James McAvoy biography
James McAvoy is a Scottish actor (born 1979), born on 21 April 1979 in Glasgow.
James McAvoy's screen career began in 1991 with Bernard and the Genie.
James McAvoy has appeared in 50 films and 16 television or streaming titles.
The most recent films are Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions (2026), California Schemin' (2025), Pose (2025).
James McAvoy is best known for Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, ShakespeaRe-Told, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Starter for 10.
Honours include BAFTA Rising Star Award, London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year and British Independent Film Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film.
Coming up next: Faith (2026), Control, Meantime (2027).
- Also known as
- James Andrew McAvoy
- Born
- 21 April 1979 (age 47)
- Birthplace
- Glasgow
- Work
- Television actor, Film actor, Voice actor, Stage actor, Actor
- Film industries
- Hollywood and beyond
- Years active
- 1995 to present
- Known for
- Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, ShakespeaRe-Told, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Starter for 10, The Last King of Scotland, Atonement
- Awards
- BAFTA Rising Star Award
- London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year
- British Independent Film Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film
James McAvoy filmography
52 films and 17 television or streaming titles, newest first.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Dr. Conway | Post-production | ||
| 2026 | Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions | Mad-Eye Moody | ||
| 2026 | Faith | Michael | Upcoming | |
| 2025 | California Schemin' | Anthony | Also director | |
| 2025 | Pose | Thomas | ||
| 2024 | Speak No Evil | Paddy | ||
| 2023 | The Book of Clarence | Pontius Pilate | ||
| 2021 | My Son | Edmond Murray | ||
| 2021 | Twelve Minutes | Man | ||
| 2020 | The Sandman | Dream | ||
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Bill Denbrough | ||
| 2019 | Dark Phoenix | English | ||
| 2019 | National Theatre Live: Cyrano de Bergerac | English | ||
| 2019 | Glass | Kevin Wendell Crumb / The Beast | ||
| 2019 | X-Men: Dark Phoenix | Professor Charles Xavier | ||
| 2018 | Deadpool 2 | Professor Charles Xavier | Uncredited cameo | |
| 2018 | Sherlock Gnomes | Gnomeo (voice) | ||
| 2017 | Atomic Blonde | David Percival | ||
| 2017 | Submergence | James More | ||
| 2016 | Split | Kevin Wendell Crumb / Dennis / Patricia / Hedwig / The Beast / Barry / Orwell / Jade | ||
| 2016 | X-Men: Apocalypse | Professor Charles Xavier | ||
| 2015 | Victor Frankenstein | Victor Frankenstein | ||
| 2015 | Orson Welles' Heart of Darkness | Marlow | ||
| 2014 | X-Men: Days of Future Past | Professor Charles Xavier | Shared role with Patrick Stewart | |
| 2014 | Muppets Most Wanted | Delivery man | Cameo |
Show all 52 films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby | Conor Ludlow | ||
| 2013 | Filth | Bruce Robertson | ||
| 2013 | Welcome to the Punch | Max Lewinsky | ||
| 2013 | Trance | Simon Newton | ||
| 2013 | Neverwhere | Richard Mayhew | ||
| 2011 | X-Men: First Class | Charles Xavier | ||
| 2011 | Gnomeo & Juliet | Gnomeo (voice) | ||
| 2011 | Arthur Christmas | Arthur Claus (voice) | ||
| 2010 | The Conspirator | Frederick Aiken | ||
| 2009 | The Last Station | Valentin Bulgakov | ||
| 2008 | Wanted | Wesley Gibson | ||
| 2007 | Atonement | Robbie Turner | ||
| 2007 | Becoming Jane | Thomas Langlois Lefroy | ||
| 2006 | Starter for 10 | Brian Jackson | ||
| 2006 | The Last King of Scotland | Nicholas Garrigan | ||
| 2006 | Penelope | Johnny Martin | ||
| 2005 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Mr. Tumnus | ||
| 2004 | Wimbledon | Carl Colt | ||
| 2004 | Strings | Hal Tara (voice) | ||
| 2004 | Inside I'm Dancing | Rory O'Shea | ||
| 2003 | Bright Young Things | The Earl of Balcairn | ||
| 2003 | Bollywood Queen | Jay | ||
| 2001 | Swimming Pool | Mike | ||
| 1997 | Regeneration | Anthony Balfour | ||
| 1997 | An Angel Passes By | Local boy | Short film | |
| 1995 | The Near Room | Kevin Savage | ||
| 1991 | Bernard and the Genie | English |
Television and streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Meantime | Felix McAveety | Upcoming | |
| 2022 | The Sandman | Golden-Haired Man (voice) | Episode: "Dream of a Thousand Cats" | |
| 2021 | Together | He | Television film | |
| 2019 | His Dark Materials | Lord Asriel Belacqua | 9 episodes | |
| 2018 | Watership Down | Hazel (voice) | 4 episodes | |
| 2005 | ShakespeaRe-Told | Joe Macbeth | Episode: "Macbeth" | |
| 2004 | Shameless | Steve McBride | 13 episodes | |
| 2003 | Frank Herbert's Children of Dune | Leto II Atreides | 3 episodes | |
| 2003 | State of Play | Dan Foster | 6 episodes | |
| 2003 | Early Doors | Liam | 4 episodes | |
| 2002 | White Teeth | Josh Malfen | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Gowan Ross | Episode: "Payment in Blood" | |
| 2002 | Foyle's War | Ray Pritchard | Episode: "The German Woman" | |
| 2001 | Lorna Doone | Sergeant Bloxham | Television film | |
| 2001 | Murder in Mind | Martin Vosper | Episode: "Teacher" | |
| 2001 | Band of Brothers | James W. Miller | Episode: "Replacements" | |
| 1997 | The Bill | Gavin Donald | Episode: "Rent" |