James Andrew McAvoy, commonly known as James McAvoy, is a Scottish actor. He is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest actors and is best known for his performances in The Last King of Scotland, Atonement, Wanted, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion and the Wardrobe, and X-Men: First Class.
Essential Data
- Full Name: James Andrew McAvoy
- Stage Name: James McAvoy
- Born: April 21, 1979
- Age: 47 years old
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- Occupation: Actor
- Nationality: Scottish
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
- Ethnicity: White Scottish
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: James McAvoy Sr., Elizabeth Johnston
- Siblings: Joy McAvoy, Donald McAvoy
- Spouse: Lisa Liberati
- Children: Brendan McAvoy
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $20 million USD
Early Life and Education
James McAvoy was born on April 21, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland. He was raised by his parents, James McAvoy Sr., a builder, and Elizabeth Johnston, a psychiatric nurse.
He grew up with his sister, Joy McAvoy, and his younger half-brother, Donald McAvoy. Following his parents’ separation, he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents in Glasgow.
He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School before studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), where he graduated in 2000.
Career
James McAvoy began his acting career in the mid-1990s after making his film debut in The Near Room (1995).
He gained early recognition through television productions including Band of Brothers, Children of Dune, State of Play, and Shameless.
His international breakthrough came in The Last King of Scotland (2006), followed by his acclaimed performance in Atonement (2007), which established him as one of Britain’s leading actors.
He later achieved worldwide fame portraying Charles Xavier / Professor X in the X-Men film series, beginning with X-Men: First Class (2011).
James has starred in major productions including Wanted, Filth, Split, Atomic Blonde, Glass, It Chapter Two, His Dark Materials, and Speak No Evil.
He has also enjoyed an acclaimed stage career, winning praise for performances in productions such as Macbeth, The Ruling Class, and Cyrano de Bergerac.
His officially announced upcoming projects include Control, California Schemin’, and additional stage productions currently in development.
Awards and Nominations
- BAFTA Scotland Awards – Multiple Winner
- Empire Awards – Best Actor (Split) – Winner
- London Film Critics’ Circle Awards – British Actor of the Year – Winner
- British Independent Film Awards – Multiple nominations
- Golden Globe Awards – Nominee (Atonement)
- Laurence Olivier Awards – Nominee (Cyrano de Bergerac)
Social Media
- Instagram: @jamesmcavoyrealdeal
Personal Life
James McAvoy, 47, has been married to American production assistant Lisa Liberati since 2022. Before marrying Lisa Liberati, he was married to English actress Anne-Marie Duff from 2006 to 2016.
The former couple welcomed a son, Brendan McAvoy, in 2010 and have remained committed to co-parenting following their divorce. He stands 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
Net Worth
James McAvoy has a net worth of $20 million USD. His income is primarily generated through film and television acting, theatre performances, voice acting, endorsements, and other entertainment ventures. His successful career in Hollywood blockbusters, independent films, and stage productions has made him one of Scotland’s highest-profile actors.
Filmography
- The Near Room
- The Last King of Scotland
- Atonement
- Wanted (2008)
- The Conspirator
- X-Men: First Class
- Filth
- X-Men: Days of Future Past
- X-Men: Apocalypse
- Atomic Blonde
- Deadpool 2
- Glass
- It Chapter Two
- My Son
- Speak No Evil
- The Book of Clarence
Television
- Band of Brothers
- Children of Dune
- State of Play
- Shameless
- His Dark Materials
- The Sand Man