Updated Feb 20, 2026
Details
Known For
Actor
Occupations
Stage actor, Television presenter, Voice actor, Television actor, Actor
Birthday
(Saturday)
Nationality
Citizenship
United Kingdom
Religion
Roman Catholic
Languages
English
Spouse
Anne-Marie Duff (2006-2016)
Children
2 children
Sibling
Joy McAvoy
Residences
London
Education
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Glasgow
Zodiac Sign
♉ Taurus
Chinese Zodiac
羊 Goat
Name Origin
English < Latin < Ancient Greek < Hebrew (יַעֲקֹב)
Popularity
Tier A -- 139,959 Wikipedia views/month
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 11
Notable
First credit at age 12 -- appeared in first film as a teenager
Year context
Born in 1979 -- Iranian Revolution; Three Mile Island nuclear accident; Jimmy Carter was US president
Year 1979 →
Career
Career spanning 35 years (1991-2026)
DROPTHE GOOD_
14
Notable
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
1
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
87
Cultural Uplift
53
Public Vote
★
★
★
★
★
Be the first to vote
Filmography (35)
California Schemin'
Anthony
Pose
Thomas
Speak No Evil
Paddy
His Dark Materials
Lord Asriel
Dark Phoenix
Charles Xavier / Professor X
Glass
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
It Chapter Two
Bill Denbrough
The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends
Self
Watership Down
Hazel (voice)
Sherlock Gnomes
Gnomeo (voice)
AWARDS (10)
B
British Independent Film Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film
2013
WON
B
London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year
2008
WON
G
BAFTA Rising Star Award
2006
WON
G
BAFTA Rising Star Award
2006
WON
Biography
James McAvoy (born April 21, 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in The Near Room (1995) and appeared mostly on television until 2003, when his feature film career began. His notable television work includes the thriller State of Play, science fiction miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune and the channel 4s BAFTA award-winning series Shameless (British TV series)
He has performed in several West End productions and has received four nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, and has also done voice work for animated films including Gnomeo & Juliet, its sequel Sherlock Gnomes, and Arthur Christmas.
In 2003, McAvoy appeared in a lead role in Bollywood Queen, then in another lead role as Rory in Inside I'm Dancing in 2004. This was followed by a supporting role, as the faun Mr. Tumnus, in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). His performance in Kevin Macdonald's drama The Last King of Scotland (2006) garnered him several award nominations, including the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. The critically acclaimed romantic drama war film Atonement (2007) earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination and his second BAFTA nomination. He later appeared as a newly trained assassin in the action thriller Wanted (2008).
In 2011, McAvoy portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in the superhero film X-Men: First Class, a role he reprised in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Dark Phoenix (2019). McAvoy starred in the crime comedy-drama film Filth (2013), for which he won Best Actor in the British Independent Film Awards. In 2016, he portrayed Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with 23 alternate personalities, in M. Night Shyamalan's Split, for which he received critical acclaim, and later reprised the role for the sequel Glass (2019). Since 2019, he has portrayed Lord Asriel Belacqua in the BBC/HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials.
Connections (4)
Related People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is James McAvoy?
James McAvoy is 46 years old, born on .
Where was James McAvoy born?
James McAvoy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
What movies or shows has James McAvoy been in?
James McAvoy has 35 credits in our database. Notable titles include California Schemin' (2026), Pose (2026), Speak No Evil (2024), His Dark Materials (2019), Dark Phoenix (2019).
What is James McAvoy known for?
James McAvoy is primarily known as an actor. James McAvoy (born April 21, 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in The Near Room (1995) and appeared…
Where can I find more information about James McAvoy?
You can find more about James McAvoy on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.