy Education
McAvoy studied at the Catholic St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Jordanhill, Glasgow. Briefly, he thought about being a priest as he thought it was a way to explore the world via missionary work. While studying, he worked at a local bakery.
After completing his studies, McAvoy applied to join the Royal Navy and at the same time was accepted at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD). In 2000, he graduated and relocated to London. To fund his fees for drama school, he worked as a trained confectioner for more than 2 years.
James McAvoy Career
McAvoy debuted his acting career when he was a teen in 1995 in The Near Room at the age of 15. Later, he confessed that he was not very interested in acting while working on the film. However, he gained inspiration to study acting because he had developed feelings for his co-star, Alana Brady. He continued acting as a member of the PACE Youth Theatre. Next, he mostly made appearances on TV until 2003 when his feature film career started. Some of his remarkable TV works include State of Play, Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune, and Shameless.
McAvoy attained recognition for portraying Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2005 and Wesley Gibson in Wanted in 2008. For his performance in The Last King of Scotland and Atonement, he received nominations for the BAFTA Award.
In 2011, McAvoy provided the voice of Arthur Christmas in Arthur Christmas and played Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class. He reprised the role of Charles Xavier in future installments of the X-Men series. McAvoy attained praise for his roles in Filth, Split, and Glass. From 2019 to 2022, he played the role of Lord Asriel in His Dark Materials. In 2019, he played the role of Bill Denbrough in It Chapter Two.
On stage, McAvoy has made an appearance in various West End productions like Three Days of Rain, Macbeth, The Ruling Class, and Cyrano de Bergerac. For his performance in Cyrano de Bergerac, he attained four nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.
2020–present
McAvoy is set to voice Dream in a multi-part audio drama of The Sandman by Audible. On February 3, 2022, he appeared in Cyrano de Bergerac at the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre which earned him a What’s On Stage Award for Best Performer in a Male-Identifying Role. He persisted in his performance at the Harvey Theater at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in a limited run.
James McAvoy Age
McAvoy was born on April 21, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland. He is 44 years old as of 2023. McAvoy celebrates April 21st annually.
James McAvoy Height
McAvoy stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
James McAvoy Family
McAvoy was born to James McAvoy Sr. and Elizabeth Johnston. James worked as a bus driver before working as a builder while Elizabeth worked as a psychiatric nurse. They raised him in the Roman Catholic Church. When he was 7, his parents split and divorced when he was 11.
Due to his mom’s poor health, McAvoy lived with his maternal grandparents, Mary and James Johnstone, on a housing estate in the Drumchapel region of Glasgow. She periodically lived with them. His mother passed away in 2018.
McAvoy revealed during an interview with The Guardian that both his parents had passed away and that he hadn’t been in contact with his father since he was a child. His mother passed away in 2018. McAvoy has a younger half-brother named Donald and a younger sister named Joy. Joy also works as an actress who appeared in the role of ‘Estelle’ alongside McAvoy in Filth in 2013.
James McAvoy Wife
McAvoy married Lisa Liberati in early 2022 at a secret wedding. The pair met on the set of Split in 2016. At the time, she worked as a personal assistant to the film’s director, M. Night Shyamalan. They have a son. He has a house in the center of Glasgow which he uses for family visits.
Before Lisa, he was married to Anne-Marie Duff. They began dating after meeting on the set of Shameless. They exchanged vows on November 11, 2006, at a celebrity-free ceremony at the 19th century Drumtochty Castle in Aberdeenshire and divorced in 2016 after being together for a decade. McAvoy revealed that he didn’t invite celebrities to the ceremony because he didn’t want the day to be about being famous.
Prior to their divorce, they had a son, Brendan, who was born in February 2010. He is 13 years old as of 2023. After they divorced, they lived together in north London where they shared a home so that they could minimize disarray in their son’s life as a result of their split.
Anne is an English actress and narrator who gained a breakthrough for her portrayal of Fiona Gallagher on Channel 4’s series Shameless and Queen Elizabeth I in The Virgin Queen. Her work in those films earned her nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress.
McAvoy revealed that he would like to play Jimmy Johnstone, a Celtic player, in a film as he is a huge fan of Celtic FC. Previously, he was a video game addict but he gave up gaming after he forgot his lines for the film, Becoming Jane, in 2007 after a long night of playing. As a result, he grabbed the game disk of Oblivion and burned it with a kitchen stove. As a gamer, he played role-playing games like The Legend of Zelda, Secret of Mana, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
James McAvoy Net Worth
McAvoy has an estimated net worth ranging between $20 Million – $30 Million which he has earned through being an actor.
