Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor
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Name:
Ewan McGregor
Real name:
Ewan Gordon McGregor
Who is:
, , ,
Birth date:
(54 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Perth, Perthshire, Scotland
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
163 lb (74 kg)
Relationship:
married with Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor photo 1
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Ewan McGregor's Biography

Ewan McGregor is a renowned Scottish actor, director, activist, and avid traveler. He's best known for his iconic role as Mark Renton in the cult British black comedy «Trainspotting» and as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi across three «Star Wars» films.
A Scottish actor Ewan Gordon McGregor
A Scottish actor Ewan Gordon McGregor

Childhood

Ewan McGregor grew up in a family of teachers in the small Scottish town of Crieff. His father, James Charles Stewart McGregor, was a physical education teacher, while his mother, Carol Diane Lawson, taught children with disabilities at a specialized school. Ewan's surname traces back to the ancient Scottish clan McGregor.
Ewan McGregor as a child
Ewan McGregor as a child
The future actor attended Sunday school, where he participated in an amateur production of a biblical play. Ewan later said he'd dreamed of becoming an actor since age 9. His uncle Denis Lawson, also an actor, along with old black-and-white photos from the '30s, inspired Ewan to pursue acting.
Ewan McGregor used to play French horn when he was younger
Ewan McGregor used to play French horn when he was younger
The young boy loved being on stage and thrived on the attention, playing French horn and drums in a music band. However, he hated school, finding it excruciatingly boring – and though he graduated, he never mastered error-free writing.

He worked as a stagehand at Perth Theatre and studied a foundation course in drama in 1988, before moving to London the following year. Ewan dreamed of attending the Royal Academy of Arts, but failed the entrance exams and settled for the less prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The beginning of acting career

In 1987 he moved to Perth to hone his acting skills at the Perth Repertory Theatre, but lacking the necessary experience, he didn't land the job he wanted. Despite this setback, Ewan was thrilled to work as an extra in the production of «A Passage to India». His acting debut was humble, to say the least. He spent the next six months working as a stagehand at the theater before heading to London.
Young Ewan McGregor
Young Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor's acting career began in 1993 when he portrayed Mick Hopper in a British television serial «Lipstick on Your Collar». He later went on to make his debut in a feature-length film, appearing in a comedy-drama «Being Human».
Ewan McGregor's first television appearance in «Lipstick on Your Collar»
Ewan McGregor's first television appearance in «Lipstick on Your Collar»
He later was cast to portray an attractive and vain young man, Julien Sorel, in a four-part television drama series «Scarlet and Black», based on the novel «The Red and the Black» by French writer Stendhal.

«Trainspotting» and other collaborations with Danny Boyle

Ewan's introduction to acclaimed director Danny Boyle became a turning point in his career. He went on to appear in four of Boyle's films: the black comedy crime thriller «Shallow Grave», the offbeat romantic comedy «A Life Less Ordinary», the instant cult classic «Trainspotting» (based on Irvine Welsh's novel), and its 2017 sequel.
Ewan McGregor with Danny Boyle
Ewan McGregor with Danny Boyle
In 1994, after appearing in «Shallow Grave», Ewan was hailed as one of Britain's most promising young actors and received an Empire Award for his outstanding performance.
A snapshot from «Shallow Grave»
A snapshot from «Shallow Grave»
The following year, he delivered another standout performance as drug dealer Dean in «Blue Juice» alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Pertwee.

However, Ewan's international breakthrough came in 1996 when he was cast as the lead in Boyle's «Trainspotting». He portrayed an ordinary heroin addict battling his addiction and trying to escape a vicious downward spiral, often joking around and self-reflecting along the way. His brilliant performance earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor.
Mark Renton in «Trainspotting» has to be one of the most renowned Ewan's projects
Mark Renton in «Trainspotting» has to be one of the most renowned Ewan's projects
Ewan's appearance in three «Star Wars» films truly transformed his career trajectory. The trilogy was a box office success and received phenomenal recognition from both newcomers and longtime fans. McGregor's performance was highly praised, and his role in just one film earned him $13 million.
Ewan McGregor appeared in three «Star Wats' installments
Ewan McGregor appeared in three «Star Wats' installments
In May 2001 Baz Luhrmann's jukebox musical romantic comedy film «Moulin Rouge!» premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Ewan portrayed Christian, a poor aspiring writer who falls hopelessly in love with Satine, a terminally-ill cabaret dancer and courtesan played by Nicole Kidman. The film was impeccable and an instant hit – it received more than 60 awards, including two Oscars, and millions of women were charmed by the handsome young Scottish actor.
«Moulin Rouge!»: Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman
Ewan received his second BAFTA Award for Best Actor two years later for his role as Joe Taylor in a drama, directed by David Mackenzie, «Young Adam».

