James McAvoy

James McAvoy is a Scottish actor born on 21 April 1979. He initiated his acting career in 1995 in the film The Near Room, and later became prominent for his television performances such as the thriller State of Play, the science fiction miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, and the drama series Shameless. His fame multiplied after starring in fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and action film Wanted. McAvoy was praised for his roles in the period dramas The Last King of Scotland and Atonement, attracting BAFTA Award nominations. He ventured into the superhero genre with X-Men: First Class where he portrayed Charles Xavier. His performances in indie crime film Filth and M. Night Shyamalan's Split were commended. McAvoy also displayed his acting prowess on stage, scoring nominations for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performances in Three Days of Rain, Macbeth, The Ruling Class, and Cyrano de Bergerac.

McAvoy was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised as a Roman Catholic by his parents—including bus-driver-turned-builder James McAvoy Sr. and psychiatric nurse Elizabeth Johnstone. Following his parents' divorce, his mother's poor health led him to live with his maternal grandparents. His childhood dream of becoming a priest was replaced by the prospect of joining the Royal Navy. However, an offer to study acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland led him to a different path. McAvoy's acting debut was in The Near Room, and he later admitted that co-star Alana Brady inspired him to study acting. His career flourished in the early 2000s, clinching roles in diverse television shows and films. In 2020, McAvoy voiced the lead character, Dream, in Audible's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's acclaimed comic book series The Sandman.