Contents
Last updated on the 16 June 2024 by Evandrus
Mini Biography
Born: 31 March 1971, Perth, Scotland.
Ewan McGregor’s passion for acting blossomed early, performing for his family and friends in his hometown of Crieff. At the age of 16, he enrolled at the Kirkcaldy Theatre Workshop, marking the beginning of his formal training. His talent and dedication propelled him to London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he developed his skills and graduated in 1992.
His professional debut came in 1993 with the British television series “Lipstick on Your Collar,” but it was his portrayal of the charismatic yet troubled drug addict Mark Renton in “Trainspotting” (1996) that catapulted him to international stardom. His versatility was further showcased in his portrayal of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005) and in his musical roles in films like “Moulin Rouge!” (2001) and “Big Fish” (2003).
Ewan McGregor’s passions extend beyond acting, as he is a talented musician and an avid motorcyclist. His contributions to film soundtracks and his solo music projects reveal another facet of his creative expression.
In recognition of his contributions to drama and charity, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013. His philanthropic endeavors include supporting the Scottish Youth Theatre and Oxfam.
McGregor’s first marriage to French production designer Eve Mavrakis produced two daughters and in 2022 he married actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, with whom he has a son.
Suggested viewing
Brassed Off (1996)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2
In a fading mining town, a beloved brass band faces extinction along with the coal mine that’s their heart. A conflicted inspector, returning home to assess the pit’s closure, rekindles old flames while the band struggles to keep the music alive, their final act a shot at glory at a national competition.
Top cast: Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor, Stephen Tompkinson, Jim Carter, Philip Jackson, Peter Martin, Sue Johnston, Mary Healey.
A Gentleman in Moscow (2024)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.7
“A Gentleman in Moscow” follows the story of an aristocratic Russian man who is placed under house arrest in a luxury hotel in Moscow by the Bolsheviks. Despite his confined circumstances, he finds meaning and purpose in his daily interactions with the hotel staff and guests. Over the years, he forms deep connections and witnesses the changing political landscape of Russia.
Top cast: Ewan Mcgregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Fehinti Balogun, Jonny Harris, Alexa Goodall, Marcus Hodson.
Shallow Grave (1994)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.3
Three friends seeking a new roommate in a plush Edinburgh flat find themselves entangled in a dark web of murder and greed after their new housemate dies, leaving behind a suitcase filled with cash. Their initial decision to cover up the crime and divide the loot spirals into a descent into paranoia and suspicion as their friendship crumbles under the weight of their shared secret.
Top cast: Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, Ewan McGregor, Ken Stott, Keith Allen, Colin McCredie, Peter Mullans, Gary Lewis, Frances Low.
Trainspotting (1996)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.6
In Danny Boyle’s darkly comic and groundbreaking film, Mark Renton and his group of friends navigate the gritty underbelly of Edinburgh, Scotland, while grappling with drug addiction, poverty and existential questions. Their lives are a whirlwind of chaotic escapades, moments of camaraderie and the harsh realities of their choices.
Top cast: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, Peter Mullans, James Cosmo, Eileen Nicholas.
Christopher Robin (2018)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 7.2
A live-action/CGI film based on the characters from A. A. Milne’s children’s books. The film follows Christopher Robin, now an adult working as an efficiency expert at a luggage company, who is reunited with his childhood friends Winnie-the-Pooh and the other residents of the Hundred Acre Wood. When Pooh and his friends come to London to find Christopher, they help him to rediscover the joy of life and the importance of imagination.
Top cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Jim Cummings, Brad Garrett, Sophie Okonedo, Toby Jones, Nick Mohammed, Peter Capaldi.
Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.9
In 1984, journalist Arthur Stuart investigates the life and career of Brian Slade, a glam rock singer who faked his own death in the early 1970s. Through interviews with Slade’s friends and acquaintances, Stuart pieces together the singer’s meteoric rise to fame, his flamboyant performances and controversial persona, and his ultimate self-destruction. As Stuart delves deeper into Slade’s story, he uncovers the dark underbelly of the glam rock scene, a world of excess, drugs and betrayal.
Top cast: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Toni Colette, Christian Bale, Eddie Izzard, Emily Woof, Michael Feast, Janet McTeer, Mairead McKinley.
T2 Trainspotting (2017)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.2
“Trainspotting 2” revisits the lives of the characters from the original film after two decades. The story follows their struggles with addiction, friendships and past mistakes as they navigate middle age. The group reunites in Edinburgh, where they confront the consequences of their reckless youth while contending with the complexities of adulthood.
Top cast: Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Anjela Nedyalkova, Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson, Irvine Welsh, James Cosmo.