Ewan McGregor — The Movie Database (TMDb) Report Biography Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course. He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter's 1993 six-part Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1993). His first notable role was that of Alex Law in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge and produced by Andrew MacDonald. This was followed by The Pillow Book (1996) and Trainspotting (1996), the latter of which brought him to the public's attention.

He is now one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, and portrays Obi-wan Kenobi in the first three Star Wars episodes. McGregor is married to French production designer Eve Mavrakis, whom he met while working on the TV show "Kavanagh QC" (1995). They married in France in the summer of 1995 and have two daughters, Clara Mathilde and Esther Rose. McGregor has formed a production company with friends Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee, Jude Law and Sadie Frost. Called Natural Nylon, they hope it will make innovative films that do not conform to Hollywood standards. Movies of Ewan McGregor - Niter TV Login Ewan McGregor Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course.

He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter's 1993 six-part Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar"... Dennis Potter's 'Lipstick On Your Collar' DVD review Email Ever wanted to watch Ewan McGregor lip-sync through 1950’s classics over a 6 hour marathon? Well soldier, this is the show for you. The last project that Dennis Potter saw to completion within his lifetime before the posthumous glory of Karaoke and Cold Lazarus, 1993’s Lipstick On Your Collar is a typically strong offering from one of Britain’s last great television writers. What could easily be seen as a companion piece to Pennies From Heaven (and by extension The Singing Detective) sees all of the familiar tropes of Potter’s work at the forefront of this (perhaps overlong) offering.

Fresh from the BBC drama The Scarlet And The Black, Ewan McGregor makes for a very passable lead in a strong ensemble as Private Mick Hopper, a young dreamer who is spending his last months of National Service in The War Office where his life is made a living hell by a passing collection of dignitaries, rank and file officers and pencil-pushers who are only interested in exerting their authority on those left at home; especially Hopper whose most taxing job seems to be making the tea. Hopper is a mentor to timid Private Francis Francis (Giles Thomas), a hapless Welshman, obsessed with local beauty Sylvia (Louise Germaine, a glamour model who at times outshines the “names”), the wife of one of their workmates who is also plagued by the attentions of lecherous cinema organist Harold Atterbow (Potter regular Roy Hudd). Renny Rye, Potter’s most common collaborator, once again creates a gorgeous 50’s dreamscape where characters burst into song and lip-sync classics of the time with alarming regularity, but manages to elevate each moment of magic realism into a believably candy-coated reverie.

Released on DVD on 4th October 2010 by Acorn Media. Biografía de Ewan McGregor Página oficial: Biografía Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled... Mostrar más Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course.

He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter's 1993 six-part Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1993). His first notable role was that of Alex Law in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge and produced by Andrew MacDonald. This was followed by The Pillow Book (1996) and Trainspotting (1996), the latter of which brought him to the public's attention. He is now one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, and portrays Obi-wan Kenobi in the first three Star Wars episodes. McGregor is married to French production designer Eve Mavrakis, whom he met while working on the TV show "Kavanagh QC" (1995). They married in France in the summer of 1995 and have two daughters, Clara Mathilde and Esther Rose. McGregor has formed a production company with friends Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee, Jude Law and Sadie Frost.

Called Natural Nylon, they hope it will make innovative films that do not conform to Hollywood standards. Mostrar menos BIOGRAPHY: Ewan McGregor Lifetime twitter BIOGRAPHY The name McGregor is famous in Scotland for being the name not only of a famous Scottish clan, but also as the surname of a famous acting family. Ewan McGregor's uncle - Denis Lawson - achieved fame as an actor by appearing in the groundbreaking TV series, 'Rock Follis', and subsequently starred as Kit Curran in the' Kit Curran Radio Show'. But it was left to his nephew Ewan - who is frequently hailed as Scotland's biggest movie star since Sean Connery - to bring lasting worldwide acting fame to the name of McGregor. Ewan McGregor was born in Crieff, Perthshire, a small Scottish country town to the north of Edinburgh. Ewan has one older brother, Colin, who enjoys a successful career in his own right as an RAF pilot. Ewan's parents both happened to be teachers, but erred on the side of liberalism when it came to educating their two boys - a fact which has no doubt helped ensure that Ewan has remained extremely close to both his parents.

Indeed, his mother Carole frequently acts as his official spokesperson, and helps to organise his personal celebrity appearances and fan mail. Ewan's father also happens to be director of the Crieff Highland Games, a major sporting event that was established in 1870. As a boy, Ewan helped his father organise the games, and was even awarded the title of Chieftain of the Games in 2001. Growing up in rural Scotland, young Ewan was a keen sportsman, and excelled at swimming, diving and riding. As a teenager, he once had a job helping out in the stables at the nearby Crieff Hydro. Ewan showed musical ability from an early age too, and studied the drums, guitar and French horn at school. Surprisingly, he didn't get involved in many school dramatic productions, but recited poetry at school revues, and played horn solos with the school orchestra. But he did entertain his family by doing Elvis Presley impersonations at family get-togethers: apparently his favourite numbers were 'Hound Dog' and 'Don't be Cruel'!

