Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor, OBE is a Scottish actor. His first professional role was in 1993, when he won a leading role in the Channel 4 series Lipstick on Your Collar. He is best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting, the young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, poet Christian in the musical film Moulin Rouge!, and Dr. Alfred Jones in the romantic comedy-drama Salmon Fishing in the Yemen...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth31 March 1971
CityPerth, Scotland
I can't know what I'm going to do before I'm in front of the lens. And I think that sort of makes it exciting.
I believe that unless it's a scene where I'm alone, then of course I could do what I want but I think good acting is about what happens between people, not on your face and my face.
Everyone has to understand what we're saying to one another and there's no point in me thinking the line means this and the person I'm speaking to thinks it means something else. So there's a certain amount of analyzing of text that's of course necessary.
I think if you're going on thinking oh, I can do this with my eyes shut, then it's probably not the right thing to be doing, you know.
I think you know, to not open your mind to television is silly because there's so much good work happening on television.
Mainly I was able to perform with music - I played the French horn, I would sing, and I was a drummer in the pipe band. So I think it was a way to show off.
It's impossible to put your finger on what that is exactly other than protecting the environment that the actors get to find the scenes and build the scenes and invest in them. I think that's key and that's what I've learned from all the great directors I've worked with.
I've sort of done a play every four or five years I guess if I look back in my career. And I think that's good.
I think rehearsal can be important if it's done in a way that works. Often, rehearsal can be a waste of time.
No, no I'm not, no, but I just think... when people are naked it tells you a lot about their relationships.
I don't pay much attention to career or what other people think. I've always been quite arrogant.
I don't think having separate bathrooms is a key to a successful marriage, if you love one another.
Ultimately, you have to not worry about people thinking you should have played him differently. You're the one playing the part so it has to be yours.
I think my home is in that sort of the part of cinema that's disappeared is where I lived, that sort of mid-budget you know, drama. I suppose that's what I am known for.