James McAvoy: The man with the X factor

Scottish actor James McAvoy has propelled himself to the top of the acting tree in recent years, thanks to a dazzling range of roles, playing everything from a helpful faun to Idi Amin’s personal doctor. However, the 32-year-old actor is facing a different type of challenge this summer- becoming the face of a blockbuster franchise, playing Professor X in the prequel “X-Men: First Class”. As a younger version of the role Patrick Stewart played in the original movies, McAvoy stars opposite “300” star Michael Fassbender as Magneto (Ian McKellen in the original films). For McAvoy, the film was a dream come true, having grown up with a previous incarnation of the characters. “I was first aware of the cartoon while I was growing up,” he recalls. “I was a big fan of that and the first two films as well.” Whilst most of his co-stars got to shoot fire, bend metal or fly, McAvoy’s on-screen power was invisible. “I saw what everybody else was doing and they all got to do really cool ninja stuff. But I don’t really get to do anything. So, I thought I had to ‘physicalise’ my power and came up with the master-stoke of touching my temple!” he laughs.

After years of bit parts in TV and film, McAvoy came to the attention of mass audiences when he starred opposite future wife Anne-Marie Duff in TV series “Shameless.” From there his career sky-rocketed, appearing in smash hit movies The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Last King of Scotland, Atonement and Wanted with Angelina Jolie, whom the actor learned a great deal from. “Yeah, she was great,” he enthuses. “The thing that I really appreciated from Angelina, more than anything, was she told me not to take myself too seriously, and keep in mind that if you can’t have fun doing an action movie then you shouldn’t be doing it!” His success has brought about rumours of one day playing James Bond, a rumour he is eager to disperse. “I’ll take myself out of the running for it immediately!” he says with a chuckle. “For me, that was never really my remit in this film.” Indeed, that ‘remit’ may carry on for several more movies, as the actor let slip that there are plans for sequels. “I mean, if the first one makes enough money then they’re hoping to make about three films, there’s a great framework in place for two interesting stories that lead into the ‘Patrick Stewart’ movies,” he explains.

Currently McAvoy lives in Crouch End with Duff and their son Brendan, who was born last year. Although an area popular with the entertainment industry, McAvoy shies away from the glitz and glamour of fame. “It’s not something I aspire to,” he shrugs. “I’m a lot more comfortable at home with people I know than being at some event with people I don’t know, or only know from their work. I like being with my family, I like being at my home in London, unless I’m working which takes me away sometimes. I have been lucky in that about half of the things I’ve done haven’t been too far away. A lot of this movie was filmed just outside of London.” Has he always been keen on North London? “I lived in the East End first, when I first came down from Scotland, but I’ve stuck around Islington since then. I like going out here and it’s a nice place to live.” Whilst his fame is rising, he insists the autograph hunters aren’t hounding him just yet. “I’ve only been recognised about ten times since ‘Narnia’, so no!” he smiles, before adding: “I don’t go seeking it out either, I’m not sure how I’d handle it if that changed! I’ve not experienced it so I’ll have to figure it out if it happened.”

The actor is likely to be in demand for the next few years at the very least, with “X-Men: First Class” proving to be a huge success both here and in the United States. British audiences should see him next in period drama The Conspirator, a different type of role that underpins the philosophy behind the actor’s career. “The reason I do these films is to challenge myself and do something different,” he says. “So I’m hoping the next film I do will be challenging again. If I just get offered the same thing over and over again, then I’ll do that over and over again, but if I get offered variety then I’ll always prefer that.”

James McAvoy: The man with the X factor

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