James McAvoy
Biography
James McAvoy is a Scottish actor born on April 21, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland. Known professionally as James Andrew McAvoy, he has established a career spanning both television and film. Throughout his professional life, he has been recognized for his contributions to the performing arts, including multiple nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his work in West End theater productions. With a career that began during his teenage years, McAvoy has maintained a consistent presence in the entertainment industry, accumulating nearly one hundred known credits. His work encompasses a variety of genres, ranging from television thrillers and science fiction miniseries to animated feature films and dramatic stage performances.
Career overview
James McAvoy began his acting career as a teenager with his debut in the 1995 film The Near Room. For several years following his debut, he worked primarily in television. His notable television credits include the thriller State of Play, the science fiction miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, and the BAFTA award-winning British series Shameless. His transition into a more consistent feature film career began in 2003, the same year he appeared in a lead role.
Beyond his live-action work, McAvoy has contributed voice performances to several animated films, including Arthur Christmas, Gnomeo & Juliet, and its sequel, Sherlock Gnomes. His professional portfolio is further distinguished by his extensive experience in West End theater. Throughout his stage career, he has earned four nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, reflecting his commitment to theatrical performance alongside his screen work. His career remains characterized by this balance between television projects, feature film roles, and stage acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Pose (2026) as Thomas
- The Claudia Winkleman Show (2026) as Self
- California Schemin' (2026) as Anthony
- California Schemin' (2026) Director
- The Space Between Attack and Decay (2025) as Narrator
- Lions Uncut: Australia 2025 (2025) as Narrator
- Hot Ones Versus (2024) as Self
- Speak No Evil (2024) as Paddy
- The Book of Clarence (2024) as Pontius Pilate
- Svensken bakom Hollywoodkroppen (2023) as Himself
- The Sandman (2022) as Golden Haired Man (voice)
- The Bubble (2022) as James McAvoy
- Together (2021) as He
- My Son (2021) as Edmond Murray
- The Sands Between (2021) as Man
- One World: Together at Home (2020) as Self
- National Theatre Live: Cyrano de Bergerac (2020) as Cyrano de Bergerac
- The Bridge: Race to a Fortune (2020) as Narrator
- The Gruffalo and Me: The Remarkable Julia Donaldson (2020) as reader
- The Magical World of Julia Donaldson (2020) as Self - Readings
- His Dark Materials (2019) as Lord Asriel
- It Chapter Two (2019) as Bill Denbrough
- Dark Phoenix (2019) as Charles Xavier / Professor X
- Glass (2019) as Patricia / Dennis / Hedwig / The Beast / Barry / Heinrich / Jade / Ian / Mary Reynolds / Norma / Jalin / Kat / B.T. / Kevin Wendell Crumb / Mr. Pritchard / Felida / Luke / Goddard / Samuel / Polly
- The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends (2019) as Self
- Deadpool 2 (2018) as Charles Xavier (uncredited)
- The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer (2018) as Self - Guest
- Once Upon a Deadpool (2018) as Charles Xavier / Professor X (uncredited)
- Watership Down (2018) as Hazel (voice)
- Sherlock Gnomes (2018) as Gnomeo (voice)
- Submergence (2018) as James More
- Split (2017) as Dennis / Patricia / Hedwig / The Beast / Kevin Wendell Crumb / Barry / Orwell / Jade
- Atomic Blonde (2017) as David Percival
- The Making of 'Split' (2017) as Self
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) as Professor Charles Xavier
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Victor Frankenstein (2015) as Victor Frankenstein
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) as Charles Xavier
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014) as UPS Guy
- The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her (2014) as Conor
- The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014) as Conor Ludlow
- The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him (2014) as Conor
- Double Take: Xavier & Magneto (2014) as Self
- Welcome to the Punch (2013) as Max Lewinsky
- Filth (2013) as Bruce
- Filth (2013) Producer
- Trance (2013) as Simon
- X-Men: First Class 35mm Special (2012) as Self
- Arthur Christmas (2011) as Arthur (voice)
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) as Gnomeo (voice)
- 50/50 (2011) Thanks
- The Conspirator (2011) as Frederick Aiken
- Children of the Atom - Filming X-Men: First Class (2011) as Self
- X-Men: First Class (2011) as Charles Xavier
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Last Station (2009) as Valentin Bulgakov
- Wanted (2008) as Wesley Gibson
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self - Guest
- Atonement (2007) as Robbie Turner
- Penelope (2007) as Johnny/Max
- Becoming Jane (2007) as Tom Lefroy
- The Last King of Scotland (2006) as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan
- Starter for 10 (2006) as Brian Jackson
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) as Mr. Tumnus
- ShakespeaRe-Told (2005)
- ShakespeaRe-Told: Macbeth (2005) as Joe Macbeth
- Shameless (2004) as Steve McBride
- Wimbledon (2004) as Carl Colt
- Inside I'm Dancing (2004) as Rory O'Shea
- Strings (2004) as Hal
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- State of Play (2003) as Dan Foster
- Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) as Leto Atreides II
- Bright Young Things (2003) as Simon Balcairn
- Early Doors (2003) as Liam
- Top Gear (2002) as Self
- Foyle's War (2002) as Ray Pritchard
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002) as Gowan Ross
- White Teeth (2002) as Josh Malfen
- Bollywood Queen (2002) as Jay
- White Teeth (2002) as Josh Malfen
- Band of Brothers (2001) as James W. Miller
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001) as Self - Guest
- Murder in Mind (2001) as Martin Vosper
- The Pool (2001) as Mike
- Lorna Doone (2001) as Sergeant Bloxham
- Lorna Doone (2000) as Sergeant Bloxham
- The Near Room (1997) as Kevin
- Regeneration (1997) as Anthony Balfour
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Faith as Michael
- Control as Dr. Conway