James McAvoy Wanted
In 2008, McAvoy played the role of Wesley A. Gibson in the action thriller film, Wanted along with Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. Wesley is a young American loafer who discovers that he is heir to a heritage of assassins. For the role, he went to the gym so that he could improve his physique for the action scenes.
Initially, he was rejected for the role because the studio wanted an actor who had a standard Hollywood leading-man appearance and physique. In 2006, he got the role since he wanted a nerdy personality. While shooting the film, he sustained a couple of injuries including an injured knee and a twisted ankle. He enjoyed shooting the film nonetheless and thought of the chance as a way to be more versatile since had never appeared in the film’s genre.
For his performance, he received a nomination for a National Movie Best Performance(Male) Award in 2008. The following year, he received an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Kiss (with Angelina Jolie).
James McAvoy Atonement
In 2007, McAvoy played the role of Robbie Turner in the romantic war drama film, Atonement. Robbie is the son of Grace Turner, the housekeeper for the Tallis family. He studied at Cambridge due to the consideration of his mother’s employer. The film follows the love story of Cecilia Tallis and Robbie after they are separated as a result of Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony, who accuses him of sexual assault without sufficient evidence. As a result, Robbie is arrested and sent to fight in the Battle of France in exchange for his freedom.
In December 2022, McAvoy revealed that Ian McEwan was not completely satisfied with his casting as Robbie which left him devastated. Further, he said that Robbie was supposed to be a 6ft Adonis in contrast to his 25-year-old pale Glaswegian who’s 5ft.
His role in the film serves as his breakthrough role. He considers the film’s script as the greatest he’s ever read and he really wanted to act in the film. For his performance, he received nominations at the 65th Golden Globe Awards. UK Regional Film Critics named him the best actor for his role.
For his performance, he received awards and nominations such as;
- Alliance of Women Film Journalists for Best Seduction (with Keira Knightley)
- A nomination for the British Academy Film Best Actor in a Leading Role Award
- British Academy Scotland for Best Actor in Film Award
- A nomination for the Dublin Film Critics Circle for Best Actor
- Empire Best Actor Award
- A nomination for the European Film Awards for European Actor
- A nomination for the Evening Standard British Film Best Actor Award
- A nomination for the Gold Derby Best Actor Award
- A nomination for the Gold Derby Best Ensemble Cast Award
- A nomination for the Golden Globes Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Award
- A nomination for the International Online Cinema Best Actor Award
- A nomination for the Irish Film & Television Academy Best International Actor Award
- A nomination for the OFTA Best Actor Award
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Virtuoso Award
James McAvoy Band Of Brothers
In 2001, McAvoy starred in the role of Private James W. Miller in the World War II miniseries, Band of Brothers. Miller was an army commando who served as a replacement for Easy Company along with Antonio C. Garcia, Lester Hashey, and Edward J. Heffron. He was put in Bull Randleman’s squad.
James McAvoy Penelope
In 2006, McAvoy starred in the role of Johnny Martin in the fantasy romantic comedy film, Penelope. The son of a plumber and a talented musician, Johnny squanders his money through gambling leaving him penniless as he spends night and day at poker tables betting without gaining anything.
Penelope is the daughter of the wealthy Wilhern family who has the face of a pig as a result of a curse placed on her family by a vengeful witch. As a result, she is shut away in their mansion after her mom lies that she died as an infant.
Johnny is then commissioned by Lemon and Edward Humphrey Vanderman III to pose as a potential suitor for Penelope so that he could obtain a picture of Penelope Wilhern’s face for the press in exchange for money. Johnny uses the false name Max Campion and ends up falling for her which makes him leave his previous motives. Instead, he opts to better himself as a person and reenter the music world.
James McAvoy Children of Dune
McAvoy starred in the role of Leto II Atreides in the miniseries, Children of Dune for 3 episodes. Leto is the son of Paul Atreides and Chani, his Fremen concubine, and the twin brother of Ghanima. He is the third and final ruler of the Atreides Empire as Emperor. Also, he serves as the first and sole God-Emperor from 10219 AG until his killing in 13728 AG.
James McAvoy X-men
McAvoy starred in the role of Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise since he first appeared as Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class in 2011. He has recurred his role as Charles in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014, X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016, and Dark Phoenix in 2019. Charles is a telepathic superhero, a mutant activist, leader, and founder of the X-Men and the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
Also, he is known as Professor X by his students at Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The school houses displaced or discriminated mutants and provides them with an educational and training foundation for cultivating their powers.
