Ewan McGregor

Birthday: 31 March 1971, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, UK

Birth Name: Ewan Gordon McGregor

Height: 177 cm

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 four daughters. 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.Ewan made his directorial debut with American Pastoral (2016), an adaptation of Philip Roth's book, in which Ewan also starred. Show less «

... There's many different factors in films. The script, I always believe, is the foundation of ever...Show more »

... 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. Show less «

[My fans] say, "I've seen Star Wars and Moulin Rouge! What else should we try to see you in?". I alw...Show more »

[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? Show less «

Pay attention: I recognize it can be boring to play with young children - to tell a story over and o...Show more »

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. Show less «

Movies are so draining. They pull away from the actor, but theater just fills you up. I needed my fi...Show more »

Movies are so draining. They pull away from the actor, but theater just fills you up. I needed my fix. Show less «

[on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)] Doing the second one was interesting, becau...Show more »

[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. Show less «

Nicole, Knickers, as I call her. I would swear, burp and fart in front of her. I'd try and embarrass...Show more »

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. Show less «

I go on my gut instincts. Occasionally, the thought of working for a director pricks up my ears, or ...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on his co-star Hayden Christensen] He's quite extraordinary with his moves and spins. I think he wa...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[on acting with digital characters in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)] The guy w...Show more »

[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! Show less «

I started watching golf for the first time yesterday. I'm really worried about myself. I was actuall...Show more »

I started watching golf for the first time yesterday. I'm really worried about myself. I was actually enjoying it. Show less «

I'm always interested in playing different people, in different situations. It doesn't matter to me ...Show more »

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. Show less «

Isn't Halle Berry the most beautiful woman? I have a film I'd like to be in her with. I mean, I'd li...Show more »

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. Show less «

An airport customs inspector once recognized me from Trainspotting and strip searched me looking for...Show more »

An airport customs inspector once recognized me from Trainspotting and strip searched me looking for drugs. Show less «

I've been waiting nearly twenty years to have my own lightsaber. Nothing's cooler than being a Jedi ...Show more »

I've been waiting nearly twenty years to have my own lightsaber. Nothing's cooler than being a Jedi Knight. Show less «

I've always wanted to go to Hollywood, drive big cars and be in big movies. But I hope I won't do ju...Show more »

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. Show less «

In your 20s, you spend a lot of time being self-conscious about what other people think of you. Then...Show more »

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. Show less «

I like kissing boys on screen. As a straight guy, it's quite an interesting proposition. Anything on...Show more »

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. Show less «

You know how swimming naked is such a lovely feeling? Well, being naked on set is kind of a bit like...Show more »

You know how swimming naked is such a lovely feeling? Well, being naked on set is kind of a bit like that. Show less «

When I played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, I had to transform myself into a young Alec ...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on learning how to use a gun in Black Hawk Down (2001)] Lying down from 50 feet, I was perfect. So ...Show more »

[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. Show less «

It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible...Show more »

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. Show less «

I am a married man. I haven't been personally involved with all my leading ladies. It would maybe be...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)] I'm very keen that it's a gay movie. There was quite a lot of ...Show more »

[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. Show less «

Then I watched the first episode of Star Wars over and over again. I loved it as a kid. It was a bit...Show more »

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. Show less «

My dad saw my full package in The Pillow Book (1996) and said "I'm glad to see you inherited one of ...Show more »

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.". Show less «

(On Emma (1996)) "My decision-making was wrong. It's the only time I've done that. And I learnt from...Show more »

(On Emma (1996)) "My decision-making was wrong. It's the only time I've done that. And I learnt from it, you know. So I'm glad of that - because it was early on and I learnt my lesson. It's a good film, Emma (1996), but I'm just... not very good in it. I'm not helped because I'm also wearing the world's worst wig. It's quite a laugh, checking that wig out." Show less «

I'm naked a lot of the time, and they don't try to frame planted pots in front of my dick like they ...Show more »

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. Show less «

I like George Lucas and Tim Burton because there's no messing about. No 100 takes of me walking thro...Show more »

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. Show less «

My brother is two years older than me and he was brilliant at everything, it seemed. He was captain ...Show more »

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. Show less «

Actually, I really want to play Princess Leia. Stick some big pastries on my head. Now, that would b...Show more »