Ewan's famous actor uncle, Denis Lawson, was, however, the biggest inspiration behind his future acting career, although he is also rumoured to have been influenced by the acting legend James Stewart. Ewan attended school locally at Morrison's Academy, where his brother Colin was Head Boy in the late 1980s, and performed reasonably in his academic studies. But when Colin left Morrison's to pursue his future career in the Air Force, Ewan became depressed, and started getting into trouble at school. His mother was a major source of support at this difficult time, perhaps on account of her own background as a Special Needs teacher in Dundee. Ewan relates how one night, when she was driving him home through the rain, she told him that if he was so unhappy at school, he should feel free to leave, and he recalls how "life suddenly opened up" for him at that moment. After spending a year studying at Fire College of Further and Higher Education in Kirkcaldy, Ewan went straight into the world of theatre, and got a job as a stage hand at Perth Repertory Theatre, where he spent valuable time learning his chosen craft.

In 1989, whilst still working at Perth, Ewan made the momentous decision to pursue his newfound love of acting in earnest. He took the plunge and enrolled for a three-year full-time course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The rest is history. Unlike many aspiring actors, who spend years "waiting to be discovered", Ewan became a great success almost literally overnight. Even before he'd officially completed his studies at Guildhall, he was offered a leading role as Private Mick Hopper in the TV series, 'Lipstick On Your Collar', written by the famous TV screenwriter Dennis Potter, which hit the nation's TV screens in 1993. Following his TV debut, Ewan was offered another TV role in the show 'Family Style'. This was followed by a cameo part in Bill Forsyth’s film, 'Being Human' - which also starred Robin Williams and Robert Carlyle. Ewan's cinematic debut was small, but noteworthy. Producers were beginning to take notice of this rising new star, and the offers started to come in. Ewan's first proper film role was in a movie called 'Shallow Grave', directed by Danny Boyle, and was both challenging and bloodthirsty.

Ewan played the part of Alex Law, one of three flatmates who then choose a fourth flatmate - played by Keith Allen. The film's shocking and bloody climax paved the way for Ewan's next major role, in the controversial hit movie, 'Trainspotting' in 1996. Here, he plays Mark 'Rent Boy' Renton, an Edinburgh heroin addict who is trying to get clean, and also to escape the noxious influence of his drug-taking friends, who included Johnny Lee Miller and once again, Robert Carlyle. Ewan was nominated for an Oscar following his stellar performance in 'Trainspotting'. This was the breakthrough he'd been waiting for - the film that was so successful and high-profile that it effectively offered him a passport to Hollywood. Ewan continued to act in productions for the small screen too, and it was whilst filming an episode for ITV's 'Kavanagh QC' that he met and fell in love with French production designer Eve Mavrakis, who was also working on the show. The couple married shortly afterwards, and Eve soon gave birth to their first daughter, Clara Mathilde. A second daughter, Esther Rose, was born to Ewan and Eve in 2001.

Much to Ewan's annoyance, the tabloid press insisted on printing pictures of the newborn baby, despite Ewan's much-publicised desire to keep his children out of the newspapers. The couple expanded their family in 2006 when they adopted a five-year-old girl from Mongolia called Jamiyan and have since had another baby girl. On screen as well as off, Ewan continued to court controversy in his choice of roles, and also thanks to his growing penchant for taking his clothes off on screen at every possible opportunity. His next major role was in 'The Pillow Book' (1996) directed by art house director Peter Greenaway. Ewan plays Jerome, the lover of Nagiko, a Japanese woman who has embarked on a colourful sexual career. Next, he acted alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie version of Jane Austen's 'Emma' (1996), and then took a cameo role in 'Karoake', another film written by Dennis Potter. Next came 'The Serpent’s Kiss' (1997), another art house movie where he acted with Pete Postlethwaite. As the big film offers came flooding in, Ewan took shorter and shorter breaks between bouts of filming.

He likes to joke that he once had only a 12-hour break between two movies! Ewan likes to bring his family on location, so wife Eve and his two young daughters accompany him wherever he goes - unless, of course, he feels that the movie he is working on is too violent and bloody, and therefore unsuitable. Next came 'A Life Less Ordinary' (1997), a fairly dark rom-com, where Ewan worked with Danny Boyle again, but this time in Hollywood. Starring alongside Holly Hunter and Cameron Diaz, Ewan played Robert, a hapless kidnapper who falls in love with his supposed 'victim' (Cameron Diaz). One of Ewan's trademarks as an actor is his ability to switch easily and fluidly between different types of roles, which means he's never become typecast or stuck in any one particular sort of movie. He's equally at home playing good guys or bad guys, heart-throb heroes or villains. Next came 'Nightwatch', a gruesome thriller where he played a student moonlighting in a morgue. Back in the UK, he starred alongside Jane Horrocks, as Mark Herman in 'Little Voice' (1998).

