We continue our latest series of examining some of the works outside the saga of some of our most beloved actors in a galaxy far, far away.
As we head to towards the end of this series, we continue with one of the saga’s most popular actors – Ewan McGregor.
Bio
Ewan McGregor was born in Perth, Scotland on March 31st 1971. Both of his parents were teachers, and he has an older brother, Colin, who is a former pilot in the Royal Air Force. His uncle is Denis Lawson and McGregor has five children.
Trainspotting (1996)
This devastating portrait of addiction and poverty remains one of the finest films made in the 1990s and put McGregor firmly on the map to superstardom. The film follows a group of four men in an economically deprived area of Edinburgh and follows their struggles through the life. The film was voted the greatest Scottish film of all time and ranked 10th in The Guardian’s list of the best film of the 20th century. The film has developed an intense cult following and contains one of the most harrowing and disturbing scenes ever shot on the film involving the tragic death of an infant. All the cast and its director, Danny Boyle, returned for the film’s sequel – T2: Trainspotting – which was released to critical acclaim once more in 2017.
I Love You, Phillip Morris (2009)
McGregor plays the title but supporting role of the film opposite comedy superstar Jim Carrey, who himself delivers perhaps the finest performance of his career after The Truman Show. The true story follows the events of Steven Russell (Carrey) who after a near-death experience decides it’s time to come out of the closet and embrace his gay lifestyle once and for all. Russell, however, also needs to fund his expensive taste in the finer things in life and so becomes one of America’s great conmen. In prison, he meets the sweet and tender Phillip Morris who shows him true love. The events of the story are so outlandish, but they are absolutely true and the two actors truly deliver earth-shattering performances and it remains criminal that neither Carrey nor McGregor were nominated for Oscars.
The Impossible (2012)
This film depicts the tragic and true events of a family that occurred during the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand 2004. McGregor stars opposite Naomi Watts and both deliver gut-wrenching performances as the parents who are separated from their family during that fateful day. Tom Holland makes his film debut as the family’s eldest boy and he’s truly a sight to behold for such a young actor. The film was both a critical and commercial success and once again McGregor proves to be a polished performer incapable of giving anything but his all. A scene around the halfway mark where McGregor is on the phone and breaks down crying remains one of the rawest of his filmography.
Big Fish (2003)
This wildly imaginative and beautiful-looking film stands out as a special one in McGregor’s career. Directed by Tim Burton and featuring a strong supporting cast including Danny DeVito, Steve Buscemi and Helena Boham-Carter, the film tells the fantastical story of a reconciliation between a dying father and his son. Although the film is based on a novel, Tim Burton found it to be an incredibly personal piece as his own father had died in 2000 and he had much the same relationship with him as the characters in the film. The film is much lighter than most of Burton’s efforts and McGregor’s southern accent drawl in the film is flawless. As it’s rated PG, the film can be viewed by all the family.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
This film is an adaptation of the 2013 Stephen King novel and also serves as the sequel to the classic Jack Nicholson film The Shining. McGregor plays Danny Torrence, who was the son in the original film, and is now all grown up but is plagued by alcohol addiction and his supernatural abilities. I’ve included the film here in this list as many times when McGregor has appeared at Cons, including the one I attended in Scotland in October 2022, he notes how apart from Star Wars it’s this film that people come up to him the most and comment on. The film won massive praise upon its release and McGregor’s performance was singled out and hailed as one of the best in recent years. Horror and King fans were also impressed, and the film has gone on to have a solid cult following.
Christohper Robin (2018)
I’ve included this film here as it’s nearly Christmas and the film has heart-warming feel about it. McGregor has commented how this character is the one he’d most like to return to. The film follows a grown-up Christopher Robin who has long forgotten about his friends Winne the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore and has lost himself in work-to-do and bills-to-pay. He’s also lost sight of how to truly connect with his daughter until one day a chance encounter with a honey-loving bear puts his life back into perspective and he allows his inner child to fly free once more. The film is gorgeous and beautifully done and I dare any adult not to smile as you venture into the Hundred-Acre Wood once more.
It was incredibly tough putting this list together as McGregor is one of the finest performers of his generation. Left off this list were films like Black Hawk Down, Moulin Rouge!, The Ghost Writer and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. As for television there’s Fargo season 3 and A Gentleman In Moscow which aired this year as well as McGregor’s motorcycle trips with Charley Boorman in the Long Way series, with another one coming next year. McGregor will next be seen returning to the West End in My Master Builder which opens on 17th April; tickets are on sale now.
Join us next for the final part of this series with the saga’s biggest star – Harrison Ford.
