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James McAvoy Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | Part 1
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- Publicado em 23 Set 2023
- James McAvoy joins British GQ for part 1 of Iconic Characters. James McAvoy revisits four important movie characters in his film career so far: from playing Mr Tumnus in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ to an unexpected role as Lord Asriel in the hit fantasy drama series, ‘His Dark Materials’.
“The director purposefully didn’t let [Georgie Henley] see me as Mr Tumnus through any of the prep or rehearsals,” James recounts as he reflects on his role in The Chronicles of Narnia. “So the first time [Georgie] sees me on-set is the first time that she sees Mr Tumnus on-set”. Watch the full episode of British GQ’s Iconic Characters, as James McAvoy breaks down four of his most iconic roles in TV & Film.
Watch James McAvoy Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters Part 2 | GQ: • James McAvoy Breaks Do...
#JamesMcAvoy #Narnia #HisDarkMaterials #Filth #Shameless
00:00 - Mr Tumnus: The Chronicles of Narnia
03:38 - Bruce: Filth
08:31 - Steve: Shameless
10:42 - Lord Asriel: His Dark Materials
More from British GQ | Iconic Characters:
• Ewan McGregor Breaks D...
• From Mr Bean to Blacka...
• Bill Nighy Breaks Down...
British GQ’s Iconic Character playlist: • Iconic Characters
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Watch James McAvoy break down more of his iconic characters: brclip.com/video/IKbGj3CpP64/video.html
where the f is prof x
I dont need for him to find excuses. I do the selective part .
Calling out the names of the people who he worked with from every department..... James McAvoy ladies and gentlemen. Pure class
From 17 years ago!
Especially from years ago!!
Yeah I noticed that tooooo very impressive
Every actor they’ve interviewed has done this. I guarantee you they’re either given a list of names of who did what or they research it just before. They’re not that brilliant.
Pure unadulterated Gold!!
The fact that this man wasn't even nominated for Split is a crime.
Just because you do a large collection of surface level characters doesn't mean it's amazing. He did a great job but I don't think it was a role that could showcase deep talent. Him in last king of Scotland however... Incredible
Amen!
It's a bad film and a very limited role.
@Haribo7432 to each it’s own but I think the ability to play multiple characters in one movie is amazing I agree with them
he did well but it wasn't a good film
He’s such a versatile actor. I’m still in awe he hasn’t won an Oscar yet.
He recently said that he doesn’t care. He could have won for Atonement but he didn’t want to play the campaign game. Yes he deserves one but he doesn’t want one.
@Lizabeth90 Do they not do campaigns for BAFTAs?
In awe means you’re happy about that suga lol
@Té’s Tea & Tarot🪐 awe
/ô/
noun
noun: awe
a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.
"they gazed in awe at the small mountain of diamonds"
@Mae Anne Ngo I don’t think so
What a shame - and a travesty - there is no 'Atonement' here - surely one of his greatest performances. He is just an aching hurt and vulnerability. in the second half of that film. How is Robbie not an iconic character? Also lovely, charming work in 'Becoming Jane' with Anne Hathaway. A truly mesmeric actor with eyes that tell so much. So charismatic! I love James.
Kind of insane it's not in here, it's really the one role I wanted to hear him talk about
This is only part 1, so it could be in part 2
I accidentally watched Part 2 first actually, and it wasn't there.
@Tobi Ogunyemi oh ok
YESSSS! NO Atonement. What a shame! It's one of his best performances
His performance in Narnia was perfect. It was like he absolutely stepped right out of the book and onto the screen. He made me really believe he was Mr. Tumnus in my childhood. I remember hearing a story about how the director said he saw him a few months after filming had wrapped and James had grown his hair and beard way out and was riding a motorcycle with sunglasses and a big helmet, and he shouted hello to the director in a thick Scottish accent and a wide grin, and the director was actually shocked by how different James was because he had seen and heard him as Tumnus for so long. I may be remembering that story slightly wrong because I heard it once years ago, maybe on the dvd commentary. But it really stuck with me and made me think, wow that’s what it means to be a nice, wonderful, and great actor!
