James McAvoy

Golden Globe nominated actor JAMES MCAVOY won over American audiences with his critically acclaimed breakthrough performances in The Last King of Scotland and Atonement. McAvoy continues to test himself with a wide variety of work, on stage, television and film and is regarded as one of the industry's most exciting acting talents.

McAvoy can be seen in hit X-Men: First Class, where he played Charles Xavier (the young Professor X) alongside Michael Fassbender, January Jones, Nicholas Hault, and Kevin Bacon, with Matthew Vaughn directing. He also starred in Eran Creevy's action thriller, Welcome to the Punch.

McAvoy was seen alongside Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Robin Wright and Alexis Bledel in The Conspirator from director Robert Redford. McAvoy was also heard as the voice of Gnomeo in the 3D animated comedy, Gnomeo and Juliet, opposite Emily Blunt.

In 2009, McAvoy took to the stage at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End playing the two roles of Walker and his father Ned in Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain," which earned him an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor. In February 2010, McAvoy was seen on screen in The Last Station, directed by Michael Hoffman and co-stars Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, Paul Giamatti and Anne-Marie Duff.

He also starred in Julian Jarrold's Becoming Jane with Dame Maggie Smith and Julie Walters, as well as Penelope, directed by Mark Palansky and co-starring Reese Witherspoon, Christina Ricci, and Richard E Grant. McAvoy also starred alongside Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie in Wanted; directed by Timur Bekmambetov and based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar, the film grossed over $300 million world-wide.

Other film credits include Atonement, directed by Joe Wright and co-starring Keira Knightley and Romola Garai in which McAvoy received Golden Globe and BAFTA Best Actor nominations and won awards from The London Film Critics Circle, the Santa Barbara Film Festival and the UK Regional Critics for his performance.

In 2006, McAvoy took the lead role in the adaptation of the hugely popular David Nicholls book Starter for Ten, for HBO Films. The film was directed by Tom Vaughan and produced by Tom Hanks. The film was released in the UK in October 2006 and premiered at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival before a February 2007 US release.

December 2005 saw the arrival of Disney's film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Directed by Andrew Adamson and co-starring Tilda Swinton, the film became one of twenty highest grossing films of all time. McAvoy was nominated in the British Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2006 London Film Critics Circle Awards for his performance. It also helped him win the Rising Star Award at the 2006 BAFTAs.

McAvoy took on his first feature film lead role in Inside I'm Dancing (US title: Rory O'Shea Was Here), directed by Damian O'Donnell and co-starring Romola Garai. The film was released in the States in February 2005 and McAvoy was nominated in the Best British Actor category at the 2005 London Film Critics Circle Awards for his performance.

In the summer of 2005, McAvoy traveled to Uganda to take on the lead role in The Last King of Scotland, directed by the Oscar® and BAFTA winner Kevin Macdonald. McAvoy was nominated for a BAFTA, a European Film Award, a BIFA, and a London Film Critics Circle Award for his performance.

McAvoy's popularity in the UK grew with his portrayal of the car thief, Steve, in the BAFTA- winning, Channel Four series "Shameless,"• which began in the UK in early 2004. Written by Paul Abbott, McAvoy was nominated in the Best Comedy Newcomer category at the 2004 British Comedy Awards for this performance.

In 2004, McAvoy impressed audiences in Stephen Fry's comedy Bright Young Things, which was released in the US the following year. The film had an all-star international cast, including Emily Mortimer, Sir Peter O'Toole, Jim Broadbent, Richard E Grant and many more.

In the autumn of 2003, McAvoy played Dan Foster in the BAFTA-winning BBC political drama series State of Play, with Bill Nighy, John Simm and Kelly Macdonald. Written by Paul Abbott and directed by David Yates, the series ran in the UK, debuted on BBC America and became one of the most successful UK exports of the last decade.

Although McAvoy took on small parts in high-profile projects like the World War I drama "Regeneration"• and the hugely-successful HBO series, "Band of Brothers," he first came to prominence in the UK with the role of Josh in the Channel Four adaptation of Zadie Smith's popular novel "White Teeth,"• with Geraldine James, John Simm and Naomie Harris.

McAvoy was born in the Scotstoun area of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1979 and is a graduate of the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

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