"I just enjoy doing what I’m doing"
Having fulfilled all his ambitions, James McAvoy doesn’t care if he’s booed…
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- Kelly-Anne Taylor
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What’s the view from your sofa?
I’ve got a coffee-table-slash-footstool in front of me and a telly on the wall. There’s a desk and shelves, which are covered in family photographs.
What have you enjoyed watching on TV recently?
I actually don’t watch much at all because I’ve got kids and there’s a lot of Hey Duggee and Mr Tumble. The last thing I watched was Baby Reindeer. I’d seen Richard Gadd perform the show on stage, so seeing him bring it to the screen was really interesting. He’s a really good writer and the way he exposes his own experience is incredible.
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You grew up in Glasgow — when did you realise you wanted to be an actor? Did it feel like a viable career choice?
No – it wasn’t something that I considered until I got my first acting job. When I was 16 I got a part in a film out of nowhere; a really nice actor, director and philanthropist called David Hayman had come to my school to talk about Macbeth. I said to him at the end, “Is there any chance, next time you’re making a movie, that I can come and make tea and coffee for the week?” Six months later, he was making a film about child prostitution in Glasgow.
And did he remember to call your school?
Yes! He phoned and asked if I wanted to meet him. I thought I was there to make coffee, but he said, “Can you read the part of Kevin?” I did and then he said, “Can you read it again and feel why he’s upset? Can you cry?” I did, he gave me the part and that was me.
Do you have any inhibitions when it comes to acting?
I’m very much a product of my grandmother. She rubbed off on me in one particular way: I’ve never really cared what people think about me. I want to be a good person for my nearest and dearest, but other than that, I don’t care. It’s helped me as an actor because I’m pretty good with failure and criticism. I’d rather succeed and I’d rather people like my work, applaud and give me a standing ovation than be booed – but, if they boo… I’ll see them next time.
I just enjoy doing what I’m doing and I try to just be capable of smiling most days
You lived with your grandparents as a teenager — did they approve of your career choice?
Both of them were worried because they were very aware that most actors are out of work at any one time. So they made it clear that I’d better have a fallback. They never taught me that if I put my mind to anything, I could achieve it; they always thought it’ll probably not go your way, but you’ve got a right to try. It’s a level of pragmatism that I appreciate. It didn’t give me an inflated idea of what was going to happen.
McAvoy plays a chilling British psychopath in Speak No Evil. Universal Pictures
You’ve had a fantastic, wide-ranging career despite the pragmatism…
My goal was to pay my bills and buy a home for myself one day. I’ve been lucky to surpass my ambitions. Now, I’m ambitionless. People say there must be a role I want to play or an award I want to win – but I just enjoy doing what I’m doing and I try to just be capable of smiling most days.
Your new film, Speak No Evil, is a psychological thriller — do you enjoy horror?
Scary movies are like an ice bath – they reset your nervous system. Your stress levels are manageable because your body thinks it has nearly died.
James McAvoy in Speak No Evil. Universal
You’ve previously said that you aren’t stereotypically Hollywood-attractive. Has that worked in your favour in terms of the roles you’re offered?
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I don’t think I’m a bad looking guy – but I’m not getting hired for my looks. I’m getting hired for other qualities and I’ll take that. Today was the first time I’ve been called a character actor – rather than a leading man, or a romantic lead. I’m really happy with that.
Authors
Kelly-Anne Taylor
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