I never knew he played him till i saw the thumbnail and had to Google it just to make sure it want some kind of click bait thumbnail
I like the old animated mr Tumnus picking all his packages up with his umbrella
ya I had a big ole crush on him too
I’m so glad they didn’t get an older actor. It would’ve ruined the dynamic between Lucy and Mr tummnus.
That ... was ... way ... too ... short.
James McAvoy deserves an hour for his character breakdowns.
There's a part 2
Even a whole week dedicated to him will leave us wanting for more!
James is an amazing artist with a huge, sometimes even self-sacrificing talent. All opinions I heard about people working with him said that he is, also, an amazing person. Good to see him talking about his craft, detailing special things that we didn't knew yet about loved characters. I'm really proud to be a fan of that man.
Thats alot of amazing.
He's fkn Golden and I hold him 2nd only to the Great Daniel Day Lewis. James is a MASTER of his craft and he's been disrespected by the awards community like Leo has been, and I could even argue that Leo is 2nd only to Daniel but tbh, these three guys are ARTISTS. Unlike what we've seen in a long time and they should be beloved.
A huge what?
To the ones complaining: I'm not even from an english speaking country, I'm just saying that I admire an artist and his work. It's really not that hard to understand.
@andressa.
I didn’t mean like that. I thought u said 'huge' humorously
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was probably the the first movie I saw in theaters. I still love it and the others, as well as the books, to this day. Mr. Tumnus is a masterfully adapted character on film and James just played him perfectly. Wonderful movie.
It was my first theater experience. I was six, and it was also the first real movie I'd seen.
his performance as mr. tumnus is honestly one of the most influential performances I've ever seen in my life. narnia and tumnus honest to God shaped so much of my childhood and has stayed with me ever since. I'm literally tearing up over this discussion.
Interesting cause I grew up with the original 80s tv series, instead of the movie!
Absolutely! I've watched so many times that I can't count it, and I never get enough of it. The cinematography, the actors, the relationship among the siblings was so relatable and real, and the soundtrack! Oh... Just amazing! ✨✨✨ Watching it again is like going back to my childhood, remembering feeling safe and dreaming about adventures ❤️ It's my favorite movie ever!
I love how very clear it is that he loved being in Chronicles of Narnia. 18 years later he still fondly remembers the people and experiences he had
Greatest actor of his generation I also love how he really acts because he loves acting and not because he wants to win an Oscar, he has never been nominated because he doesn't want to go through the exhausting process of Oscar campaigning, he doesn't care for it, it's rare for an actor these days to be truly dedicated to their craft and not seeking awards.
I completely agree! And he picks roles that he wants to do because he thinks it’ll be fun or will challenge him. He isn’t like some actors who try to pick roles that they think will get them nominated.
Where we getting all this from? Has he said as much?
How does Oscar campaigning happen? What do actors do exactly when they campaign?
@Rothchild III Nope. Just another fan that thinks they know a celebrity personally.
@Bella honestly what he is doing now is a little bit of an Oscar campaign, but not as much as other celebrities. It’s basically when actors go on a media tour promoting their movie, but they talk very much about the depth of their performances and their craft, so as to grab the attention of academy voters. There is also a lot of private screenings and events for industry people, etc, to give the impression to exclusivity and superiority. Here is a quote from Google I found that sums it up pretty well:
“To win a coveted statue, studios often rely heavily on campaigning, with the purpose being to get your movie seen by as many people as possible through ads, lobbying, parties, screeners and sometimes even, some say, dredging up the competition’s past.
These campaigns create a narrative, which is designed to get the right eyes on the film in question. For example, as the actors and director of "La La Land" have made rounds on talk shows and news programs, they've shared personal stories of struggling in Hollywood, highlighting themes of the movie itself.
If you can’t get members excited enough to see the movie in theaters, your chances of winning may not be as strong.”
The fact he is a fan of the His Dark Materials books just makes me so happy. He has true passion with it and it’s amazing.
It's great to hear him talk about Filth! It's one of his most underrated films and performances!
Agreed!!! Filth was fantastic!!!
Everyone is saying that Split if his best performance, but Filth will always take the win for me
ikr, I loved the book, even tho it was a hard read at times. I have to rewatch the film, James is a remarkable actor.
