With the release of yet another film in the XMen franchise, it seemed a perfect opportunity to Razberry Candy up Scottish Actor James McAvoy who is one of those brilliant actors who has seemed to rise effortlessly to the dizzy heights of Hollywood success! This is of course totally untrue and McAvoy has done his apprenticeship well.
NAME: James McAvoy (age 35 – born 21 April 1979)
ABOUT: McAvoy is a successful Scottish actor, who success in the small screen in the UK, continued on the other side of the pond, where he is now a fairly decent contender for a “A” list celebrity status, but his down to earth persona and love of the simple quiet life has engendered him to many. In a Hollywood world of narcissism and egos so big each one seems to need their own trailer, James McAvoy brings in a breeze of fresh air!
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Elizabeth (a psychiatric nurse) and James McAvoy, Sr. (a builder) he is one of three children having a sister, Joy, and a (half) brother, Donald. His parents divorced when McAvoy was just seven years old and the young boy, due to his Mum’s poor health, ended up living with his maternal grandparents, Mary and James Johnstone. He lost contact with his father in young childhood.
School for McAvoy was the Catholic school, Thomas Aquinas, and it was during that time that he briefly considered the priesthood, later stating the main reason had been the chance to use it as an excuse to travel! His acting debut came in 1995, in the little known film, The Near Room, however at this time he was just 15 years old, and wasn’t sure acting was for him, however he fancied co-star Alana Brady so much, she inspired him to study acting – perhaps then it was 15 year old hormones going crazy that we can thank for James McAvoy the actor today!
He studied at and graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2000, and his career then took a slow upward path, with small guest appearance on UK TV shows and the bit parts in movies. He also appeared on the stage during this time with roles in plays ‘Out in the Open, and Privates on Parade (a play which Sam Mendes saw him acting in and was impressed enough to remember him). He had a small part in Band of Brothers, in 2001 and the 2002 adaption of White Teeth, both of which were shown to an American audience.
Continuing in his spate of USA cable shows, in 2003 he had a part in the Sci Fi Channel produced “Frank Herbert's Children of Dune”, and later in the same year as a reporter in British made State of Play.
The big screen also appeared in his early work and in 2002, McAvoy had a small part in Bollywood Queen, and in 2004 he had a supporting role in in the rom com Wimbledon, also in 2004 he had his first principal character role in Inside I'm Dancing, playing “a maverick with duchenne muscular dystrophy”.
In Britain, 2004 was McAvoy breakthrough year, when he secured the role Steve McBride, in the BAFTA winning and rather brilliant Channel 4 series Shameless (this was also where he met his wife, and mother of his son, Anne Marie Duff). His success continued in 2005 when he played Mr Tumnus the faun in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe.
Since then his career had continued on its impressive upward trajectory, and in 2008 he was thrust into the big time with his lead role, co-starring Angelina Jolie, in the action/sci fi/adventure Wanted.
We always like a bit of a filmography on a Razberry Candy – as always it’s non-exhaustive and could well have omissions!!
Movie Roles
1995 The Near Room
1997 An Angel Passes By (Short film)
1997 Regeneration
2001 Swimming Pool Mike
2003 Bright Young Things
2003 Bollywood Queen
2004 Wimbledon
2004 Strings Hal Tara (voice)
2004 Inside I'm Dancing
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
2006 The Last King of Scotland
2006 Starter for 10
2007 Becoming Jane
2007 Penelope
2007 Atonement
2008 Wanted
2009 The Last Station
2011 Gnomeo and Juliet (voice)
2011 The Conspirator
2011 X-Men: First Class
2011 Arthur Christmas (voice)
2013 Welcome to the Punch
2013 Trance
2013 Filth
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Delivery Man (as himself)
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past
2014 The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (not relased at the time of writing)
Television Shows
1997 The Bill
2001 Band of Brothers
2001 Lorna Doone
2001 Murder in Mind
2002 White Teeth
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
2002 Foyle's War
2003 Frank Herbert's Children of Dune
2003 State of Play
2003 Early Doors
2004–2005 Shameless
2005 ShakespeaRe-Told
2009 Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps
Despite some really great roles (including personal favourites The Last King of Scotland, and Filth)
the role he is arguably best known for is the telepathic superhero Professor X, leader and founder of the X-Men, a role he first took on in 2010 in, X-Men: First Class, a prequel to the film series, (Patrick Stewart has of course played the more mature Professor X). McAvoy has just this year reprised his role as Professor X in X-Men: Days of Future Past and in the franchise that keeps on giving….. is scheduled to do so again in X-Men: Apocalypse.
At the time of writing, McAvoy was busy filming another adaptation of Frankenstein, in which he takes the leading role(s) – and is due for release in 2015!
McAvoy is a very keen fan of Football, and all things Sci-fi. His charity endeavours have included a “terrifying" base jump from the world's tallest hospital building to raise money for the Ugandan children's charity Retrak. He is a supporter of the British Red Cross and has travelled to Uganda to help raise awareness of Red Cross projects there.
WHAT MAKES HIM RAZBERRY CANDY?: x-Men, British, down to earth, starred in Shameless – solid gold creds we reckon!