He went on to appear in Woody Allen's dramatic thriller «Cassandra's Dream» (2007), the mystery horror thriller «Angels & Demons» (2009), based on Dan Brown's novel of the same title, and the gripping political thriller «The Ghost» (2009) directed by Roman Polanski.
In «Angels and Demons» Ewan McGregor portrayed a Camerlengo
In «Angels and Demons» Ewan McGregor portrayed a Camerlengo
His performance in the science fiction drama «Perfect Sense» (2011) was highly praised by viewers and critics alike, as was his turn in the action thriller «Haywire» (2012). He was also truly spectacular in the disaster drama «The Impossible» (2012).
Ewan McGregor in «Son of a Gun» (2013)
Ewan McGregor in «Son of a Gun» (2013)
Ewan McGregor's talent and worldwide recognition allowed him to become a member of the Jury for the Main Competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

He's a tremendously skilled actor and therefore always in demand. From the very beginning of his career, Ewan chose not to star in television series, but he couldn't reject the opportunity to appear in the black comedy–crime drama anthology series «Fargo» (2017). He was cast to play the twins, Emmit and Raymond Stussy, in the third season. It's quite prestigious to appear in such a project, even on television, because celebrated actors like Morgan Freeman, Kirsten Dunst and Billy Bob Thornton had previously starred in «Fargo».
In the third season of «Fargo» Ewan played twins
In the third season of «Fargo» Ewan played twins
McGregor has also tried his hand at directing. His debut work, a crime-drama film «American Pastoral» premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. He did not only direct but also had a leading role, alongside Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning.
Trailer of Ewan's directorial debut «American Pastoral»
In 2017, McGregor's fans were thrilled when Danny Boyle unexpectedly decided to release a sequel to «Trainspotting» – «T2 Trainspotting», bringing back all the original characters, played by Ewan McGregor himself, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle.
Ewan McGregor on the set of «T2 Trainspotting»
Ewan McGregor on the set of «T2 Trainspotting»

Ewan McGregor's personal life

Ewan met his future wife, French production designer Eve Mavrakis, in 1994 while filming the television series «Kavanagh QC». The couple married a year later. Ewan and Eve have three daughters together: Clara Mathilde (b. 1996), Esther Rose (b. 2001), and Anouk (b. 2011). In 2006 they adopted 4-year-old Jamian from Mongolia.
Young Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis
Young Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis
According to Zoomboola.com, the family lived in London briefly before moving to Los Angeles. However, according to Ewan, they make sure to visit his native Scotland at least once a year.
Ewan McGregor with wife
Ewan McGregor with wife
They lived happily for many years with no signs of trouble, but problems were brewing in McGregor's household. In fall 2017, paparazzi caught him leaving a restaurant with his «Fargo» co-star, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Fans were outraged – was he cheating? But it soon emerged that by the time the affair started, Ewan and Eve had been estranged for quite some time, though neither had filed for divorce. He finally filed in 2018, citing irreconcilable differences.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor on the set of «Fargo»
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor on the set of «Fargo»
"Disappointed and sad" was the only statement 51-year-old Eve provided. She said she would seek sole custody of their four children, while Ewan wanted the kids to stay with him.

After the divorce, his net worth dropped significantly and was estimated at around $20 million. Ewan has been writing novels and poems since childhood, and some of his work was even used in «Moulin Rouge!».

According to McGregor himself, he can't imagine his life without the outdoors. In 2004, together with his best friend Charley Boorman and a cameraman, he undertook an epic international motorcycle trip. They left London on April 14, 2004, and finished their journey in New York on July 29. They covered a total distance of 35,000 kilometers. They visited Central Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Canada, Alaska, and the US, with their 6-day Russian leg being the most memorable and challenging. The documentary «Long Way Round» chronicles Ewan's adventure.
Long Way Up official trailer
In 2007 the actor decided to repeat his adventure, but this time he and his crew started from John o' Groats in Scotland and finished at the Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa.

McGregor is involved in charity work and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (from 2004). He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 and has an Honorary degree from the University of Ulster (Ireland).
Ewan McGregor does a lot of charity work during his motorcycle travels
Ewan McGregor does a lot of charity work during his motorcycle travels
In April 2012 he traveled with UNICEF immunization workers to parts of Nepal, India, and the Republic of Congo for a documentary, called «Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission».

Ewan McGregor Now

In 2019, Ewan McGregor took on a major role in the film adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to one of the author's most iconic works, "The Shining," famously directed by Stanley Kubrick. He played the adult Danny Torrance, who escaped the cursed Overlook Hotel as a child. Rebecca Ferguson also appeared in the film. The premiere took place in 2020. That same year saw the premiere of "Birds of Prey," featuring McGregor in a key role.

Ewan McGregor: latest news and articles

  • I`m glad that he played in Doctor Sleep, it`s a good one.
    2021-04-24 12:35:02
  • His best role is definitely Trainspotting, in my opinion, the second half is not that good.
    2021-04-17 20:38:52
  • I like the detective movie The Ghost Writer with McGregor. I think I watched this movie already twenty times, a very cool drama!
    2021-03-05 15:25:27
  • Wow, he played in Beauty and the Beast? I didn`t see this actor in the beginning there.
    2021-03-01 09:31:31
  • Last time I saw him in Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey :) Good job
    2021-02-27 22:51:21
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