Top 9 interesting facts about James McAvoy

James McAvoy is a man of great talent. The Scottish actor turned 42 on April 21.

It was his role as Professor X in the X-Men films that earned him great recognition and success.

He’s also known for his notable lead roles in M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass (2019),  Atonement (2007), Split (2017), Andy Muschietti’s horror film It Chapter Two (2019), and series His Dark Materials (2007).

In celebration of McAvoy’s big day here are 9 amusing facts about the Golden Globe-nominated actor.

1. He lived with his grandparents in childhood

James McAvoy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a psychiatric nurse and a builder. However, his parents got separated when he was seven. Since his mom was in poor health conditions, McAvoy and his sister went to live with their maternal grandparents. While his mom lived with him quite often all through all his childhood, McAvoy hasn’t spoken to his dad since he was a child.

2. He once thought of becoming a priest

McAvoy was raised in the Roman Catholic church. However, that wasn’t the reason he thought about turning into a priest. Before he chose to go to the drama school route, he considered entering the priesthood since he thought it would give him an excuse to travel the world.

“I wanted to be a missionary, but it was only because I wanted a free ticket to go and explore the world,” McAvoy told The Telegraph in 2006.

“I realized I was using God and religion to get my kicks so I knocked that on the head.”

3. He married his on-screen love interest

While working on the UK version of Shameless in the mid-2000s, McAvoy met his on-screen love interest and future spouse, Anne-Marie Duff. The pair began a relationship that they kept exceptionally private and married in 2006. They went on to star in 2009’s The Last Station together, however, McAvoy later declared he would no longer be working with his then-wife.

Ultimately, the pair broke up in 2016.

4. He never thought of making a career in acting

Apart from the priesthood, McAvoy considered a couple of other professions before he finally chose acting. In fact, acting sort of occurred coincidentally. While speaking to The Guardian in 2006, McAvoy clarified that it wasn’t until director David Hayman came to his school to talk about the entertainment business that he realized he needed to give it a go. He was so certain, indeed, that he apparently approached Hayman after the discussion and asked him for some work. (McAvoy’s first credited role was in 1995’s The Near Room, which Hayman directed.)

“I always believed that I never wanted to be an actor; I only did it because I was allowed to do it and I had to do something,” McAvoy explained.

“I felt as if my career just happened to me. I hadn’t actually engaged in it. I suppose I felt totally disempowered, just by this fate thing.”

5. Band Of Brothers was his chance of a lifetime

McAvoy’s big break came in HBO’s 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. The actor played the role of James W. Miller in just one episode, which opened his door of opportunities. In a short time period, McAvoy scored noteworthy roles on BBC’s Shameless (2004), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), and The Last King of Scotland (2006). He wasn’t the only up-and-comer who became well known with Band of Brothers: Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, and Dominic Cooper were among his co-stars.

6. The star is a Golden Globe nominee

In 2007, McAvoy played Keira Knightley’s love interest in Joe Wright’s period drama Atonement, based on the Ian McEwan novel. The role was one of the actor’s most enthralling performances till today and achieved him a Golden Globe nomination. Although he has wowed audiences in numerous parts since, such as the man with 23 different personalities in 2017’s Split (and 2019’s Glass), his role in Atonement has earned him the most critical acclaim.

“To find a film that was so epic, sweeping and romantic, yet be intelligent, was nice to me,” McAvoy said. “Also the fact that it’s a very classic story, but it’s told in a very contemporary and modern way.”

7. He wasn’t sure when he first met M. Night Shyamalan

In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, McAvoy told how he bumped into Shyamalan and just happened to cross paths at San Diego Comic-Con in 2015. “There was a big party, you couldn’t turn around without bumping into somebody off the telly,” he said. “My mate Jesse was playing miniature golf in the middle of it. We were getting particularly drunk, and then I saw M. Night Shyamalan. He goes: ‘You’re James McAvoy!’ And I said: ‘You’re M Night Shyamalan! What do I call you?’ I was very drunk.”

Intoxicated or not, something touched Shyamalan about him. After 1 month, he was on the set of Split  (in a role that was originally going to be played by Joaquin Phoenix but canceled at the last minute).

8. The actor admires Samuel L. Jackson’s no- foolish behavior

While promoting Glass, McAvoy participated in a lot of press events with Samuel L. Jackson, and was impressed by what he saw.

“I saw examples of what I might be able to do when I got the balls he’s got,” McAvoy said.

“That guy does not suffer fools, which is a positive quality. If he gets any kind of question that is in any way not thought out properly, he just drops the F-bomb and is like, ‘What are you talking about? What? What?’ He calls out [the journalist] so hard, and it’s the funniest thing.”

9. He gives his luck credits for becoming a successful man today

When asked about the secret to his success, McAvoy says, “I got lucky,” he told The Talks.

“I got so f***ing lucky that I fell into the lap of a director when I was 16 and he gave me a part in a film and my horizons immediately exploded wide with all the weird people in it and all these crazy f***ing actors and directors and artistic people who were from all over the world. Through that one job I met people from England, I met people from America, and I met people from all over the place with challenging points of view and sympathetic points of view to mine. And then I went to a youth theater for six months as well, and that expanded my mind massively. It gave me so much more confidence to find out who I was and not be afraid of who I was simply because I’m in a scenario that I don’t understand … I got really lucky. I got really, really lucky. It’s been a good ride for me.”