I've seen it hundred of times. My favourite movie by far
The ending absolutely kills me every time
I LOVE how he looks back so fondly on Chronicles of Narnia and doesn't dismiss it as less of a serious film.
Such an underrated actor. He performs his heart out in every project he’s in and it’s fantastic to watch him. I hope he continues to thrive in the acting scene!
Do you know what underrated means? McAvoy is very successful and critically acclaimed.
He’s definitely not underrated there’s so many other actors of big name films you may not even be able to name.
One of the best actors of our time. His roles as Mr Tumnus in Narnia and Professor X are my favorites. He was also good in Last King Of Scotland with Forest Whitaker
James is such a fantastic actor -- a total chameleon -- and always has been, so it's been thrilling to watch his career and ascendance. As someone who loves Pullman's books, I'm so thrilled to hear that he loves them too (and kudos to Indira Varma for getting him to read them)! He's a fantastic Lord Asriel -- complex, arrogant, and charismatic, but also with those unexpected touches of vulnerability. I love that his favorite quote is Pullman's "Tell them stories," because that is what James McAvoy does almost effortlessly.
James McAvoy is definitely an actor's actor. He enjoys the craft, the process, and the art of his work. That's the kind of work I like to see. That is entertaining to me. We seem to be getting away from that in film. I would like to see more dialog and risks taken on screen and in our stories.
Yes daddy
Mr Tumnus was the first role I’ve seen James McAvoy play. He was brilliant in that role.
After so much time, he remembers the names of the people who were in the effects department and spent 3-4 hours every day to prepare him. This is a person whose brains and heart are in the right place.
I’m currently halfway through His Dark Materials Season 3. It’s the best show I’ve seen in years, probably ever. The plot, dialogue, set design, wardrobe, cinematography, character arcs, and music are brilliant. McAvoy’s Asriel is a fascinating character. Happy to hear he’d been a fan of the books before even getting the role-what odds. Extremely underrated performance and show in general.
It made me want to read the books! What did you think of the ending? I actually loved the last episode but could imagine not everyone would
@jonnnnniej The books are great, season 3 in places while still a good felt lazy cause it cut quite a bit from the third book
He's probably one of the most underrated actors, he's done so much. How he hasn't won an Oscar yet idk..
Someone else commented that actors actually have to promote their movies if they wanna get an Oscar. And that James doesn't seem interested in the prices but just wants to act. :)
He reallyyy isn’t underrated there’s so many other big names films with many actors who r just as talented as him you won’t even be able to name
James McAvoy’s acting in Filth is why he is one of my favorite actors of all time. The performance was outstanding! Crazy he didn’t get more praise for it!! Dude is a living walking legend!
Amazing to see him talk about Tumnus 🥺 I still watch Narnia several times every year and it remains one of my favorite movies ever. He fits perfectly as Tumnus and I’ve always wondered if he thinks about the part sometimes too.
The chronicles of Narnia was the first time I saw James and I fell in love. He is aging like fine wine and I love watching his movies 😊
His Dark Materials means so much to me. It was a staple in my childhood. My last name is extremely close to the main characters last name; only one letter off. So my dad saw that similarity as well, and purchased the book on a whim. He had no idea if the book was even good 😅
Turns out, it shaped my childhood and my love for fantasy series wayyy before Harry Potter or anything else like that existed.
When I heard that he was cast as Lord Asriel, I was elated. I knew he would bring that complicated and ego driven character to life. He did an incredible job.
James is very obviously one of the best actors in his generation, and this is in 2 parts for a reason, but allow me to adress the clearly most important thing here:
I met James a month or so ago at a convention. So I can confirm - he is EXACTLY as attractive in real life as he is on screen, but also more because he smells really nice, and is as graceful and generous as everyone says. So yes, his attractiveness is pretty ridiculous.
It's in two parts because it's split. Thats all. Almost every on of these goes over about seven to eight films. Same for these two episodes combined. Get a clue.
