James McAvoy interview last Sunday. First Class Man - Elle Girl magazine interview with James McAvoy. — It was easy on the set with Danny Boyle

— How did you end up in this project, where did it all begin?

— I was at Comic-Con in San Diego, we presented the new X-Men there, there were some events all day, press conferences, interviews, and in the evening we all went to a party together, where I was very got drunk. It so happened that director M. Night Shyamalan was also at this party. And at some point I walked past him - drunk and bald. And he thought:

"Exactly what is needed! That’s exactly the kind of guy I’m looking for—a drunk skinhead.”

That's how I got the role (laughs). Then I read the script and saw that it was really unusual and original. Besides, I wanted to work with Knight, I like what he does and how he does it - in this case, I like the atmosphere and the mood that he created even in the script itself. And, of course, the character himself.

This is a real challenge for an actor; such a hero will definitely be interesting for the viewer to watch. And I thought that the movie could be truly entertaining - not only frightening and shocking, but also funny in a way.

— How was it working with M. Night Shyamalan?

— This is probably the most prepared director of all with whom I have ever worked. He always knows exactly what he wants, what result he wants to achieve. He is not only confident in his script and in every written line and phrase spoken from the screen, but in every frame - there is an exact idea of ​​​​how everything should look.

I can compare it with working on other films: very often something doesn’t go according to plan on set, something unexpected happens, the director can change his mind and make changes to the script or the course of filming because he suddenly saw a very beautiful sunset. Knight is completely different - if he has something planned, he will do everything exactly as he originally intended.

I understand that this sounds a little strange, like some kind of limitation, a framework that should, in theory, interfere with the process. But in fact, no - on the contrary, it’s wonderful:

his vision of the future film is conscious, he comes to the set with a ready-made, detailed and thoughtful plan in his head,

and not just staggering around, wondering how best to remove everything. Working with someone whose wild imagination is backed by technical skills and the ability to bring his own ideas to life is amazing.

- Your character is a person within whom several personalities coexist - this is truly an acting feat. How did you prepare? Have you read any specialized literature?

- No, I didn’t do anything special or special, I didn’t read any books - I simply didn’t have time for that.

There are two dozen personalities inside my character, I play nine on screen, and I worked on each of them separately.

The most important thing was to make sure that they really turned out different, so that the viewer could separate one personality from another and feel this boundary - this was the main difficulty and the main goal of all my preparation as an actor for this role and work on it.

— Did you come up with some kind of behind-the-scenes story for each of the personalities?

“I was thinking about how they appeared and why their existence is so necessary for the host, Kevin. For example, one of them, Dennis, during the course of the film he himself says at what moment he was “born” and why he was needed. As for Patricia, she appeared when Kevin was about 12 years old and he was in search of faith and in search of some kind of authority, a higher power. And Patricia - I see her as very pious - became the answer to this unasked question and request.

Her piety, holiness, even taking into account the fact that over time she switched to the dark (one might say, anti-Christian) side, remained something indestructible and significant for Kevin. Hedwig, it seems to me, appeared to save Kevin from punishment, or rather to take his place when the boy was punished. That is why he is so angry and nasty, despite his young age.

—Which character is your favorite?

- I like Barry. And Dennis - there's something so sad about him that makes me like him.

— Which of them was the most difficult to play?

- Of course, the Beast. Because he is more than human, and that's what was the hardest to work on.

- Physically or psychologically?

- Well, I would say it’s difficult as an actor.

We had to find a way to show his animal side without having to get up on all fours, for example.

And this is a real challenge and test. Because in this case, it would be very easy to overdo the character's voice or portray him as too bigoted, but it would also be easy to underdo it, and then the Beast would turn into an ordinary guy. Preserving and maintaining this balance was the most difficult thing.

— “Split” has a lot in common with the real story of Billy Milligan, described in the documentary novels by Daniel Keyes.