Then it was back to Hollywood, this time to act under the direction of big-screen supremo George Lucas, in his epic Star Wars movie, 'The Phantom Menace' (1999), where Ewan became a truly global movie star for his portrayal of the young Obi-Wan-Kenobi. But his screen debut with Lucas also sparked a fresh round of controversy, when Ewan was quoted as saying that working on Star Wars had been tedious, and that he'd been paid nothing like the $4 million figure that was currently being touted as his fee around the tabloid press. The lack of substance in these rumours was clearly demonstrated by the fact that Lucas invited Ewan back to Hollywood to portray Obi-Wan again in 'Attack of the Clones' in 2002, which picked up the Star Wars story ten years after the events of 'The Phantom Menace'. Ewan has also formed his own production company, called Natural Nylon, with business partners Sean Pertwee, Johnny Lee Miller and his old buddy and room-mate, Jude Law.

The company's first major production, in the year 2000, was an art-house film called 'Nora', which explored famous writer James Joyce's relationship with his muse, Nora Barnacle - Ewan played the leading role of the young James Joyce. Ewan also found time to act on the London stage in 1998, when he was directed by his uncle Denis Lawson in a play called 'Little Malachi And His Struggle Against The Eunuchs' at the Hampstead Theatre, which received widespread critical acclaim. Prior to shooting 'Nora', however, Ewan portrayed the ill-starred stock market speculator Nick Leeson in 'Rogue Trader'(1999). Next, he played a private eye (called The Eye) who tails Ashley Judd in 'Eye of The Beholder' (1999). Then came something completely different, as the saying goes - Ewan was asked to play the male lead in 'Moulin Rouge' (2001), a groundbreaking musical movie, to be directed by Australian director Baz Luhrmann of 'Strictly Ballroom' fame - a role that involved prodigious amounts of singing and dancing with his co-star, Nicole Kidman.

Earlier, the gossip columnists had reported that Ewan had been keen to act in Luhrmann's earlier production, 'Romeo and Juliet', but had lost the role to Leonardo DiCaprio, the star of 'Titanic'. Rumours also abounded that Ewan had also lost out to DiCaprio when seeking the lead role in 'The Beach', which was directed by his old mates Boyle and Hodge. Allegedly, Ewan has not spoken to either of his old friends since. 'Moulin Rouge' was a truly massive success, and earned Ewan a Golden Globe nomination. Then he moved on to star as John Grimes in 'Black Hawk Down' (2001), which told the true story of a US Special Forces Raid in Magadishu, Somalia. Then it was back to the small screen again, for a new collaboration with his uncle Denis Lawson in the TV drama 'Solid Geometry' (2002). Next, Ewan courted tabloid controversy again in the film 'Young Adam' (2003), where he played an immoral barge worker who has an affair with the boss's wife, played by Tilda Swinton.

Ewan insisted on keeping the sex scenes as realistic as possible, and the tabloid press went wild once more! Despite his frequent on-screen nudity, Ewan insists that he never gets sexually aroused during filming - well, only once, apparently… Following 'Young Adam', which came out in 2003, Ewan starred in 'Down With Love', alongside Renee Zellweger, where he played a hard-bitten journalist out to snare a bestselling author into falling in love with him. Then came Tim Burton’s movie, 'Big Fish' (2003), a curious fantasy-style movie exploring the deeper meaning of life and death. In 2004, Ewan took time out from his Hollywood career to indulge his lifelong dream of riding a motor-bike around the world with his best friend Charley Boorman. Ewan's and Charley's adventures were logged by TV cameras, as always, culminating in the hit TV series, 'The Long Way Round'.

The next major Hollywood success for Ewan, however, was the Star Wars movie, 'Revenge of The Sith' (2005), where Ewan engages in a famous duel with his pupil Anakin Skywalker, who then famously "turns to the dark side", and becomes the evil Darth Vader. Also in 2005, Ewan played voiceover roles in 'Valiant' and 'Robots'. 2006 brought its share of disappointments for Ewan, when he lost the role of the new James Bond to Daniel Craig, having been hotly tipped to follow in the footsteps of famous Scots actor, Sean Connery. But his role in 'Stormbreaker', the Alex Rider story based on the novel by Anthony Horowitz proved to be hugely successful. Ewan plays Rider’s uncle, who dies young - but not before training him to be a schoolboy spy… In 'Miss Potter', he acted alongside Renee Zellweger again, to tell the story of the Victorian children's writer, Beatrix Potter.

In 2007, he starred in the Woody Allen film 'Cassandra's Dream' playing the brother of Colin Farrell in a tale about two siblings who turn to crime to solve their financial woes before turning into enemies. This was followed by 'Incendiary' and 'Deception' in 2008 before starring in the romantic comedy 'I Love You Phillip Morris' in 2009. His co-star Jim Carrey played Stephen Russell who meets the love of his life Morris (Ewan) in prison. Ewan once again proved that he could play the 'bad guy' with his role in 'Angels and Demons' in 2009, which is based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name. He also starred in unusual comedy 'Men Who Stare At Goats' and 'Amelia' in the same year. 2010 was also a busy year for the actor as he appeared in 'The Ghost', 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang', 'Jackboots on Whitehall' and 'Beginners'.

