---
name: "James McAvoy"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-mcavoy"
fi1m_id: "james-mcavoy"
imdb_id: "nm0564215"
tmdb_id: 5530
wikidata_id: "Q193659"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 April 1979"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 16
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-07T19:34:57.073078+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James McAvoy

## Identity

James McAvoy

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-mcavoy
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-mcavoy
- **IMDb ID:** nm0564215
- **TMDB ID:** 5530
- **Wikidata ID:** Q193659
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McAvoy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193659, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5530

Actor. Born 21 April 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 April 1979, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
- **Active:** 2001–present
- **Also known as:** James Andrew McAvoy
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 16: 15 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Bryan Singer](https://film.one/person/bryan-singer.md), [Lauren Shuler Donner](https://film.one/person/lauren-shuler-donner.md), [Michael Fassbender](https://film.one/person/michael-fassbender.md), [Simon Kinberg](https://film.one/person/simon-kinberg.md), [Bill Nighy](https://film.one/person/bill-nighy.md), [Jennifer Lawrence](https://film.one/person/jennifer-lawrence.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won · 2 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (7), 2010s 63 (7), 2020s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 67 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 9 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Comedy 4, Crime 4, Action 3, Family 3, Thriller 3
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,737m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McAvoy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193659, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5530

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*X-Men: Days of Future Past*](https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md) (78), [*Gnomeo & Juliet*](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md) (61), [*X-Men: Apocalypse*](https://film.one/film/x-men-apocalypse.md) (48)
- **Apple TV:** [*Foyle's War*](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) (81)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Wanted*](https://film.one/film/wanted.md) (68)
- **Tubi:** [*Together*](https://film.one/film/together-2021.md) (61)
- **HBO Max:** [*It Chapter Two*](https://film.one/film/it-chapter-two.md) (55)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on James McAvoy

> James McAvoy is at his most persuasive when charm starts to become pressure: a lowered voice, a smile held too long. We rate his control of a scene more highly than some of the films built around it.

In *Speak No Evil* (2024), James McAvoy’s Paddy smiles for longer than the joke requires, then lowers his voice when he wants compliance. An apology gives the other person another reason to stay at the table, when leaving would be sensible. We squirmed because we recognised the moment when politeness becomes agreement to something we do not want. McAvoy understands how someone can bully a guest without forfeiting his claim to be a generous host. It is precise, unpleasantly familiar acting, and the strongest reason to see a film that becomes less frightening as its horror grows more conventional.

*State of Play* (2003) offers a useful contrast: McAvoy plays Dan Foster in Paul Abbott’s six-part conspiracy thriller, where the ensemble is the attraction. We rate the programme highly for making a newsroom convincing and a complicated story worth following, even if keeping track sometimes becomes work. Our enthusiasm for the series does not rest on him alone. The move through *The Last King of Scotland* (2006) and *Atonement* (2007) established him in period drama. As Robbie Turner in the latter, he had room for emotional and romantic weight before Charles Xavier in *X-Men: First Class* (2011) took him into franchise work.

The less reassuring roles become prominent in *Filth* (2013) and *Split* (2016). Bruce Robertson in the former is deliberately unsympathetic; the latter gives McAvoy several characters to distinguish through posture, voice and mannerisms. The technical control matters, but so does knowing when a small adjustment will do. Director James Watkins gets that from him in *Speak No Evil*, where Paddy’s friendliness becomes threatening through the smallest changes in his delivery. Paddy’s observations about the Daltons can be accurate, and McAvoy makes that another reason to resent him.

Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis give him Ben and Louise Dalton to push against, a couple too hesitant to object to Paddy’s behaviour. The scenes need their reluctance as much as his aggression: without someone struggling to say no, his charm would have far less to work on. Watkins’s later shift into more ordinary horror is a real loss, because those exchanges have already supplied the unease. Start with *State of Play* for the stronger programme; choose *Speak No Evil* to see just how much trouble he can cause over dinner.

## Biography

James McAvoy is a Scottish actor. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 2000, and began his career with television roles including appearances in State of Play (2003) and Shameless (2004–2005).

