Spotlight On - James McAvoy
The twenty-seven year-old Glaswegian actor has starring roles in a fleet of notable movies set to dock in cinemas over the coming year.
| 13 Oct 2006
You may only know James McAvoy's face from his role as car thief Steve in the Channel 4 series 'Shameless'. But that's all about to change – in a big way. The twenty-seven year-old Glaswegian actor has starring roles in a fleet of notable movies set to dock in cinemas over the coming year. The first of these – 'The Last King of Scotland' – premieres this month at the London Film Festival before rolling out on general release in January. Based on a Giles Foden novel, it is the story of how a Scottish doctor (McAvoy) becomes the personal physician to the ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin during the 1970s.
McAvoy will follow that challenging role with the closer to home 'Starter For Ten', David Nicholls' adaptation of his own novel about a working class student's first year at Bristol University in the mid 80s, during which, amongst other things, he attempts to become a contestant on University Challenge. 2007 looks set to be McAvoy's year. Two of his films already wrapped and awaiting distribution are 'Penelope' – whose transatlantic cast also features Christina Ricci and Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon – and the Jane Austen early-years biopic 'Becoming Jane'.
On top of all this, McAvoy is currently in England shooting yet another adaptation: Ian McEwan's novel 'Atonement'. Set in a single day in 1935, it is the story of two young sisters (the elder played by Keira Knightley) and their housekeeper's son (McAvoy) who become entangled in a vicious game of lies. There's just one more addition to be made to the young Scot's burgeoning CV – for now. It was recently announced that McAvoy has scored the lead in cult Russian director Timur 'Night Watch' Bekmambetov's first English-language film, 'Wanted'. This sci-fi blockbuster will not hit screens until well into 2008, but rest assured of one thing: James McAvoy will be a household name by then.
McAvoy will follow that challenging role with the closer to home 'Starter For Ten', David Nicholls' adaptation of his own novel about a working class student's first year at Bristol University in the mid 80s, during which, amongst other things, he attempts to become a contestant on University Challenge. 2007 looks set to be McAvoy's year. Two of his films already wrapped and awaiting distribution are 'Penelope' – whose transatlantic cast also features Christina Ricci and Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon – and the Jane Austen early-years biopic 'Becoming Jane'.
On top of all this, McAvoy is currently in England shooting yet another adaptation: Ian McEwan's novel 'Atonement'. Set in a single day in 1935, it is the story of two young sisters (the elder played by Keira Knightley) and their housekeeper's son (McAvoy) who become entangled in a vicious game of lies. There's just one more addition to be made to the young Scot's burgeoning CV – for now. It was recently announced that McAvoy has scored the lead in cult Russian director Timur 'Night Watch' Bekmambetov's first English-language film, 'Wanted'. This sci-fi blockbuster will not hit screens until well into 2008, but rest assured of one thing: James McAvoy will be a household name by then.
Starter For Ten is released on October 13.