Ewan starred in romantic drama 'Perfect Sense' with Eva Green in 2011, which was followed by roles in 'Salmon Fishing in Yemen' and 'Haywire'. He appeared in 'Impossible' in 2012 followed by 'Jack The Giant Killer' and TV movie 'The Corrections' in 2013. Family life, however, remains all-important to Ewan McGregor. Despite never having yet won an Oscar, Ewan remains one of the world's most popular leading men, as well as enjoying a reputation as a thoroughly nice guy! Lipstick on Your Collar - Episode Guide - All 4 Lipstick on Your Collar Private Hopper passes the day in the War Office dreaming of becoming a drummer. Meanwhile, new recruit Private Francis is dancing to a different beat... Strong language and sexual scenes58 mins Francis' worst fears about who lives upstairs with the beautiful Sylvia Berry are confirmed, and he confides all to Mick Hopper - with disastrous results. Strong language and sexual scenes58 mins Clips & Extras Hopper continues to fantasise at work and discusses women and love with Francis. When the red phone rings, Hopper is convinced the message is about the Suez crisis.

Strong language and sexual scenes59 mins Clips & Extras Biografía de Ewan McGregor Página oficial: Biografía Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled... Mostrar más Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course.

He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter's 1993 six-part Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1993). His first notable role was that of Alex Law in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge and produced by Andrew MacDonald. This was followed by The Pillow Book (1996) and Trainspotting (1996), the latter of which brought him to the public's attention. He is now one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, and portrays Obi-wan Kenobi in the first three Star Wars episodes. McGregor is married to French production designer Eve Mavrakis, whom he met while working on the TV show "Kavanagh QC" (1995). They married in France in the summer of 1995 and have two daughters, Clara Mathilde and Esther Rose. McGregor has formed a production company with friends Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee, Jude Law and Sadie Frost.

Called Natural Nylon, they hope it will make innovative films that do not conform to Hollywood standards. Mostrar menos Ewan McGregor - Biography - IMDb Ewan McGregor Biography Showing all 140 items Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (4) | Trivia (66) | Personal Quotes (65) Overview (3) 5' 9¾" (1.77 m) Mini Bio (1) Ewan Gordon McGregor was born on March 31, 1971 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, to Carol Diane (Lawson) and James Charles McGregor, both teachers. His uncle is actor Denis Lawson . He was raised in Crieff. At age 16, he left Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course.

He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan , among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter 's six-part Channel 4 series Lipstick on Your Collar (1993). His first notable role was that of Alex Law in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle , written by John Hodge and produced by Andrew Macdonald . This was followed by The Pillow Book (1996) and Trainspotting (1996), the latter of which brought him to the public's attention. He is now one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, and portrays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first three Star Wars episodes. McGregor is married to French production designer Eve Mavrakis , whom he met while working on the television series Kavanagh QC (1995). They married in France in the summer of 1995 and have two daughters, Clara Mathilde and Esther Rose.

McGregor formed a production company, with friends Jonny Lee Miller , Sean Pertwee , Jude Law , Sadie Frost , Damon Bryant , Bradley Adams and Geoff Deehan , called "Natural Nylon", and hoped it would make innovative films that do not conform to Hollywood standards. McGregor and Bryant left the company in 2002. He was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama and charity. - IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous Spouse (1) ( 22 July 1995 - present) (4 children) Trade Mark (4) Red hair and blue eyes Mole on his forehead, until he had it removed Trivia (66) Former roommate of Jude Law . They are still close friends. Ranked #36 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] He met his wife, Eve Mavrakis , while filming for Kavanagh QC (1995).

Was originally up for the lead role in The Beach (2000), which would have reunited him with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge who collaborated with McGregor on Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997). The role ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio . While McGregor blamed studio influence for the casting decision, he did not speak to either Boyle nor Hodge for years afterwards, commenting in an interview that he felt betrayed and the friendship was over. However, McGregor and Boyle made amends in 2015, with McGregor stating he has changed his opinion about the whole matter, and has moved on. Originally auditioned for the role of Mercutio in the film Romeo + Juliet (1996). He later got his chance to work with "Romeo + Juliet" director Baz Luhrmann when he was cast as Christian in Moulin Rouge! (2001). In the film Moulin Rouge! (2001), McGregor sang alongside Nicole Kidman .

Was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster at a graduation ceremony in Belfast, Northern Ireland (July 5, 2001). His first name is pronounced "you-an". He says that he was inspired to get into show business by his uncle, actor Denis Lawson . Lawson played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy. Resided in North London, England with his family until 2008, when they re-located to Los Angeles. Slated to start filming 'Nautic' in Jamaica with Heath Ledger in a couple of months. However Ted Demme , who was picked to direct the film died suddenly at age 38 from a heart attack while playing basketball. Early career dedicated almost exclusively to indie, low-budget, and non-feature films. When cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), an interviewer reminded him of his "aversion" to major films, and he replied "I know what I said, but, hey! This is Star Wars!". Ranked #8 in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of greatest British actors.