“In fact, many years ago I was in negotiations for the role of Billy Milligan. So it turned out very strange that I ended up playing such a character. I read a book about Milligan - an incredible story. But as for the plot of “Split”, here, of course, everything is a little different, it is not particularly realistic - rather even fantastic. Comparable to a classic comic book, where what is seen by others as a problem, a weakness, even an illness of the hero, becomes the source of his superpowers - that’s exactly what we did with Kevin. We turned his state of mind, his problem, into his strength.

- How would you define the genre of the film in this case - is it a fantastic action, thriller, social drama?

- I think it's a thriller. Thriller with horror elements. And he's funny! But in general, as is the case with any film as unique and original, the genre is quite difficult to define. A bit of everything.

- This is not the first time you have played a character with psychological problems - before that there were “Trans”, and “Mud”, and “”, and, of course, Charles Xavier in “X-Men”. Did such a wealth of experience somehow help in working on this film?

- I think, yes. (laughs). Wow, it turns out that for many years I have been playing people who have problems with their heads... But this is very interesting to me as an actor.

To portray someone on screen who fights for the right to be himself and therefore turns into someone else.

The most exciting thing is to play this moment of change - be it a change in a relationship or in the world around us. In a word, everything that fundamentally affects the entire course of screen history turns the plot upside down. And this, in a sense, unites all these characters that I have played over the past few years - internal changes that happen to them right before our eyes and which the characters themselves are not even aware of at first.

The audience sees this, but the characters do not. And this movement is interesting for the audience to watch, it is interesting for the actor to play it - for me it’s a real pleasure. And the role in “Split” attracted me for this reason.

— In “Split,” your hero has a lot of close-ups—how technically did this complicate the work? After all, you not only had to play several characters at once, but also interact with the camera.

- No difficulties - I love the camera. For me, she becomes a spectator. The physical proximity of the camera - I don’t mean exclusively close-ups, just its presence - on the contrary, makes my task easier in some ways, I can literally see my viewer.

It's fun, I love moving with the camera, I love it when it moves behind me. I'm not one of those actors who pretends that all this is real and is actually happening. I never forget that there are cameras and other equipment around.

But when films with his participation began to be released one after another: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “Penelope,” “Jane Austen,” everything immediately changed. “Ah, Scotsman! - they now exclaim. - With an accent? Very interesting!" From an up-and-coming British actor, James has turned into a big star - he was cast as the young Professor Xavier in the X-Men franchise, and he also plays in Oscar-winner Danny Boyle's new film, Trance.

“Trust me, I'm not as attractive as you think,” James says. “When I first started auditioning, there was nothing more difficult for me than getting the director to look up and at least pay attention to me.” He really seems like a terribly shy person, even despite the stupid dark red beard (it was supposed to give him some authority) that he grew for the role of King Macbeth at the Trafalgar Theater Studio in London.

— After the theater scene, how do you feel on the set? Perhaps the movie seems like something frivolous?

- No, I love cinema. And the only difference between a stage and a set is that you are telling a story not to the viewer, but to the camera. Yes, there are hundreds of people behind it, but you may never see a real spectator. Theater and literature are thousands and thousands of years old, but cinema is only about a hundred. What prospects! It seems to me that cinema, being a young art, is much more interesting. Because where all this will go is still unknown...

- So far it is moving towards numerous continuations of well-known stories, and I can’t say that this is inspiring...

—Are you talking about the X-Men? Yes, I'm currently filming the second prequel film. And if it is well received by the audience, then there will be more films. I don’t see anything wrong with this, filmmaking is a very expensive process, and no one wants to throw money down the drain.

Despite the bandaged hand - “Nonsense. I pulled a muscle a couple of days ago on stage and also broke my finger!” James is cheerful and cheerful, easily answers questions and there is not a shadow of arrogance or stardom in his manner of speaking. It's McAvoy's conscious choice not to be a star.

And why should he be a star? He was born in Glasgow and his parents divorced when he was seven. He has not seen his father since then and is not eager to communicate with him, although he made a couple of attempts, however, after James became famous. Mother worked as a nurse. James's grandfather was a butcher, and his grandmother washed floors in rich houses, worked in a cookie factory and even drove a truck. James attended Catholic school and at one time dreamed of becoming a missionary. When he turned 16, actor David Heyman came to school to meet the students. And this meeting, as often happens, changed the young man’s plans. At the end of it, James approached Heyman and said that he was ready to play any small role, just let him be taken to the movies. And he just needed teenagers for his new TV project... Soon the modest guy from the outskirts of Glasgow found himself at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Before this, however, he managed to work at a local supermarket as a pastry chef - he filled buns with whipped cream and jam and thought about the future.

— Your character in Danny Boyle’s “Trance”—the man who stole a Goya painting—only realizes who he really is towards the end. When did you realize what kind of person you are?

— In the film, all three heroes (played by Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson and James McAvoy. — TN note) are trying to become themselves. And in this search they sometimes act cruelly. Gradually the film becomes dark and scary, and my hero turns from a kind, smiling guy into a rather unpleasant guy. It was incredibly interesting to play.

And I myself, perhaps, am not yet ready to say that I have defined myself as a person. I'm getting older and constantly changing, just like everyone around me. I can say that over the past two years my professional life has become much easier and requires less effort. But now the need to hide your private life from others takes more strength. Although I cannot say that they do not allow me passage on the street, the need to hide has arisen.

James' wife, actress Anne-Marie Duff, nine years his senior, is Irish but born and raised in London. James met her exactly when he needed it. Even though his career seemed to be going well, he felt like a failure. The actor seriously blamed fate for allowing him to get into the Drama Academy, but not giving him more talent. And so, on the set of the series “Shameless,” he spent his evenings in a rented apartment in the not very cheerful city of Great Britain - Manchester, drank a lot and this, of course, did not feel any more cheerful. His co-star in the series was Anne-Mary. She put everything in its place in his life.

For the British tabloids it was the most exciting romance. And being chased by the paparazzi taught McAvoy a lot. We know that James and Anne-Marie got married in 2006 and that they had a son named Brendan in 2010. But no one really knows the exact date of his birth, because Anne-Mary hid her pregnancy, and it became known that the couple had a baby only after a random passer-by photographed her while walking with a stroller.

- Why are you hiding? Don't want to see your photos in the tabloids?

— When I started, I thought that in an interview I should tell some interesting things about myself. He chatted about his childhood, how he tried drugs and other nonsense. But after a while I felt that I was losing the right to my own life. I share my problems or joys with friends, but what is the point of doing this if they have already read everything in the morning newspaper?

“I still have several friends from my school days. And I can call them at any time.

— Have you often had to cry into your friends’ vest?

- More likely no than yes. But, for example, on the set I can cry very easily when the role requires it. And this is strange - because I can’t call my own life unhappy. On the contrary, I am a lucky guy!

And indeed it is. Since he entered the academy, he has hardly been left without work. He acted and played in different theaters, and his ability to be everywhere at the same time played a role: James was soon known throughout the UK, and in 2006 he received the BAFTA British Film Academy prize in the Rising Star category.

— When talking about you, I will definitely mention that you are a Scot. Doesn’t that confuse you?

- At least I myself never stick out that, they say, look at me, I’m a Scotsman! But on the other hand, there are only 5 million of us, so it won’t be any worse if the world, where 6 billion live, learns about the existence of such a small nation. Moreover, the Scots have always been homebodies and still do not like traveling. But we smile a lot.

— Now everything has worked out well for you: you are playing in a London theater, which means you don’t have to travel around the world and part with your family, right?

“It’s really great to come home every evening after the performance.” But now I have to constantly fly to Canada, where X-Men is being filmed. No, it’s cool there, but it’s a bit far. I travel all the time, and now even the most exotic places and countries seem bland and boring to me. A real vacation for me is staying at home all the time!

— You’re probably really tired of running back and forth like that, and then going on stage?

- Tired, yes. But this is a pleasant tiredness, it’s generally pleasant to get tired of the stage, and it’s worth it. Although today, by the way, I slept well - I fell asleep for more than ten hours!

Surprisingly, when you work your hardest, you get nothing. But when you are open, feel light, you find that you have an extra ten percent of strength.

— Was it easy on the set with Danny Boyle?

- Rather, it was fast, very fast. We filmed for 11 weeks, almost every day - a tight schedule. Moreover, the same scene was filmed several times, because, depending on which of the characters was talking about it, it was presented in the film from a new angle. So sometimes I felt like I was in three films at once. It was great to think that we were all in the crazy world of Danny Boyle, and he is a big film enthusiast.

— “Trance” is also a picture about obsession. Can you say you are obsessed with someone or something?

- Don't think. Although my wife would argue with me about this. Okay, I admit it: I'm a fetishist. For example, I won’t give anyone my favorite chair, which is in our kitchen at home.

- Okay, what about greed and gambling? Are you familiar with them, like your hero?

— Not especially, because I always feel very strapped for money. Not in the sense that I'm saving money. I mean, I don't like to spend on nonsense. Although I don’t deny myself good food, for example.

But I definitely will never spend an amount that I can’t easily part with. And so far in my life I have never fallen into debt or exceeded my financial capabilities.

In general, don’t listen to me, this is nonsense. What do we, actors, do when we have played a role? We tell ourselves: no, this is not about me, I would never do that. But who knows how our lives will turn out? And it is quite possible that you will find yourself in the same situation that you completely denied a few years ago!

“In the end, all the heroes of the film, it turns out, were driven only by greed. Do you think this is true about human nature?

- This statement of yours about heroes is debatable. Yes, each of us has greed and selfishness. But I don’t think that we are all constantly driven only by base instincts. Sometimes it turns out that you simply cannot do otherwise. And I sincerely believe that we do good deeds not because it is convenient for us, but because we want the other person to be happy.

As for me, I think that my instinct of generosity is rather poorly developed...

- Well, doesn’t family force a person to take care of others, especially children?

- Right. But on the other hand, on the contrary, family makes us even more selfish. Yes, your loved ones make you feel the joy of life, but they also deprive you of life outside your family. You are always collected, you always remember that you need to go home to your children, that they are waiting for you.

Your home existence becomes much more important than anything else. And you are forced to sacrifice communication with other people.

Although, in fact, I am quite happy with this situation for now.

Full name: James Andrew McAvoy

Family: wife - Anne-Mary Duff (42 years old), actress; son - Brendan (2 years old)

Education: Graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Career: starred in more than 30 films and TV series, including: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, “Jane Austen”, “Atonement”, “Wanted”, “X-Men: First Class”, “Trans” and etc.

Why did you decide to play the role of Simon in Trance?
Primarily because of Danny Boyle. Even before I opened the script, I was already ready to star in this film. And when I read it, it became absolutely clear that the role was created for me. This makes saying “yes” even easier. In general, I always decide whether to act in a film or not based on the script and the character I have to play. Perhaps that is why I have worked with many first-time directors.

Photos from the set of the film "Trans"

Danny Boyle always goes above and beyond. He is versatile in everything he does and manages to constantly surprise audiences - I was happy to work with him.

Did Danny help you with advice?
I agreed with Danny on many points - that sometimes it is important to have a mysterious performance, but in general, most people pay to see struggle, blood, tears and agony in the movies. And in order to portray these emotions, you need to play! And that's what Danny calls great acting, and I agree with him. You need to do something. Sometimes, of course, it is better to do nothing, but I am sure that in most cases an actor needs to give his best.

Were there any scenes in the film that were difficult for you to film, physically or emotionally?
I have a hard time with nude scenes. In general, I am not embarrassed to undress in front of the film crew. I feel comfortable on set in any situation. Whatever they did to me in the movies: they beat me, tortured me, hit me and all that, but none of this bothered me. But that was before the movie “Trance” - this time it bothered me. I had four full days of filming where I was tortured with enviable regularity, and after two days my self-esteem had dropped to the lowest point. Even my wife was worried and didn’t understand what was happening to me. And I felt terrible. I think it was due to torture.

Still from the film "Trans"

How long did this effect last?
For about a week. I didn't want to go to work. When I played, I felt fine; it was the preparation process that was not easy. I played a character who was a victim of not only physical but also psychological abuse. At times I lost control of the character as Simon didn't really realize who he was half the time.

What makes Danny Boyle different from other directors?
I've worked with a lot of directors and they're all different. Danny has several distinctive character traits - his energy, enthusiasm and ability to communicate his thoughts and feelings to the cast and crew, even when he is very tired. And, interestingly, it seems to me that his hair is constantly growing! I wouldn't be surprised if he uses them as an antenna to transmit his thoughts to the actors. (Laughs.)

Were you hypnotized in preparation for filming?
I really wanted to be hypnotized, which we did several times in preparation for filming, but for some reason nothing happened.

If you wanted to steal a painting, what would you steal?
Reproductions suit me just fine. I am sure that paintings should be kept in museums. I don’t understand why some of the masterpieces can only be seen by a narrow circle of people; in my opinion, this is extremely unfair. Works of art should be accessible to everyone.

Did you enjoy working with Vincent Cassel?
He is cool. He is a very interesting and pleasant conversationalist. In addition, like me, he takes everything he does very seriously. It was a pleasure working with him and Rosario.

Do you plan to try yourself as a director one day?
Yes, I hope it will work out somehow. I don’t know what exactly I would like to film, but I definitely want to try myself in this role. On the other hand, I feel very comfortable as an actor, so I don’t want to go too far into directing anytime soon. Perhaps in a couple of years something will change. I really want to shoot. I see so many people who do it poorly, but sooner or later life always brings me together with directors like Danny Boyle and they inspire me.

Why do you want to get into directing?
When I act, I try to look at everything through the eyes of the director. I'm focused on the audience and what the audience wants. I keep an eye on what effect my performance will have on the audience. I'm not bringing other actors into this in any way, but if I were the director, I would definitely communicate to the team what we need to do for the audience. I care about the audience and the story we tell them.

Recently, a new film by British director Danny Boyle, “Trans,” was released on Russian screens, which brings together cinema stars from different countries. James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson and the maestro himself, Danny Boyle, came to London to present the film to the public. Before the premiere, the creators of “ Trance” met with KinoPoisk and talked about how they worked together, how they learned to enter a trance and much more.
The Scottish actor was the first to arrive for an interview. James McAvoy, who played the main character.
Speaking about James, it is difficult to emphasize one quality that is out of the ordinary. James McAvoy- the owner of great acting talent, giving the impression of a very hardworking person who every now and then radiates an unearthly charm. When answering questions, James takes his time with an answer, he looks dreamily at the ceiling, after which he makes eye contact and looks at you with his bottomless blue eyes, without blinking. You can read the idea in them, which he expresses slowly, with a pronounced Scottish accent, which at first makes it difficult to understand. Speaks James McAvoy calmly, but in his voice there is a lively, passionate attitude towards cinema, towards family, towards career.

Lisa Chalenko: What does it mean to you to get a role in a film? Danny Boyle?

James McAvoy: Much. I literally prayed to get a role in his film. Of course, when I was approved, I was happy. You know, when I just started acting, or even before that, I watched “Shallow Grave”, “Trainspotting”... I was in school at the time and could not even imagine that I would ever become part of a story or even stories of this strange author. Then I started acting and thought that I was already quite lucky, because I generally have the opportunity to act, film somewhere, without even dreaming of such a role. Directors like Danny Boyle, there are very few in the world! Well, maybe the only person comparable to him is Ang Lee. I will not list twenty other directors, although I love them very much. Every movie Danny very different from the previous one and has its own character. He always has different music, aesthetics, different cities, people that are described in the film. Distinctive features of all films Danny is uncompromising, challenging and exciting storytelling. The chance to be a part of all this is quite rare. In addition, it’s nice to know that you are working with a professional, with a person who creates a high-quality, exciting show. I'm just incredibly lucky.

Champions League: Your character is revealed gradually as the film progresses. The viewer constantly learns something new about the hero. How do you manage to create such a harmonious character, while continuing to constantly surprise the audience?

DM: It wasn't easy. I always give due attention to acting and storytelling. And I constantly look after myself during the game. I'm trying not to be just a clown in front of the camera. The game is addictive, but you need to be in touch with the director all the time. Editors can create real miracles, especially with their hands Danny Boyle. But I think he is both a nightmare and a dream for them. So yes, you're constantly trying to predict how the film will be edited, to imagine how the audience will see it, and therefore influence your acting. But, at the same time, you must plant seeds in the viewer’s mind that, when they open, will grow with the help of the viewer’s imagination and give a holistic perception of the character himself. The dramatic development and metamorphosis of a character, all his actions must be determined by his characteristics, character, so that the viewer does not say after watching: “Well, that was done just for the sake of effect.”

Champions League: It is known that you allegedly lost consciousness during the filming of a torture sequence in the film “The Last King of Scotland.” What was it like filming the torture scenes in the current film?

DM: In this case, it was not so much physically difficult, but simply very strange. I've already experienced countless violent scenes in my acting career, in which I was subjected to severe physical abuse, even covered in blood, other characters hitting me... But this scene was strangely more emotionally draining. After 3-4 days of filming this scene, at some point I didn’t want to go to work! This happened to me for the first time in my life! And I think it's because that scene had already gone through me and I started to really feel like a victim.

Champions League: Yes, it’s quite difficult, because there is also a personal life that you have to combine with filming. But you once said that you are used to such challenges, and also that you really want to climb Everest and Kilimanjaro...

DM: No, I never managed to do this. My biggest achievement in terms of physical activity is getting up at 6 am with my child.

Champions League: Rosario Dawson said that she was put into a trance on the set. How susceptible are you to hypnosis? What do you think about the theory of hypnotization?

DM: I believe in hypnosis, but it doesn't work for me. But I believe that there is strength in it. The same as, for example, with the placebo effect, which for many is a very powerful medicine. I believe that you can reach your subconscious in any way. And I myself managed to get into my subconscious and achieve some results by communicating with it.

Champions League: I want to ask about your new film, “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.” How was it filmed? Are these two separate films? Or are these two episodes that need to be watched one after the other?

DM: I don't yet know exactly how they will be shown. Rather, they are two separate stories, one told from a man's point of view and the other from a woman's point of view. “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” is a story about how we perceive events and things differently. You can watch one movie and not watch another.

Champions League: So all the scenes were filmed twice?

DM: Yes. And these are not just the same scenes filmed from different angles. The plots themselves are slightly different.

Champions League: Your motivation for filming and acting, as you said earlier, was, first of all, travel. Is this still the case?

DM: The main reason I wanted to become an actor was work and income. Well, of course, I wanted to do something interesting. But since we are talking about travel, now it has lost its former appeal for me, because the older I get, the more time I want to spend at home. The older you get, the closer you want to be to your roots, to your family. But yes, I love traveling, of course. I will soon have to go to Montreal to film the new X-Men. Eh. It would be better if they were filmed entirely in London.

Champions League: Can you tell us anything about this film yet?

DM: I don’t yet know what information has already been published and what I can talk about. I can say for sure that it will take place in the 70s, and the film will turn out great.

Champions League: And your whole team returns to the film again" X-Men«?

DM: Yes, all of us - me, Michael, Nick and Jennifer.

Champions League: Your wife is also an actress. You probably find it difficult to balance between your career and children. Maybe you work in turns?

DM: We can't work at the same time, so we have to change.

Champions League: You have such a busy schedule. You are also playing in the theater now. How is the stage different from the cinema? What do you take from film and bring to the stage, and vice versa?

DM: What attracts me to theater is the ability to tell a story from start to finish without stopping. And the opportunity to try something different. Well, let's say, one evening, we stage one play and see that the audience doesn't like it. Or tomorrow we install another one and understand that this is a success. Theater is interactive, it is an immediate response from the viewer. And with a film, you can never predict what impression it will make on the viewer, so you have to rely only on a group of very talented people, on your team, on your director. Plus, after you do your job, there are a colossal number of people working on the film. And you only have to hope that all these processes and operations will not spoil the film as a whole or some parts of it, but, on the contrary, will only improve it. I'm talking about sound, color, special effects. Basically, what I'm saying is that in the process of making a film, there are a lot of things that are in other people's hands, while on stage it's just you and the audience. There's no damn director around. I don't want to offend anyone, but it's just a form of representation. No director, no sound designer, no cameraman... There are only actors, the play and the audience. It's so simple, so pure, so I perceive the scene as a real antidote. Compared to a film, during the filming of which you need to communicate with thousands of people, put up with all this bureaucracy, go through all the stages of a documentary nightmare, a theatrical performance is simply paradise.

Champions League: Movie " Trance” turned out as you expected?

DM: Well, I can't say that I knew which one it was. Danny Boyle it will turn out to be a movie. But I suspected that there would be something sophisticated, cruel, testing. This happens with all films - you never know what it will be like, even after reading the script. Then the time comes for editing, something is sure to change... For example, in “ Trance” the script was not as bloody and violent as Danny ended up making it. Needless to say, everything came together here: a twisted plot and... the director’s unique approach.

Champions League: What is it like to act in films that, even though they take place in reality, rely heavily on technology, like X-Men?

DM: Cool! I was lucky with " X-Men“Because I don’t have to do most of the scenes with endless stunts. A " Trance” is pure entertainment, but at the same time, it is a film about human nature. And in this they are with the film “ X-Men" similar. Only in the latter we are talking about the nature of mutants.
***
James is about to leave, when suddenly I notice a cast on his arm, which was not visible under the table.
Champions League: “What did you do to yourself?”

DM: He was injured while preparing for the performance. Macbeth».

Champions League: What happened?

DM: These were difficult, exhausting rehearsals. Every night something unexpected happened. One of those nights, my elbow landed on a metal pin that was somewhere it shouldn't have been. (Sighs with regret)
Come on, everything will pass!
Thanks for the interview! Good luck!

***

What is your role? James McAvoy likes more than anything? Maybe just his role as Simon in the film " Trance"? Feel free to share your impressions!

