MovingPictures: James McAvoy Unrehearsed Page1 of3

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James McAvoyUnrehearsed

By JulieJacobs

Consideringthat James McAvoy won the first British Academy of Filmand Television Arts' Orange Rising Star Award in 2006,and was namedBreakthrough Actor of theYear by StudioMagazine/Chopard at last year's , 's a safebet that the - bornthespian is poisedto jointhe nextgeneration of leadingmen in the movies.Ever since he playeddoctor to ForestWhitake/s ldi Aminin The LastKing of Scotland,McAvoy has gained greater notoriety among filmmakers and filmgoers alike.

It'sbeen a steadyclimb for McAvoy,who graduated from the RoyalScottish Academy of Musicand Dramain 2000and then began accruinga solidroster of theater,TV andfilm roles. His first big break in the UnitedStates came with the HBOminiseries "Band of Brothers,"which he followedup withthe SciFiChannel's "Children of Dune"and such movies as TheChronicles of Narnia:The Lion, the Witchand the Wardrobe;Wimbledoni and the -producedStarter for len. Lastsummer, he wooedAnne Hathaway'sJane Austenon the bigscreen in BecomingJane, shortly after wrapping the actionthriller Wanted with and . Andnow he's starring opposite in Atonemenf,a tragiclove story adapted from the lan McEwannovel of thesame name thatmoves from the Englishcountryside just before World War ll to the Battleof Dunkirkin 1940.

MovingPictures caught up withMcAvoy during a well-neededrespite from role playing.

Moving Pictures:Growing up, you livedwith your grandparents,who instilledin you an unconventionaltake on pursuingone's dreams, JamesMcAvoy: Yah, the ideathat you can be whateveryou want to be - | thinkthat's unrealistic. But you should be allowedto try.They alwaystold me I couldtry to be whateverI wantedto be,and that's just as positive.I think that, as a result,I'm quite a realisticperson aboutmy expectationsand the future.

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MPlttt How did you get into acting? MeAvoy:[Actor/director] David Hayman came to speak to my high-schoolclass, and I foundit quiteinteresting. I hada conversationwith him afterward, and he wound up callingme for an audilionmonths later and gave me my firstjob [TheNear Room]. Then I wentto drama schoolin Glasgowior threeyears, and then did theater in Scotland.After that, I didlelevision and later film.

MPllhYou seem to have always been working. Has acting been like a ride you can't get off? McAvoy:A littlebit. But I've been ridiculously lucky. Thingsare going well. I thinkthat the annoyingthing aboutacting is your reactionto whetheryou needto restor not.You mightpanic if youdon't accept everythingthat comes along.

MPM: How would you describe your work style? McAvoy:I don'talways like to rehearse,because I generallyfind that no oneactually knows what to do withthe rehearsaltime. I liketo do a lotof takes,even if thefirst two are okay. And sometimes you haveto fightfor them.

MPlllhWhatdraws you to a project? McAvoy:First it's the quality of the script;the story is mostimportant. Then the character and whether I'm the rightperson to playit. After that,the director and then the cast.

MPfu*,You'vebeen racking up quite an impressivelist of co-stars.With whom would you still like to work? McAvoy:Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman. And I'dlike to workwith my wifeagain "Shameless" "The [Anne-MarieDuff, on Channel4's and MagdaleneSisters"]. She'sa greatactress.

MPM: Any interest in working behind the camera? McAvoy:Yah; directing. But that's down the line.

MPM: Atonementis based on lan McEwan'sbest-selling novel. Are you a big reader? McAvoy:Not ridiculouslyso, as of late.But I'veread Lord of the Rlngsthree times.from start to finish.

I hadn'tread before I screentested. When [director] phonedme up to tellme I gotthe part, he toldme to readthe bookbecause we weremaking a veryauthentic and respectful adaptation. In thiscase, I thinkit wasvery right to readit. I thinkthat, in general,it's a goodidea to readthe bookbefore adapting it to film.

Thescript was the mostamazing l've ever read, and I thoughtthat the film couldbe somethingreally special. Had I notgotten the part,I wouldhave been devastated,but I feltthat [during the screentest with Keira Knightley] we really workedat it. I feltI'd done the bestI could.

MPM: What's the greatest challenge of translating such a beloved book to the screen? McAvoy:I think living up to audienceexpectations and being able to "baftle"their imaginations.You really have to entrancepeople, so they'reable to submit themselvesto the movie.After all, you'retelling them everything:what the charactersounds like, looks like.

MPM: What was your first impression of your character, Robbie Turner? McAvoy: Well,he undergoesvery much of a positive- to-negativetransformation. He startsout a bit saintly. He'sso good,untainted, and not in any.conflictat all.

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Havingnever met anyone like that, it was a daunting prospect for me to play. But then he's destroyed physicallyand emotionally,and, as the movie progresses,he becomesmuch more recognizable, more dark, more human. His world view becomesvery open. I had neverplayed anyone like that before.

MPlfr.ln Atonement,a gesture is misconstrued and Robbie is falsely accused of a heinous act, which dramaticallyalters his life. Haveyou ever been falsely accused? McAvoy:You know,l've beenasked this question beforeand I can'tcome up withan answer.I really can'trecall. Sorry, love.

ItfPll&That's good, isn't it? McAvoy:I thinkit's f-ckinggreat!

MPM. Dadyou learn anything about yourself from playingRobbie Turner? McAvoy:Well, I hopeit mademe a betteractor. lt was a greatprofessional experience, and the scriptwas incredibleand executed very well. As for whatI've learned,I learnthings every day and notjust on thejob - that'sa hugeconversation.

MPlh How dld you prepare for the scenes set during the Battle of Dunkirk? McAvoy:We met with someveterans, which was very moving.They weren't able to tell us much,because it was too horrificfor themto relive.But that was quite tellingand an emotionaltruth that I reallyfelt. They said,"When you're making this, just knowhow terrible it was."I rememberwe hadjust shot off the beachand we all burstout in tears.

MPttftWhalwas it like having the movie open the ? McAvoy:Daunting. But it was a big honor,and the moviereceived such a good response.

MPth How do you feel about being on the red carpet? McAvoy:I'm comfortable with it. What I'm uncomfortablewith is steppingin on someoneelse's road show. The whole celebrity thing and appearingat eventsyou're not actually involved with, I havea bigproblem with that one.

lmages courtesyof Focus Features

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