Born to James Charles Stuart McGregor, a physical education teacher, and his wife Carol McGregor , née Lawson, a teacher and school administrator, he grew up in Crieff, Scotland. Studied Alec Guinness ' films in preparation for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) and to ensure accuracy in everything from his accent to the pacing of his words. Father of Clara Mathilde (born February 1996) and Esther Rose (born November 7, 2001). Has a nephew (born 1999). Studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for three years, graduating in 1992. Received the Film Actor Award for Moulin Rouge! (2001) at the Variety Club Show Business Awards 2002. Was a student in the year-long theatre arts program at Kirkcaldy College of Technology in the fall of 1988. In 1987, after leaving school at age 16, he worked as a stagehand at Perth Repertory Theatre and had small roles in their productions.

His brother Colin is part of the RAF's Tornado display team who are based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. He and his uncle, Denis Lawson , have worked with two of the same directors. Both have been in Star Wars films, directed by George Lucas . His first film, Being Human (1994), was directed by Bill Forsyth , who also directed Lawson in Local Hero (1983). Embarked on a motorcycle trip around the world along with his friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman (2004). Was voted #9 in the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time (Channel 4). Completed a trip from London to New York 'The Long Way Round' by riding a motorbike east, via Europe, Mongolia, Russia, Alaska and Canada to Manhattan over 115 days in 2004. Was the original choice for the role of Jim in 28 Days Later... (2002), directed by Danny Boyle who has worked with Ewan three times previously (see above). Ewan and his wife, Eve Mavrakis , have the same initials, even with her maiden name.

When filming in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), he kept imitating the noise of the lightsaber during his fights. George Lucas explained many times that this would be added in by the special effects people later on. Ewan said "I keep getting carried away.". Is good friends with Naveen Andrews , star of the television series Lost (2004), from drama school. While he usually takes his family along with him during his movie shoots, he left them at home during the shoot of Young Adam (2003). Was the best man at Dougray Scott 's wedding in 2000. His Star Wars character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, goes by the call sign "Red Leader" in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). Wedge Antilles, who was played by his uncle, Denis Lawson , has the same call sign in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Is very particular about his children being photographed or seen on television. He strongly believes that just because he is famous, that should not give anyone the right to invade their privacy.

According to stunt coordinator Nick Gillard , he picked up the lightsaber swordfighting style very quickly. In an interview on the DVD of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Gillard commented that Ewan was probably faster than anyone else who was working on the film, including the stunt department. Is a casual supporter of St. Johnstone Football Club. Refused to have his wife and kids visit him on the set of Black Hawk Down (2001), because he felt the content was too violent and too bloody for them to see. Has been involved in a campaign against the closure of the maternity wing of Perth Royal Infirmary, the hospital ward where he was born. Ewan, a UNICEF ambassador, adopted a 4-year-old girl from Mongolia, named Jamyan, whom he met while traveling around the world in 2004. [April 2006] Is near-sighted. Before his trip around the world with Charley Boorman , he had a laser eye operation to improve his eyesight, so he did not have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

His best friend is actor Charley Boorman , whom he traveled around the world with on motorbikes ( Long Way Round (2004) trip). They met on the set of the movie The Serpent's Kiss (1997). Attended the Royal Premiere of Moulin Rouge! (2001) alongside Kylie Minogue , Prince Charles and Nicole Kidman . [September 2001] Was rumored to play James Bond in Casino Royale (2006); however, in interviews he said he'd be tempted if offered, but would turn it down as he didn't want to be tied down to an open-ended series. It is unknown if he was ever under serious consideration. Although his motorcycles of choice include an MV Agusta F4S and a KTM Duke, McGregor and friend Charley Boorman each rode a BMW 1150GS Adventure for their marathon trip around the world in Long Way Round (2004). Good friends with Black Hawk Down (2001) co-star Hugh Dancy and Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri .

Had two moles, one just below his right eye and one on his forehead, removed after doctors advised him to do so, because the one near his eye was cancerous (2008). Older brother, Colin McGregor , is a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Quit drinking alcohol in November 2000. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to drama and charity. Adopted another girl, Anouk, as an infant in 2011 (her nationality has not been made public). Adopted a dog on the last day of shooting Beginners (2010). Enjoys playing chess. (May 12, 2007) Left John O'Groats (Scotland) with friend and actor Charley Boorman , marking the beginning of their 15,000 miles long southward trip on motorbike, Long Way Down (2007). (May 22, 2011) Attended the 2011 Seattle International Film Festival for his film Beginners (2010).

First attempted to quit smoking cigarettes in November 2000, only to start again three months later. With the help of a hypnotherapist, he finally kicked the habit for good somewhere between 2008 and 2009. Makes an uncredited voice cameo as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Features in the music video for English rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen's "Hourglass". Likes to play the guitar and has even written some of his own songs. Personal Quotes (65) Actually, I really want to play Princess Leia. Stick some big pastries on my head. Now, that would be interesting. I'm doing my bit for the women's movement. The women have always been naked in movies and now I'm just desperate to take my clothes off as much as possible. I've been waiting nearly twenty years to have my own lightsaber. Nothing's cooler than being a Jedi Knight. Isn't Halle Berry the most beautiful woman? I have a film I'd like to be in her with.