@Tim kinley I mean... of course it's split, all the two-parters in this series are? What is your point lol
@Tim kinley Wow... does it bother you that much that you have to point out the spilt, while being insulting? lol
@Jonathan Cederlund I'm responding to the statement suggesting that he is so wonderful and accomplished, that it takes twice as much time to cover his amazingness. That is what you meant isn't it? Seemed like it. I can find ten or more of these on BRclip where they aren't split into two parts yet the running time is the same as the two parts combined. Is that clearer? Geez with the feelings. If math is difficult, then I guess it's difficult. I wasn't questioning your undeniable, never-ending devotion to whatever you feel is so utterly fascinating. I don't get the worshiping of others. Especially when there are... oh, nevermind.
@Tim kinley Oh lol now I get what you mean. I’m sure you’re right about the length, I haven’t paid as close attention to how these things are structured as you obviously have :)
But dude, YOU’RE the one who responded to a comment just to angrily tell me that I am wrong in my admiration of an actor (…and insult my math skills? That one was a bit unclear lol) I don’t really seem to be the one with the most intense feelings here ^^
Maybe take a breathe or two, or get some therapy for that anger I don’t know. I promise you, I didn’t have any intention what so ever to force you to watch any of James’ movies, so you do you!
Children of Dune was a master work! Of all his work this one piece will always stand out to me as some of his best performances!! Pity it was so overlooked!!
Agree! First thing I ever saw him in, and it is such an incredible performance that stays with you long after. I still think about it all these years later
I also sat through both parts looking for his stories about the Last King of Scotland! What an intense role if I have to name one. What it was like to manage his scenes with Forest Whitaker at his best.
Brilliant movie! I hired it for Forest and couldn't believe some little Scot was scene stealing and mesmerising.
love how he (and many other actors in this series) remember the names of tech crew he worked with for a a lot of films, even ones that are pretty far in the past.
LOVE James McAvoy, so down to earth and kind hearted, extremely talented actor!
I'm so glad he talked about Shameless. Don't get me wrong, i do like the American take on it, but i see them as separate entities, and the original Shameless just has a special place in my heart. I do think that the original hits beats that the US version misses, probably because it was originally created for a British audience.
I wish that his acting in Split was mentioned. That is my favorite role of his. He played all the personalities of his character so well!
He did a respectable performance but that movie is so harmful I just can’t like it. Also it’s “Alters” not “personalities”
Wish he had also talked about "Starter for 10". It's such a good film. If you haven't checked it out, I'd recommend it. The film also features a lot of recognizable talents besides James such as Benedict Cumberbatch when they were very young.
I love that movie!!! And there was benedict cumberbatch and rebecca hall on it. I loved the acting and the soundtrack. Helped me love british punk and new wave even more. And he was great on it.
I just saw it - it's great to do the retroactive recognition
Love that movie!!!
When he said the tattoo he would get I was so happy and stood up yelling “frick yeah”!!!
I got my “Tell them Stories” tattoo on my wrist back in 2010.
Those books got me through some really tough times and have a giant piece of my soul.
I love James and this honestly made my day - I always thought that line out of all the books was sort of obscure. So the fact he picked it as a tattoo made me feel awesome!
The fact that Filth is one of his favourite films makes me so happy, I've seen it several times and watched it this week with my dad and he loved it as much as I do, I can't imagine this movie without James, such a brilliant perfomance
I would NOT want to watch that film with my dad lol
@Sabrina why not ?
This man is a magnificent storyteller. He was incredible in every role he portrayed. Follow his work and you will find some hidden gems. If Oscars were purely artistic awards, he would have at least three by now.
James McAvoy will ALWAYS be the Mr. Tumnus in my head. no one else will EVER replace his version from me, even if i hear the voice of Philip Sherlock from the focus on the family Radio Theater versions, I'll always think of James's version. same goes for everyone else in the first Narnia Movie (especially William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keyes and Georgie Henley They will always be the Pevensie Siblings to me) except i like to mix Tilda Swinton's version with the White Witch in one of the Narnia Book covers editions (I did a fan art of it, I'm also drawing how i envision the other characters and what they would wear for a certain scene. and the props they would use or wear).
