Scottish stage and screen actor James McAvoy was born on April 21, 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary in Glasgow, and was in the Pace Youth Theatre for six years. He graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2000.
In 1995, James McAvoy landed his first role in The Near Room, a thriller directed by David Hayman. Two years later, he played Anthony Balfour in Regeneration. His international break came when he portrayed Pvt. James Miller in the Spielberg mini-series Band of Brothers. This was followed by several minor television roles including Murder in Mind, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, White Teeth and Foyle’s War. He earned international recognition for his portrayal of Leto Atreides II in the mini-series Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune in 2003. That same year, James McAvoy also appeared on the sitcom Early Doors, as well as starring in the thriller State of Play. He was also featured in another drama series Shameless, and was nominated for the British Comedy Award as Best TV Newcomer. He was also cast in Wimbledon, as well as in the four-part BBC production of Shakespeare Retold. In 2005, he played the Faun, Mr. Tumnus, in the movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
James McAvoy also took the role of Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in 2006’s The Last King of Scotland, as well as having the lead role in the film Starter for 10. This was subsequently followed by a role in 2007’s Becoming Jane and Atonement. Both films were critically-acclaimed, and McAvoy was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as Robbie Turner in Atonement, based on the novel by Ian McEwan. In 2008, he stars alongside Angelina Jolie in Wanted, where he plays Wesley Gibson.