I mean, I'd like to be with her in" - At the 2002 Golden Globe Awards commenting to Melissa Rivers on Halle Berry , who just walked by. It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing. I won't buy into the Hollywood thing... I want to be in good movies. I was with a friend of mine recently who was dying and while he was lying there with his family around his bed, I just knew that was it, that was the best you can hope for in life - to have your family and the people who love you around you at the end. I fight cynicism. It's too easy. It's really boring. It's much harder to be positive and see the wonder of everything. Cynicism is a bunch of people who aren't as talented as other people, knocking them because they make them feel even more untalented. [My fans] say, "I've seen Star Wars and Moulin Rouge! What else should we try to see you in?".

I always tell 'em to get The Pillow Book (1996). That would be a bit of an eye-opener for them, wouldn't it? My uncle would appear back from London, where he lived in the 70s, in sheepskin waistcoats and beads and no shoes. As an actor he had something about him that I liked and wanted to have. So that's one element: to be like my uncle, to be different. My brother is two years older than me and he was brilliant at everything, it seemed. He was captain of the cricket and rugby teams. We had this rather archaic system of head boys and prefects at my school. I was in my fourth year - in Scotland we finish school in our sixth year - and my brother had become head boy and brilliant at everything: academia, sports. In fact, all the things I wasn't good at. Then he left and I couldn't get my head round anything, so I became depressed and got in trouble a lot. I remember my mother driving me one night through heavy rain, with the windscreen wipers going.

It was the first half term of my fifth year and she said that she'd spoken to my dad and that I could leave school if I wanted to. I'd only assumed that I'd have to stick it out until I was 18, but here I was being offered the chance to leave at 16. My whole world opened up. I couldn't believe it. And I was out, as soon as she said those words. It taught me a lesson which was an actor should not say, "I won't do that." Once you've agreed the script, you must be willing to go as far as it needs to go on set. With some directors, you do the scene and they say that it's fine, but you think to yourself, "Is that really enough? Is there not more?". It's not my job to try and alter the director's style - he's in charge, and I'll always give him my trust. I think what happens is that you learn how to deal with it if you're not getting the support you need or if you're not being pushed. Occasionally you're doing two jobs at once: you're fooling the director into thinking you've taken his note while doing what you think is better.

It hasn't happened very often, but it's an awful thing when you lose your trust in a director. But it's not for me to say. ...as an actor there's nothing better than a great moody moment to play with nothing to say. It's so much easier to do because you can really get inside your head. [on playing Obi-Wan Kenobi] That was my challenge - to be a young Alec Guinness . People would come up and say to me, "You sound a bit like Alec Guinness . Did that just happen?" No! It's my job, you know? The thrilling bit about it was I immersed myself in Alec Guinness movies, and I found this great one called The Promoter (1952). God, it's a brilliant film. Then I watched the first episode of Star Wars over and over again. I loved it as a kid. It was a bit funny to be paid for it. I'd say to my wife, "I've got to go and watch Star Wars again, Sorry. I just haven't quite got it..." Brilliant.

[on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)] Doing the second one was interesting, because I'd never had to go back to play a character again. It was three years between the two episodes. It was a bit easier because I was more used to the technical demands. In other films you rehearse, crack the scene and shoot it. In Star Wars, that's not the case. It's a very different process with an enormous amount of bluescreen work. It's very difficult - you play scenes with people who aren't there. Acting to mid-air is odd. There's a perverse pleasure to it when you get it right, but often you don't. Aliens are really hard. On the second one [Star Wars: Episode II] I was doing the scene with those tall ones - actually, I quite fancied the female one - and they've got actors there who will actually be providing the voices for the characters. They wore blue hard hats with cardboard cut-outs of heads taped on top of them. So you've got to remember not to talk to the people but to talk to the hats.

[on Star Wars Episodes I and II] I love talking to kids about it, because they have great questions about how things work: "Do you have your lightsaber with you?". It's strange to explain off camera what you have done in this or that scene. How redundant, like an artist explaining his painting. As much as I like watching movies I've been in, I can't watch myself in interviews. People shouldn't know how we do it. I am a married man. I haven't been personally involved with all my leading ladies. It would maybe be somewhat glamorous if I had been, but I have not. Filmmaking is like a series of problems that need to be solved. And the excitement, the adrenaline that you get from making a small film is that you all have to pull together. You finish and you feel like you're walking away from your family. I love that. I've always thought as an actor, I'm not very clever about that, not very clear on it. My choices aren't about "Okay, if I choose this film, that will let me carry on," you know. Whether it is a big budget movie or a small budget movie, that isn't part of my decision. Movies are so draining.

