ACTOR · BORN 1971
Ewan McGregor
- Born
- 31 March 1971, Perth, Scotland, UK
- Known for
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
96 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
48 Interesting Facts About Ewan McGregor
- #002
Ewan McGregor and Jude Law are former roommates. They are still close friends.
- #003
In the early years of his career, Ewan McGregor worked almost exclusively on independent, low-budget and non-feature films. When he took on the role of 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!"
- #004
Ewan McGregor did his own singing for Moulin Rouge (2001).
- #012
In 2004, Ewan McGregor completed a 'Long Way Round' trip, riding a motorcycle from London to New York via Europe, Mongolia, Russia, Alaska and Canada over 115 days.
- #014
Ewan McGregor refused to let his then-wife and children visit him on the set of Black Hawk Down (2001) because he thought the content was too violent and bloody for them to see.
- #015
To prepare for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) and to ensure the accuracy of everything from his accent to the pace of his lines, Ewan McGregor studied Sir Alec Guinness's films.
- #018
Two moles of Ewan McGregor's — one just below his right eye and one on his forehead — were removed on doctors' advice in 2008 because the one near his eye was cancerous.
- #020
Ewan McGregor's closest friend is the actor Charley Boorman, with whom he travelled around the world by motorcycle (the Long Way Round (2004) trip). They met on the set of The Serpent's Kiss (1997).
- #021
McGregor took part in a campaign against the closure of the maternity unit at Perth Royal Infirmary, the hospital where he was born.
- #023
Together with his friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman, McGregor set off on a motorcycle trip around the world.
- #027
He was due to be interviewed live about T2 Trainspotting (2017) on Good Morning Britain (2014) in January 2017, but pulled out less than an hour beforehand when he learned that the interview would be conducted by Piers Morgan, who had recently made comments criticising "rabid feminists" protesting Donald Trump.
- #028
He enjoys playing chess.
- #031
From drama school, he is a good friend of Lost (2004) star Naveen Andrews.
- #032
He likes playing the guitar and even writes some of his own songs.
- #034
On 12 May 2007, he and his friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman set off from John O'Groats in Scotland, the start of their 15,000-mile motorcycle journey south, Long Way Down (2007).
- #037
He met his former wife Eve Mavrakis during the filming of Kavanagh QC (1995).
- #038
Filming of 'Nautic' with Heath Ledger was scheduled to begin in Jamaica within a few months. However, Ted Demme, who had been chosen to direct the film, died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 38 while playing basketball.
- #039
In 2000, he was best man at Dougray Scott's wedding.
- #040
Ewan McGregor's older brother, Colin McGregor, is a pilot in the Royal Air Force. He was part of the RAF's Tornado display team based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
- #041
His first name is pronounced "you-an".
- #042
Ewan McGregor became friends with Colin Farrell during the filming of Cassandra's Dream (2007).
- #043
Ewan McGregor adopted a dog on the last day of filming Beginners (2010).
- #044
Ewan McGregor was ranked ninth on Channel 4's list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time.
- #046
Ewan McGregor was said to be in line to play James Bond in Casino Royale (2006); in interviews, however, he said the offer would appeal to him but that he would turn it down because he did not want to commit to an open-ended franchise. It is not known whether he was ever seriously considered.
- #047
Although Ewan McGregor's motorcycle preferences are the MV Agusta F4S and the KTM Duke, he and his friend Charley Boorman rode a BMW 1150GS Adventure for their marathon trips around the world in Long Way Round (2004).
- #048
As of 2017, Ewan McGregor was the only actor whose character did not die while he was playing the role in the Star Wars films. Liam Neeson, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill portrayed their characters' deaths, while Obi-Wan's death was portrayed by Sir Alec Guinness.
- #049
Ewan McGregor was ranked eighth in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of the best British actors.
- #050
Ewan McGregor received the Moulin Rouge Film Actor Award at the 2002 Variety Club Show Business Awards (2001).
- #052
Ewan McGregor turned down Don Cheadle's role in Ocean's Eleven (2001) because of his disagreements over Black Hawk Down (2001).
- #054
Ewan McGregor attended the Moulin Rouge royal premiere (2001) alongside Kylie Minogue, King Charles III and Nicole Kidman.
- #055
Both Ewan McGregor and Harrison Ford 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 therefore before Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).
- #056
Ewan McGregor was considered to voice Bumblebee and Ratchet in Transformers (2007).
- #058
In June 2015, Ewan McGregor joined other British celebrities including Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Joan Collins, Joanna Lumley, Michael Caine, David Walliams, Charlotte Rampling and Paul McKenna in reading "The Little Match Girl" for GivingTales, a Hans Christian Andersen children's fairy-tale app prepared with the help of UNICEF.
- #061
He turned down Christopher Eccleston's role in Jude (1996) in favour of Trainspotting (1996).
- #067
In the autumn of 1988 he was a student on a one-year theatre arts programme at Kirkcaldy Technical College.
- #068
He was initially offered the role of Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven (2012) but dropped out.
- #069
He ranked 36th on Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
- #071
McGregor is a big fan of the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League.
- #073
His uncle Denis Lawson was considered for the role of Captain Antilles in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).
- #074
He usually takes his family with him during film shoots, but he left them at home during the filming of Young Adam (2003).
- #076
He appears in the music video for "Hourglass" by the British rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen.
- #078
He turned down Paul Bettany's role in Transcendence (2014) due to scheduling conflicts.
- #079
Ewan McGregor sang alongside Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge! (2001).
- #080
Ewan McGregor is an ordinary supporter of St. Johnstone Football Club.
- #082
Ewan McGregor was Neil Jordan's choice for the role of Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (2011), a role that went to François Arnaud.
- #084
Ewan McGregor was offered the role of Marton Csokas in xXx (2002).
- #087
Ewan McGregor co-owns the production company Natural Nylon with Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Johnny Lee Miller and producer Bradley Adams.
- #088
Ewan and his wife Eve Mavrakis share the same initials, even including her maiden name.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
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