His feature film work includes Mr Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), a lead role in The Last King of Scotland (2006) and Atonement (2007), and Wesley Gibson in Wanted (2008). He is known for portraying Charles Xavier in the X-Men films from X-Men: First Class (2011) onwards, and for his performance as Kevin Wendell Crumb in Split (2017) and Glass (2019). In 2024 he played Paddy in Speak No Evil.

McAvoy received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2006 and has earned multiple BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. He has also worked in voice roles for animated films such as Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) and Arthur Christmas (2011).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (16)

### Performed in (15) — the average rests on these

- *Speak No Evil* (2024), Fi1m 66, as Paddy — [page](https://film.one/film/speak-no-evil.md)
- *Together* (2021), Fi1m 61, as He — [page](https://film.one/film/together-2021.md)
- *It Chapter Two* (2019), Fi1m 55, as Bill Denbrough — [page](https://film.one/film/it-chapter-two.md)
- *X-Men: Apocalypse* (2016), Fi1m 48, as Professor Charles Xavier — [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-apocalypse.md)
- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), Fi1m 66, as UPS Guy — [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014), Fi1m 78, as Charles Xavier — [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md)
- *Arthur Christmas* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Arthur (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas.md)
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), Fi1m 61, as Gnomeo (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *Wanted* (2008), Fi1m 68, as Wesley Gibson — [page](https://film.one/film/wanted.md)
- *Atonement* (2007), Fi1m 83, as Robbie Turner — [page](https://film.one/film/atonement.md)
- *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), Fi1m 66, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/shakespeare-told.md)
- *Shameless* (2004), Fi1m 75, as Steve McBride — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md)
- *State of Play* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Dan Foster — [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *Foyle's War* (2002), Fi1m 81, as Ray Pritchard — [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md)
- *Band of Brothers* (2001), Fi1m 89, as James W. Miller — [page](https://film.one/tv/band-of-brothers.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Once Upon a Deadpool* (2018), Fi1m 50, as Charles Xavier / Professor X (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-deadpool.md)