They pull away from the actor, but theater just fills you up. I needed my fix. [on acting with digital characters in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)] The guy who's creating that character will create their responses off how you respond to their responses which aren't there. It's a nightmare! I like George Lucas and Tim Burton because there's no messing about. No 100 takes of me walking through a door. They know what they want and when they get it, we move on. Naming no names but, with some directors, it's take after take and take 22 is the exact same as the first one. [Aussie World Weekly magazine, 2002] In real life, you don't get up with the sheet after you've had sex. It's not like I'll play a carpenter and wear nothing but a tool belt while constructing a dresser. That's just not safe. [on researching for Moulin Rouge! (2001)] I needed to go and just find out exactly what it meant to be out and having fun in a kind of hedonistic and debauched environment.

That's right, something I wasn't familiar with. [on Moulin Rouge! (2001)] Starting with a party scene for 600 cast and end up singing on top of a giant elephant... does it get any better than this? [on learning how to use a gun in Black Hawk Down (2001)] Lying down from 50 feet, I was perfect. So I could really kill someone. Which is always good to know. Nicole, Knickers, as I call her. I would swear, burp and fart in front of her. I'd try and embarrass her and she would pretend to be shocked. I always played up on that. It was a real elder sister-younger brother relationship. [on coming home to Scotland] There is some really good crack when I come back here. This is where I learned to swear. [on his sex appeal] I smoke a lot. I drink far too much-I don't exercise. I torture small animals. An airport customs inspector once recognized me from Trainspotting and strip searched me looking for drugs.

I'm naked a lot of the time, and they don't try to frame planted pots in front of my dick like they do in most other films. It's all part of the story, but they don't zoom in on it or anything and go, "Cock shot!". I've been naked in almost everything I've been in, really. I have it written into my contract. My dad saw my full package in The Pillow Book (1996) and said "I'm glad to see you inherited one of my major attributes.". I hated Clueless (1995) with a passion. I thought it would have been a really good film if someone had blown her head off at the end with a really huge gun. I mean, this rich bitch suddenly becomes charitable and then she's okay? And then there's the token black friend. It was so corrupt, so L.A., I hated it. I've always wanted to go to Hollywood, drive big cars and be in big movies. But I hope I won't do just any film to become a star. I just want to carry on working, acting. I don't want to direct or write. I think making films is brilliant.

I get excited just going on a film set. Going on location is amazing, hanging about with all these film people doing their thing. If I bump into a star I get all starstruck. [Empire magazine, June 2002] He's quite the gentleman, Obi-Wan. But I don't think he'd have any problems pulling if he wanted to. You know, as a Jedi, he's not allowed to fall in love or get involved with that. So I suppose by now, he's just got really big balls. I started watching golf for the first time yesterday. I'm really worried about myself. I was actually enjoying it. [Twist magazine] My lightsaber flew out of my hands. No one tells you the sabers have about 10 'D' batteries in them. They burn your hands... I tossed the saber in the air and it ended up hitting a technician in the head. [on his co-star Hayden Christensen ] He's quite extraordinary with his moves and spins. I think he was a baton girl in a past life.

[on an experience during the filming of A Life Less Ordinary (1997) in Utah] I've got a black woolen hat and it's got Pervert written across the front of it. It's the name of the clothing label. And I was with my wife and my baby at the supermarket and I didn't think. I just put my hat on Clara's head, because it was cold. And the looks. I couldn't figure out why I was getting death looks. And then I realized my 10-month old baby's wearing a hat with the word Pervert written on it and these people were like, "There's Satan! There's Satan out with his kid!". And then I made a point of her wearing it every time we went there. People are incredibly rude about it sometimes. Like "What? You're married?" Strange reaction to have. Proves what people's ideas about marriage are. "We're having a baby." "What?" As if it's the end of the world. Of course, it's the start of a brilliant world. From Velvet Goldmine (1998), I got fond of wearing nail polish and eye makeup. I used to wear it quite a lot.

We all wear makeup when we go to events - men and women alike. I've also had some good makeup artists, and I like to let them have a good time. I don't think we should pretend we're not wearing makeup when we are. I quite like the look of it. When I played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, I had to transform myself into a young Alec Guinness . I watched his early work to see what he was like on screen. It is interesting how he is only remembered by people younger than myself for appearing in Star Wars. He played a wealth of characters in lots of films - it was like he was the British film industry. [on his decision to quit cigarettes and alcohol] I wasn't someone who could smoke or drink in moderation, and I recognized that those things would kill me. I started visualizing the doctor telling me that I had cancer from smoking or that I was extremely ill because of how much I'd been drinking. What kind of regret would I have if I had to tell my children or my wife that I was dying because of something I could have done something about? I didn't want to be that kind of man.

In your 20s, you spend a lot of time being self-conscious about what other people think of you. Then you hit your mid-30s and start to realize they weren't really thinking about you that much. [on rejecting the idea of a Trainspotting (1996) sequel] I wouldn't want to damage Trainspotting (1996)'s reputation, because it was an amazing film and a very important film of its time, a very important film for me and... a very important film for British cinema. I wouldn't want to leave people remembering a poor sequel rather than leaving its reputation where it sits at the moment, which is kind of a phenomenal film. There was talk that Disney fended off the release [of I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)] until after A Christmas Carol (2009) came out. They didn't want kids thinking [ Jim Carrey 's] Ebenezer Scrooge was a bender. [on I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)] I'm very keen that it's a gay movie.

