James McAvoy: Scottish Actor
Biography
Full Name: James McAvoy
Date of Birth: April 21, 1979
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nationality: Scottish
Profession: Actor
Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
Education:
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Glasgow
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), graduated in 2000
Family:
Father: James McAvoy Sr. (builder)
Mother: Elizabeth Johnstone (psychiatric nurse)
Siblings:
Sister: Joy McAvoy (actress and singer)
Spouse:
Anne-Marie Duff
(m. 2006–2016; divorced)
Children: 1 son (with Anne-Marie Duff)
Currently in a relationship with Lisa Liberati (married privately around 2022)
Career Highlights:
James McAvoy is known for his powerful dramatic performances, versatility, and deep emotional range.
Early Roles:
TV debut in The Near Room (1995)
Gained attention in British series Shameless and the film Starter for 10 (2006)
Breakthrough:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) as Mr. Tumnus
The Last King of Scotland (2006) opposite Forest Whitaker
Major Works:
Atonement (2007) – Critically acclaimed performance opposite Keira Knightley
Wanted (2008) with Angelina Jolie
Played Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men prequel series (First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix)
Split (2016) and Glass (2019) – Played a character with dissociative identity disorder
His Dark Materials (HBO), Together, The Sandman: Act II (audio drama)
Net Worth (2024):
estimated at $25 million
Awards & Honors:
BAFTA Rising Star Award – 2006
British Independent Film Award – Best Actor (The Last King of Scotland)
Empire Award –
Best Actor (Atonement)
London Film Critics' Circle – British Actor of the Year
Olivier Award Nominee – For stage performances in Macbeth and Cyrano de Bergerac
Summary:
James McAvoy is a Scottish actor admired for his dynamic performances in both indie films and major blockbusters. Whether portraying a troubled soldier, a telepathic mutant, or a man with multiple personalities, McAvoy demonstrates emotional depth and exceptional range. Equally comfortable on stage and screen, his career continues to be defined by bold role choices and critically acclaimed performances.