James McAvoy, who plays the young Professor X in X-Men: First Class, is not a big fan of giving interviews. And in general he is a closed person. But we still took a chance and made an appointment with the guy. And this taciturn and serious young man - Oh, miracle! – agreed!
James, tell us what it’s like to play in the legendary X-Men?
Yes great! We had a lot of fun on set!
No stress at all?
What was annoying was that all the other characters were bouncing off walls, shooting beams of light straight out of their chests, doing crazy things and making things fly in the air. And my Charles (the future Professor X) simply put his finger to his forehead with a smart look, and that’s all.
Perhaps you had to use all your skills?
Something like this. But my hero required less computer special effects, stunt work and other fuss. That is, I had more time to sleep and to do all sorts of things: I didn’t have to hang out on the set for hours, wrapped in sensors for special effects. True, I was still a little jealous of other characters using their superpowers, I looked at them and thought: “This is cool!”
You yourself probably adored films about superheroes since childhood?
As a child, my friends and I watched a cartoon about the X-Men. Among us, ordinary boys from working-class neighborhoods, this was a popular topic. But in fact, I have always liked films about living people. When I was a child, they made very cool films about teenagers. Not like now - with stupid sickening jokes. These were stories about teenagers trying to “fit” themselves into this world. A very relevant topic at all times.
How did you integrate yourself into the world around you? Have you been heading towards becoming an actor since childhood?
Nope. I wanted to go into the Navy first. And I was also thinking about a career as a priest, can you imagine?
Wow! An extraordinary choice!
Yes, it’s just that both of these professions, as it seemed to me then, could help hide from the terrible reality, like committing such a downshift...
What was terrible in your reality?
School years, all these teenage complexes, throwing. I was quite uptight, such a person in a case. I didn’t think about any acting then, I didn’t go to theater studios. True, we had 2 teachers who eventually pulled me out of my shell. Under their leadership, we created bands and played at school concerts, which allowed us to be meaningful, bold and daring. If not for this, I would not have become an actor.
You grew up in a fairly simple environment, right? From the working class, you might say?
That is how it is. We lived in Glasgow, in a poor area, so I had seen enough of all kinds of cruelty. But my personal life was normal, my grandparents and mother treated me very well. I can even say that I was a happy child. True, I didn’t have any independence until I was 16, but maybe that’s for the better? There were a lot of bad companies in my area; teenagers always got into trouble. So I was even lucky that I was not left to my own devices.
You don't mention your father at all...
What can I say about a person I haven’t seen since I was 7 years old? I have nothing to say about him.
You say you grew up in a poor area. But where did the money come from to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama?
He made his own money, of course. I worked part-time at the Sainbury’s bakery during the morning shift, was a pastry chef trainee, you know, making all sorts of beautiful things - pouring glaze on cakes, filling buns with jam... And then, after work, I ran to classes at 8 am.
And your hard work has paid off! Soon you became the star of the youth series “Shameless”...
Yes, but that was much later, in 2004-2005 already. Those were bad times, to be honest.
Come on? Why?
I was then actively searching for myself; it seemed to me that I had cheated by going into cinema. That I'm not an actor. I used to generally perceive all events in life in a negative light, I was very bothered and reflected. But then I suddenly thought: what the hell? I love what I do! We must go forward!
The road to fame wasn't all that smooth, right?
Yes, but I personally am glad that I had a slow and long climb up the career ladder, I had time to test acting. This gave me time to study - I started with small roles, then continued with medium ones, then a huge number of character roles and not a single main one. And then - filming “Atonement” with Keira Knightley. This was my first leading role and immediately in such a grandiose project.
You were even nominated for a Golden Globe for “Atonement”?
Oh yes, it was incredible! Enchanting! If you had told me this when I was at drama school, I would have fainted.
You and your partners in your on-screen love stories are lucky: Keira Knightley in “Atonement”, Angelina Jolie in “Wanted”...
Yeah, but you know how difficult it was! They are considered the most beautiful women in the world, and me? I don't think they cast an ugliness spell on me or anything like that, I'm a pretty decent guy, but obviously not a sex symbol. In general, I was wildly worried when I found out that I had to work with such gorgeous girls.
Do you really have complexes about your own appearance?
Otherwise! I hate my freckles, for example.
Have any other Hollywood actors left you speechless?
Tom Hanks amazed me. I met him for the first time in 2000. He asked me something like “So, how are you spending your time?” And I said to him: “Okay. By the way, I think that you played great in “Joe vs. Vulcan,” because I really love this film, it’s actually one of my favorites since childhood.” In general, he was talking some nonsense.
And what did Tom answer?
Well, he realized that the young actor was just getting excited and said: “Hey, kid, stop, relax, everything is fine.” He is very cool, completely without the pathos that is attributed to all Hollywood actors.
And debunk some myth about actors.
Please! I can even do a few! Firstly, we are not paid exorbitant sums for our work, then we do not use drugs and do not have sex all the time. And not everything is always good with us, and we are not 100% confident in ourselves. Never at all.
Well, do you know how to cry on command? Or is this also a myth?
I personally can. There were a couple of times when it didn’t work out, but it usually happened at the end of a long day of shooting, when I had already cried 100 times. And you’re always welcome - crying with half a kick is not a problem for me at all.