There was quite a lot of talk at Sundance (in 2009) that "Well, it's not a gay movie. It's a film about guys who happen to be gay." And I was thinking, it's nothing but a gay movie. It's about a gay couple, about a man's sexuality, and he comes out. It's not the point of the film, but let's not pretend it's not a gay film. I like kissing boys on screen. As a straight guy, it's quite an interesting proposition. Anything on a film set that takes you by surprise like that, that gets your blood up, is good. I'm always interested in playing different people, in different situations. It doesn't matter to me whether someone is in love with a man or a woman. I find the idea of love and romance interesting. I'm a sucker for it. I like playing someone who's falling in love because I like the sensation of it. People do extraordinary things when they're falling in love. I go on my gut instincts.

Occasionally, the thought of working for a director pricks up my ears, or being alongside an actor gets me interested, But if the story can't live in my head when I read the script, I feel I can't be bothered to live with it on set. ... There's many different factors in films. The script, I always believe, is the foundation of everything. And if you don't connect to that foundation, if you don't believe in that and feel that you wanna spend three, four months of your life exploring it, then all of the other elements are secondary. But if you've got a great foundation in the script, and you like the story... Sometimes it's the story, sometimes it's the atmosphere in the script, the world that you're gonna create. There's many different things that hook you in, and then, on top of that, you have who's directing, who are the other actors, who's lighting-those creative elements that come in. Everyone's tied to the script. I think the script is the key. Regardless of how great everybody else is working on a film, if you're working on a script that you don't think is great, you're not gonna be able to make a great film.

Whereas if the script is great, then you can. [on quitting drinking] I would soon have gotten a reputation for being a drunk actor and therefore would not get any work, so I really felt it was time to give it up. But I remember doing interviews, drinking and smoking, just saying, "I am never, ever going to fucking stop!" And I said it with real pride, you know? 'Cos I wanted to be the best drinker as well as everything else and that's a really bad slippery slope. So it's much easier now and my work's much better. I find that life in general's much more fun without it. My wife's delighted that I stopped, because I'm much more present in our marriage and I'm a much better father. I remember, funnily enough, the last time I had a drink. I was sitting with these guys and we're all talking about how much we love our kids and I thought, "Well, why are we all sitting in a pub? It's four in the morning. How much do we love our kids?

Because tomorrow morning none of us will be any use to them." And I thought, "Fuck it." I don't have a problem with people drinking; it's something I chose not to do. It just took me a long time to grow up. [on The Impossible (2012)] When the script first came to me, I wasn't sure about the idea. Would it be a disaster movie that was somehow spectacular? That would be so wrong. But as I read it, I got caught up in Maria's sense of courage. She seemed like a proper hero. Then I spoke to her and she said, no, that's not what it was about - it was all down to luck. She was really emphatic about that. She said, "If anything I did was heroic, what would that mean for the others who weren't so lucky?". The Thai perspective on the tsunami I thought was quite a healthy one. They're very straightforward and honest about it, and very much in the present in terms of moving forward. [on whether he has remained friends with director Danny Boyle after getting dropped from The Beach (2000) for Leonardo DiCaprio ] No, you just don't treat your friends like that.

They absolutely made me think that I was playing the character in The Beach and we talked about dates and moving dates and so on, and all the while they were keeping me there just in case Leonardo pulled out - which is really nasty. And then afterwards, I just didn't hear from Danny for years. Pay attention: I recognize it can be boring to play with young children - to tell a story over and over again, let's say - but the secret is being there. If you've made a decision to play with your children, then play with them. Don't be looking through papers on your desk or sneaking off to the computer. Turn off your BlackBerry. Lose yourself in their world. Even if you do it for a short time, it will mean a lot to you and to them. [About his falling out and reconciliation with former friend and director Danny Boyle]: I just think I've changed my opinion about it. We've all moved on and there's a lot of water under the bridge. You know how swimming naked is such a lovely feeling? Well, being naked on set is kind of a bit like that. I'm not a religious person...

I'm married to a Jewish woman, so my children are Jewish and my involvement in religion has more to do with the Jewish faith now and not the Christian faith, which I was very vaguely brought up in... My parents were not religious, but my school had prayers at morning assembly... So my early understanding of religion was the Protestant faith in Scotland. But my experience is no longer that. [on the sometimes questionable food he and Charley Boorman encountered on their Long Way Round (2004) and Long Way Down (2007) motorcycle adventures] Usually, it was something like beans and paste with chunks of bread, but occasionally you'd just have to close your eyes, hold your nose, and hope for the best. The only time we ever got sick was when we ate at hotels. That stuff just sits around in its own botulism. [After a fan asks him what advice would give for a young Jedi in training] Don't be ridiculous! See also

Question: Which Dennis Potter TV drama featured Ewan McGregor as 'Private Mick Hopper'?
Answer: 'LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR'