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James McAvoy - A life in films04/02/2008
James McAvoy's rise to fame has been both a steep and one: the 28-year-old won the first Orange Rising Star Award in 2006 and in just a few short years has become one of Hollywood's hottest properties.
To celebrate his Bafta best leading actor nomination for his role in Atonement, we look at the Scot's career highs to date.
:: The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)
The Oscar-winning adaptation of the CS Lewis fantasy novel is the film that many credit with first bringing James into the popular conscience. His performance as the goat-legged faun Mr Tumnus in the magical land of Narnia delighted children young and old, as well as gaining him critical acclaim.
:: The Last King Of Scotland (2006)
Nicholas Garrigan, a naïve young doctor working in Uganda in the 1970s, becomes embroiled in the life of the country's magnetic but erratic leader Idi Amin.
Adapted from the Giles Foden novel, the fictional tale, set against actual events during the regime, drew fervent praise for both James as Dr Garrigan and his American co-star Forest Whitaker, whose depiction of Amin's descent into murderous paranoia earned an Oscar.
:: Starter For 10 (2006)
This romantic comedy of love and class, knowledge and sense showed James could handle humour as well as drama, with a turn as working-class university student Brian in his struggle to appear on the quiz show University Challenge.
The fact that Catherine Tate appears as Brian's mum gives you a taste for the pitch of the film, which sees Brian romantically torn between two polar opposites in beautiful, glamorous Alice and intellectual, political Rebecca in the class-conscious environment of university life.
:: Atonement (2007)
The Scottish actor starred as Robbie Turner alongside fellow Bafta nominee Keira Knightley and Oscar-nominated 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan in the visually stunning adaptation of Ian McEwan's haunting love story.
The film itself, set against a backdrop of Second World War Europe, has been nominated for prizes at various awards ceremonies and recently scooped the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama).
A British romance chronicling several decades and lives, affected by a jealous and false accusation for a rape not committed, the movie's searing, emotive plot drives powerfully towards the penitence of the title and is sure to pick up more awards.
© 2008 The Press Association Limited
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