James McAvoy

Born:April 21, 1979

Place of Birth:Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Known For:Acting

Biography

James McAvoy, born on April 21, 1979, in Scotland, has become a versatile and acclaimed actor in the entertainment industry. While he initially made his mark on television, it was in 2003 that his feature film career truly took off. His talent shone through in various roles, showcasing his ability to embody diverse characters with depth and authenticity.

Transitioning seamlessly between stage and screen, McAvoy's performances in West End productions have garnered him four nominations for the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. His voice work in animated films like "Gnomeo & Juliet," "Sherlock Gnomes," and "Arthur Christmas" has also showcased his range as a performer beyond live-action roles.

McAvoy's breakthrough in film came with his portrayal of the faun Mr. Tumnus in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in 2005. This role paved the way for him to showcase his talent on a global stage, leading to award nominations and critical acclaim for his subsequent performances.

One of his most notable roles came in 2006 when he starred in "The Last King of Scotland," a performance that earned him widespread recognition and award nominations, including a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. McAvoy continued to impress audiences and critics alike with his compelling portrayal in the romantic drama "Atonement," which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination and his second BAFTA nomination.

In 2011, McAvoy stepped into the iconic role of Professor Charles Xavier in the superhero film "X-Men: First Class," a character he would go on to portray in several sequels, solidifying his place in the Marvel cinematic universe. His ability to bring depth and complexity to such a beloved character further showcased his talent as a leading man in blockbuster films.

McAvoy's range as an actor was further highlighted in the crime comedy-drama "Filth," where he delivered a standout performance that earned him the Best Actor award at the British Independent Film Awards. His portrayal of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with multiple personalities, in M. Night Shyamalan's "Split" and "Glass" showcased his ability to tackle psychologically complex roles with nuance and skill.

Since 2019, McAvoy has taken on the role of Lord Asriel Belacqua in the BBC/HBO fantasy series "His Dark Materials," bringing his talent to the realm of television once again. With a career marked by diversity and depth, James McAvoy continues to captivate audiences with his compelling performances and versatility as an actor.

Images

Filmography

Acting

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Mr. Tumnus

2005

Siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter step through a magical wardrobe and find the land of Narnia. There, they discover a charming, once peaceful kingdom that has been plunged into eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Aided by the wise and magnificent lion, Aslan, the children lead Narnia into a spectacular, climactic battle to be free of the Witch's glacial powers forever.

Speak No Evil

Paddy

2024

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

Deadpool 2

Charles Xavier (uncredited)

2018

Wisecracking mercenary Deadpool battles the evil and powerful Cable and other bad guys to save a boy's life.

It Chapter Two

Bill Denbrough

2019

27 years after overcoming the malevolent supernatural entity Pennywise, the former members of the Losers' Club, who have grown up and moved away from Derry, are brought back together by a devastating phone call.

X-Men: Apocalypse

Professor Charles Xavier

2016

After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Charles Xavier

2014

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods as they join forces with their younger selves in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

Split

Dennis / Patricia / Hedwig / The Beast / Kevin Wendell Crumb / Barry / Orwell / Jade

2017

Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him — as well as everyone around him — as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.

Atonement

Robbie Turner

2007

As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.

Wanted

Wesley Gibson

2008

Doormat Wesley Gibson is an office worker whose life is going nowhere. He meets an attractive woman named Fox and discovers that his recently murdered father - whom Wesley never knew - belonged to the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins which takes its orders from Fate itself. Fox and Sloan, the Fraternity's leader, teach Wesley, through intense training, to tap into dormant powers and hone his innate killing skills. Though he enjoys his newfound abilities, he begins to suspect that there is more to the Fraternity than meets the eye.

Glass

Patricia / Dennis / Hedwig / The Beast / Barry / Heinrich / Jade / Ian / Mary Reynolds / Norma / Jalin / Kat / B.T. / Kevin Wendell Crumb / Mr. Pritchard / Felida / Luke / Goddard / Samuel / Polly

2019

In a series of escalating encounters, former security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities. Meanwhile, the shadowy presence of Elijah Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.

Dark Phoenix

Charles Xavier / Professor X

2019

The X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe when one of their own, Jean Grey, starts to spiral out of control. During a rescue mission in outer space, Jean is nearly killed when she's hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. The X-Men must now band together to save her soul and battle aliens that want to use Grey's new abilities to rule the galaxy.

Atomic Blonde

David Percival

2017

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.

The Last King of Scotland

Dr. Nicholas Garrigan

2006

Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and asks Garrigan to become his personal doctor.

Gnomeo & Juliet

Gnomeo (voice)

2011

A version of Shakespeare's play, set in the world of warring indoor and outdoor gnomes. Garden gnomes Gnomeo and Juliet have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Penelope

Johnny/Max

2006

Forlorn heiress Penelope Wilhern is cursed, and the only way out is to fall in love with someone of suitable stock. But how can she find her soul mate when she's sequestered inside her family's estate with only her parents to keep her company. This untraditional fairy tale about a girl who bucks convention to create her own happy ending.

Once Upon a Deadpool

Charles Xavier / Professor X (uncredited)

2018

A kidnapped Fred Savage is forced to endure Deadpool's PG-13 rendition of Deadpool 2, as a Princess Bride-esque story that's full of magic, wonder, and zero Fs.

Becoming Jane

Tom Lefroy

2007

A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.

Trance

Simon

2013

A violent gang enlists the help of a hypnotherapist in an attempt to locate a painting which somehow vanished in the middle of a heist.

Sherlock Gnomes

Gnomeo (voice)

2018

Garden gnomes Gnomeo & Juliet recruit renown detective Sherlock Gnomes to investigate the mysterious disappearance of other garden ornaments.

Victor Frankenstein

2015

Eccentric scientist Victor Von Frankenstein creates a grotesque creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment.

Filth

Bruce

2013

A bigoted junkie cop suffering from borderline personality disorder and drug addiction manipulates and hallucinates his way in a bid to secure promotion.

Arthur Christmas

Arthur (voice)

2011

For hundreds of years, the Claus family has delegated the title "Santa" to a chosen few of its members, which can be passed down upon retirement. Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in a one-night high-tech operation. However, when one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one—Arthur Claus, the current Santa’s misfit son deemed ineligible for the title, who executes an unauthorised rookie mission to get the last present halfway around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.

Muppets Most Wanted

UPS Guy

2014

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

The Book of Clarence

Pontius Pilate

2024

Streetwise but down-on-his-luck, Clarence is struggling to find a better life for his family, while fighting to free himself of debt. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and His apostles, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, and ultimately discovers that the redemptive power of belief may be his only way out.

Wimbledon

Carl Colt

2004

Britain’s Peter Colt has never quite lived up to his dreams of tennis stardom. Once ranked as high as number 11 in the world, the journeyman veteran has watched his number slip to 119 as his confidence on the court slowly ebbs away. Now, on the eve of his leaving the world of professional tennis, he’s granted a wild card, allowing him to play his final Wimbledon tournament…make that his final tournament ever.

Starter for 10

Brian Jackson

2006

In 1985, against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Brian Jackson enrolls in the University of Bristol, a scholarship boy from seaside Essex with a love of knowledge for its own sake and a childhood spent watching University Challenge, a college quiz show. At Bristol he tries out for the Challenge team and falls under the spell of Alice, a lovely blond with an extensive sexual past.

X-Men: First Class

Charles Xavier

2011

Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were arch-enemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.

Production

50/50

Thanks

2011

Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Filth

Producer

2013

A bigoted junkie cop suffering from borderline personality disorder and drug addiction manipulates and hallucinates his way in a bid to secure promotion.