James McAvoy/Professor X/Charles Xavier
McAvoy first appeared as Charles Xavier in the film, X-Men: First Class, in 2011. Since then, he has reprised his role in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014, X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016, and Dark Phoenix in 2019.
James McAvoy The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
In 2005, he starred in the role of Mr. Tumnus in Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Mr. Tumnus is a faun who befriends Lucy Pevensie when she goes to Narnia. He works for the White Witch out of fear but later joins Aslan’s team. During the Golden Age, he obtained the position of a high official in Narnia.
James McAvoy Mr Tumnus
McAvoy starred in the role of Mr. Tumnus in Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. During filming, the actress playing Lucy Pevensie did not see him in costume before filming, thus her scared reaction when she sees him is genuine. Mr. Tumnus has the legs of a goat, and a tail, which are covered with curly, glossy black hair. His upper body is that of a man with reddish skin.
James McAvoy Split
In 2016, McAvoy starred in the role of Kevin Wendell Crumb in the thriller, Split. Kevin has dissociative identity disorder(DID) of 23 different personalities which he develops as a defense mechanism due to the abuse he faced from his mother after his father’s death.
Dennis, one of his personalities kidnaps and detains three teenage girls in a secluded underground facility. Collectively known as The Horde, Dennis works with Patricia and Hedwig to welcome the 24th personality dubbed “The Beast.” The Beast is a voracious cannibal with superhuman capabilities who’ll wipe out the “impure” i.e. those who have not suffered.
Dennis is a temperamental and cold personality who has obsessive-compulsive disorder, Patricia is a manipulative and polite British-speaking woman who has psychotic tendencies and Hedwig is a 9-year-old boy who has the ability to steal “the light” from other personalities when he wants to, i.e. control Kevin’s body whenever he wants. Dennis and Patricia manipulate Hedwig to steal “the light” from the dominant personality, Barry, so that they can carry out their plan.
During filming, McAvoy injured his hand when he hit what he thought was a fake door when he couldn’t get a scene. As a result, he had a swollen hand which can be seen in some of the scenes. For his performance, he received praise with some critics calling it his greatest performance.
James McAvoy Glass
In 2019, McAvoy reprised his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb in Glass. Kevin is captured by Dr. Ellie Staple while he is fighting with David Dunn / the Overseer. At the time, he had captured 4 “impure” cheerleaders to feed on before David freed them leading to their fight. For his role, he worked with Magnus Lygdback, a personal trainer. Magnus supervised him as he lifted weights five or six days a week. Also, he urged him to eat five or six meals a day.
James McAvoy Shameless
From 2004 to 2005, McAvoy played the role of Steve McBride in Shameless. Steve is the boyfriend of Fiona Gallagher who steals cars for a living.
James McAvoy It Chapter Two
In 2019, McAvoy played the role of Bill Denbrough in the film, It Chapter Two. Bill is the leader of The Losers Club who commences the finding and killing of Pennywise the Dancing Clown after Georgie, his younger brother, is murdered by the clown. He now works as a mystery novelist in Los Angeles.
James McAvoy Illness
After going for a physical in April 2019, doctors discovered a shadow on his lungs on the X-ray. As a result, he underwent a biopsy. Although the biopsy showed nothing, the surgical wounds caused an infection that turned serious causing him to stay in the hospital for three weeks in a hospital bed. He said that the moment was hard to go through. Further, one of his abdominal muscles had gone missing after the surgery. He revealed that the doctors wouldn’t give him a straight answer when he asked about his missing muscle.
James McAvoy Bald
In 2016, McAvoy first shaved his head bald for the role of Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise. He said that he first liked his bald head since people couldn’t recognize him but now hates it cause people recognize him saying that it now serves as a beacon.
James McAvoy Religion
McAvoy believes himself a spiritual person who no longer practices Catholicism.
James McAvoy Accent
McAvoy hid his Glaswegian accent so that he could procure a Hollywood career and usually used an English accent. Directors and producers often thought he was an English man even M. Night Shyamalan when he cast him in Split.
James McAvoy Ethnicity
McAvoy is of Scottish descent ff Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie.
James McAvoy Instagram
McAvoy has an active Instagram account that has over 4 million followers. CLICK HERE to view his Instagram account.
James McAvoy Movies and TV Shows
McAvoy has starred in a number of films and TV shows during his career such as
- Regeneration
- Wimbledon
- Lorna Doone
- White Teeth
- Foyle’s War
- Welcome to the Punch
- Starter for 10
- Atomic Blonde
- The Conspirator
- Trance
- His Dark Materials
- Victor Frankenstein
- My Son
- The Sandman