Actually, I really want to play Princess Leia. Stick some big pastries on my head. Now, that would be interesting. Show less «

Acting to mid-air is odd. There's a perverse pleasure to it when you get it right, but often you don...Show more »

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. Show less «

There was talk that Disney fended off the release [of I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)] until after ...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on Moulin Rouge! (2001)] Starting with a party scene for 600 cast and end up singing on top of a gi...Show more »

[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? Show less «

It's not my job to try and alter the director's style - he's in charge, and I'll always give him my ...Show 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. Show less «

[About his falling out and reconciliation with former friend and director Danny Boyle]: I just think...Show more »

[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. Show less «

My uncle would appear back from London, where he lived in the 70s, in sheepskin waistcoats and beads...Show more »

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. Show less «

Filmmaking is like a series of problems that need to be solved. And the excitement, the adrenaline t...Show more »

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. Show less «

I fight cynicism. It's too easy. It's really boring. It's much harder to be positive and see the won...Show more »

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. Show less «

It taught me a lesson which was an actor should not say, "I won't do that." Once you've agreed the s...Show more »

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?". Show less «

[on whether he has remained friends with director Danny Boyle after getting dropped from The Beach (...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[Aussie World Weekly magazine, 2002] In real life, you don't get up with the sheet after you've had ...Show more »

[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. Show less «

The Thai perspective on the tsunami I thought was quite a healthy one. They're very straightforward ...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on rejecting the idea of a Trainspotting (1996) sequel] I wouldn't want to damage Trainspotting (19...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[on coming home to Scotland] There is some really good crack when I come back here. This is where I ...Show more »

[on coming home to Scotland] There is some really good crack when I come back here. This is where I learned to swear. Show less «

[on researching for Moulin Rouge! (2001)] I needed to go and just find out exactly what it meant to ...Show more »

[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. Show less «

...as an actor there's nothing better than a great moody moment to play with nothing to say. It's so...Show more »

...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. Show less «

I hated Clueless (1995) with a passion. I thought it would have been a really good film if someone h...Show more »

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. Show less «

People are incredibly rude about it sometimes. Like "What? You're married?" Strange reaction to have...Show more »

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. Show less «

[After a fan asks him what advice would give for a young Jedi in training] Don't be ridiculous!

I've always thought as an actor, I'm not very clever about that, not very clear on it. My choices ar...Show more »

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. Show less «

I'm not a religious person... I'm married to a Jewish woman, so my children are Jewish and my involv...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on quitting drinking] I would soon have gotten a reputation for being a drunk actor and therefore w...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[on Lo imposible (2012)] When the script first came to me, I wasn't sure about the idea. Would it be...Show more »

[on Lo imposible (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?". Show less «

[on an experience during the filming of A Life Less Ordinary (1997) in Utah] I've got a black woolen...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[on his sex appeal] I smoke a lot. I drink far too much-I don't exercise. I torture small animals.

[on his decision to quit cigarettes and alcohol] I wasn't someone who could smoke or drink in modera...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[on playing two characters in Fargo] I'm very experienced with playing with myself

From Velvet Goldmine (1998), I got fond of wearing nail polish and eye makeup. I used to wear it qui...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on Star Wars Episodes I and II] I love talking to kids about it, because they have great questions ...Show more »

[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?". Show less «

[on playing Obi-Wan Kenobi] That was my challenge - to be a young Alec Guinness. People would come u...Show more »

[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 Card (1952). God, it's a brilliant film. Show less «

I was with a friend of mine recently who was dying and while he was lying there with his family arou...Show more »

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. Show less «

I'm doing my bit for the women's movement. The women have always been naked in movies and now I'm ju...Show more »

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. Show less «

[Twist magazine] My lightsaber flew out of my hands. No one tells you the sabers have about 10 'D' b...Show more »

[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. Show less «

[Empire magazine, June 2002] He's quite the gentleman, Obi-Wan. But I don't think he'd have any prob...Show more »

[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. Show less «

I won't buy into the Hollywood thing... I want to be in good movies.

It's strange to explain off camera what you have done in this or that scene. How redundant, like an ...Show more »

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. Show less «

[on the sometimes questionable food he and Charley Boorman encountered on their Long Way Round (2004...Show more »

[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. Show less «

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor's FILMOGRAPHY

Ewan McGregor'S roles

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