## Complete filmography (71)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Faith* (2026), as Michael
- *California Schemin'* (2026), as Anthony · Director
- *Pose* (2026), as Thomas
- *Lions Uncut: Australia 2025* (2025), as Narrator
- *The Space Between Attack and Decay* (2025), as Narrator
- *Speak No Evil* (2024), as Paddy — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/speak-no-evil.md)
- *The Book of Clarence* (2024), as Pontius Pilate
- *The Sandman* (2022), series, as Golden Haired Man (voice)
- *The Bubble* (2022), as James McAvoy
- *The Sands Between* (2021), as Man
- *My Son* (2021), as Edmond Murray
- *Together* (2021), as He — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/together-2021.md)
- *The Gruffalo and Me: The Remarkable Julia Donaldson* (2020), as reader
- *National Theatre Live: Cyrano de Bergerac* (2020), as Cyrano de Bergerac
- *His Dark Materials* (2019), series, as Lord Asriel
- *It Chapter Two* (2019), as Bill Denbrough — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/it-chapter-two.md)
- *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
- *Watership Down* (2018), series, as Hazel (voice)
- *Once Upon a Deadpool* (2018), as Charles Xavier / Professor X (uncredited) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-deadpool.md)
- *Deadpool 2* (2018), as Charles Xavier (uncredited) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/deadpool-2.md)
- *Sherlock Gnomes* (2018), as Gnomeo (voice)
- *Submergence* (2018), as James More
- *Atomic Blonde* (2017), as David Percival
- *Split* (2017), as Dennis / Patricia / Hedwig / The Beast / Kevin Wendell Crumb / Barry / Orwell / Jade
- *X-Men: Apocalypse* (2016), as Professor Charles Xavier — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-apocalypse.md)
- *Victor Frankenstein* (2015), as Victor Frankenstein
- *The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him* (2014), as Conor
- *The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her* (2014), as Conor
- *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014), as Charles Xavier — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md)
- *The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them* (2014), as Conor Ludlow
- *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), as UPS Guy — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md)
- *Filth* (2013), as Bruce · Producer
- *Trance* (2013), as Simon
- *Welcome to the Punch* (2013), as Max Lewinsky
- *Arthur Christmas* (2011), as Arthur (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas.md)
- *50/50* (2011), Thanks
- *X-Men: First Class* (2011), as Charles Xavier (24 Years)
- *The Conspirator* (2011), as Frederick Aiken
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), as Gnomeo (voice) — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *The Last Station* (2009), as Valentin Bulgakov
- *Wanted* (2008), as Wesley Gibson — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/wanted.md)
- *Penelope* (2007), as Johnny/Max
- *Becoming Jane* (2007), as Tom Lefroy
- *Atonement* (2007), as Robbie Turner — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/atonement.md)
- *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: Macbeth* (2005), as Joe Macbeth
- *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), series, Actor — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/shakespeare-told.md)
- *Strings* (2004), as Hal
- *Inside I'm Dancing* (2004), as Rory O'Shea
- *Wimbledon* (2004), as Carl Colt
- *Shameless* (2004), series, as Steve McBride — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md)
- *Bright Young Things* (2003), as Simon Balcairn
- *State of Play* (2003), series, as Dan Foster — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *Early Doors* (2003), series, as Liam
- *Frank Herbert's Children of Dune* (2003), series, as Leto Atreides II
- *Bollywood Queen* (2002), as Jay
- *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Ray Pritchard — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md)
- *White Teeth* (2002), series, as Josh Malfen
- *White Teeth* (2002), as Josh Malfen
- *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Gowan Ross
- *The Pool* (2001), as Mike
- *Band of Brothers* (2001), series, as James W. Miller — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/band-of-brothers.md)
- *Murder in Mind* (2001), series, as Martin Vosper
- *Lorna Doone* (2001), as Sergeant Bloxham
- *Lorna Doone* (2000), series, as Sergeant Bloxham
- *Regeneration* (1997), as Anthony Balfour
- *The Near Room* (1997), as Kevin
- *Control*, as Dr. Conway

## Gallery

- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-adfc1c6bd479.jpg) James McAvoy — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/James_McAvoy_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg/1280px-James_McAvoy_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cast of X-men Apocalypse at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con International. (Top:Bottom: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas ](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-afce675570ce.jpg) Cast of X-men Apocalypse at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con International. (Top:Bottom: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas  — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Cast_of_X-Men_Apocalypse.jpg/1280px-Cast_of_X-Men_Apocalypse.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-a71a8a688620.jpg) Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383727177%29.jpg/1280px-Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383727177%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-201c4b71c932.jpg) Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383748252%29.jpg/1280px-Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383748252%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-b27dfe24fbcf.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-79964bfd057e.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-63ea0d2c656e.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB
- ![James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Plea](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-1c60657b7483.jpg) James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Plea — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/James_McAvoy_%2848383600461%29.jpg/1280px-James_McAvoy_%2848383600461%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Plea](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-4552feace802.jpg) James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Plea — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/James_McAvoy_%2848383601906%29.jpg/1280px-James_McAvoy_%2848383601906%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-2202f681a3be.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-a081732afa3c.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB
- ![James McAvoy](https://film.one/media/person/10972/gallery-b721b624a590.jpg) James McAvoy — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 2008: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Atonement*
- 2007: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *The Last King of Scotland*
- 2006: BAFTA Rising Star Award (won)

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2007: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *Atonement*

### Other awards — 2 won, 7 nominated

- British Independent Film Awards 2013: Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film (won), for *Filth*
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2013: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (nominated)
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2010: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss 2009: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (nominated), for *Wanted*
- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture 2009: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (nominated), for *The Last Station*
- European Film Award for Best Actor 2008: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Atonement*
- London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year 2008: London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year (won), for *Atonement*
- European Film Award for Best Actor 2007: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *The Last King of Scotland*
- British Independent Film Awards 2006: Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film (nominated), for *The Last King of Scotland*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-mcavoy