ACTOR · BORN 1971
Ewan McGregor
- Born
- 31 March 1971, Perth, Scotland, UK
- Known for
- American Psycho (2000), Trainspotting (1996), Mortdecai (2015), The End of Oak Street (2026)
113 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Ewan McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is an actor best known for American Psycho, Trainspotting and Mortdecai.
Ewan McGregor over the years
113 Interesting Facts About Ewan McGregor
Interesting Facts (31)
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Early career dedicated almost exclusively to indie, low-budget, and non-feature films. When cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), an interviewer reminded him of his "aversion" to major films, and he replied "I know what I said, but, hey! This is Star Wars!".
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Both he and Harrison Ford have worked for director Ridley Scott between Star Wars films. Ford made Blade Runner (1982) after Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), but before Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). McGregor made Black Hawk Down (2001) shortly after filming Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and thus before Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Ewan McGregor: behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Paul Bird, CC BY 2.0 - #012
In June 2015, McGregor read Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" for the children's fairytales app GivingTales in aid of UNICEF, together with other British celebrities, Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Joan Collins, Joanna Lumley, Michael Caine, David Walliams, Charlotte Rampling and Paul McKenna.
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Early in his career, Ewan McGregor worked almost entirely on independent, low-budget and non-feature films. When he signed on as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), an interviewer reminded him of his "aversion" to big films, and he replied, "I know what I said, but, hey! This is Star Wars!"
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He was booked for a live interview about T2 Trainspotting (2017) on Good Morning Britain (2014) in January 2017, but pulled out less than an hour before when he found out Piers Morgan would be conducting it, Morgan having recently criticized "rabid feminists" protesting against Donald Trump.
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Production Story (16)
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He was first in line to star in The Beach (2000), which would have reunited him with director Danny Boyle and writer John Hodge, his collaborators on Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997), but the part went to Leonardo DiCaprio. Though McGregor blamed studio pressure for the decision, he didn't speak to Boyle or Hodge for years, saying in an interview that he felt betrayed and the friendship was over. They ran into each other several times in that period, most awkwardly when he, his wife and Boyle ended up in first class on the same flight and didn't say a word to each other the whole way. McGregor and Boyle finally made peace in 2009, when McGregor presented Boyle with an award for Slumdog Millionaire. Boyle has since apologized, admitting he mishandled things, and McGregor says he has changed his view of it all and moved on, and now regrets all the films they never made together.
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Behind the Scenes (15)
Characters & Cast (17)
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McGregor was the early favorite for the lead in The Beach (2000), which would have reunited him with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge after Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997), but Leonardo DiCaprio got the role. McGregor blamed the studio, yet stopped speaking to Boyle and Hodge for years, saying in an interview that he felt betrayed and the friendship was finished. They kept bumping into each other, most strangely when he, his wife and Boyle all sat in first class on the same flight without exchanging a word the entire journey. McGregor and Boyle finally made up in 2009, when McGregor presented Boyle's award for Slumdog Millionaire. Boyle has since admitted he handled it badly and apologised, and McGregor says he has changed his mind about the whole affair, moved on, and now regrets all the films they never made together.
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Easter Eggs & References (2)
Career & Awards (9)
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In his early career he stuck almost entirely to indie, low-budget and non-feature films. When he was cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), an interviewer reminded him of his "aversion" to big films, and he answered, "I know what I said, but, hey! This is Star Wars!"
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Life & Family (23)
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On his South American motorcycle trip Long Way Up (2020), Ewan revealed that one of his paternal great-grandfathers, John "Juan" Charles McIndoe, was born in Chile to Scottish parents while his father worked there building railways. John later moved to Glasgow as a diplomat and wine importer. The rest of his Scottish ancestry comes from Clan Gregor.
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On the South American motorcycle trip Long Way Up (2020), Ewan revealed that one of his paternal great-grandfathers, John "Juan" Charles McIndoe, was born in Chile to a Scottish family while his father was working there on railway construction. John later went to Glasgow as a diplomat and wine importer, and the rest of Ewan's Scottish ancestry goes back to Clan Gregor.
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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