HOW is Children of Dune not mentioned?! That was such a great intro & first impression (to me) of James’ artistic & amazing talent! Even his voice acting of Morpheus in Sandman is so good, there are just no words that can describe the brilliance he portrays in it!❤
I saw him first in Children of Dune and was mesmerized. It was his first major role, I had no idea who he was but kept hoping to see him in more roles. So glad he made it.
Most actors just play characters that are quite like their own personality. James is one of the ones that can authentically portray a wide array…I’m always impressed 😊
Love the fact that they put Shameless in there. Great show.
Filth is one of my favourite movies and my favourite book. I’m so happy it’s one of James’ top as well. I read the book after not picking up one in over 10 years probably, they both really sparked something in me. I even have “same rules apply” tattooed.
Filth is such an underrated film, glad to hear him discuss it in depth! 🙌🙌
So glad they did two parts for James! He's so thoughtful about the process, art, and societal function of audiovisual entertainment. Think he would make a great documentary narrator à la David Attenborough, one day!
His little speech about stories is exactly why he was the best possible choice for Morpheus in the Sandman audio adaptation for Audible. And while I liked Tom Sturridge's performance as well, I would not have minded if James was in the Netflix live action either.
Love him in all of his acting roles, he is just so charismatic and you can see he puts a lot of effort and love into his characters but I gotta say the ONE role that strikes me as his best, is his voice acting one as Morpheus from THE SANDMAN where he just owns the character. And despite the Netflix adaptation being quite good, Dream will always be James McAvoy for me.
I fell in love with him since Narnia. This man is so talented. And cool. What a great guy.
Omg his performance as Mr. Tumnus is so good! God, I love that adaptation of Narnia. So perfect.
I was 16 when Shameless was released in the UK and growing up on a council estate myself, in the next town over to where it was set, it had some strikingly spot on resemblances of life in those areas, it was brilliant
Scatter
Filth is an amazing film. Funny, dark and just incredibly sad. For me, it's his best film and his best performance. Had no idea that was his sister, though!.
James McAvoy is such a fantastic actor! Xmen, Narnia, Penelope, and Split are all the movies I've seen him in and he is absolutely fantastic in all of them!
It would be such an honor to know this man. I truly hope he is appreciated. Such a kind genuine heart.
That closing statement. Absolutely beautiful and realistic, what a great man and Actor James has become.
I watched part 2 first, and am sad there's no Atonement.
Penelope and Becoming Jane are also huge favorites of mine.
Other than that, brilliant amazing actor. Absolutely adore his work.
I wish they put Penelope too it's my favourite romance film. I still can't believe he didn't win the Oscar for atonement I know he doesn't care but his performance was outstanding. Amazing actor!!!
I love that he has so many iconic characters that he needs two videos.
Filth is one of the great performances people MUST watch if they love the craft of acting. It's outstanding!
He's crazy underrated, and he proved this in split, able to manifest the numerous personalities, great actor
Filth is absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time, it deserves to have more recognition. Love from Brazil.
love his portrayal of Lord Asriel!
Nobody could have played this role better. He sincerely grasped the character. Quite well done.
He is such a great storyteller! Glad to learn more
I love him so much, as an artist and as this person we catch glimpses of through interviews such as these. Thanks GQ!
Filth is easily my favourite book possibly ever written, and the film is definitely amazing solely due to this man’s performance and those around him. Highly recommend.
Mr. Tumnis is still my favorite of his works. Also the Faun was actually quite young but the aging was stopped by the forever frost that had frozen thier world.
James is amazing! Every single one of his performance is just amazing to watch. Too bad this video only includes a few of them.
i am so happy james acknowledged his character as Mr. Tumnus. That was the very first time i ever saw James McAvoy as an actor (i was like 8 yrs old at the time) and i remember being so intrigued by Mr. Tumnus. One of the reasons I loved the movie was because of his character
I love his performances so much so it’s great to see him go over them :)
I was today years old when i learned that one of my favorite actors played Mr. Tumnus lol. Narnia, Harry Potter, and Urban Fantasy/Sci Fi novels/tv/movies was my childhood and he has been there from the beginning and is still going strong. That's awesome
McAvoy has always impressed me with anything he does. When he is in a role I always believe him. There is never a doubt he is that character. LKS should be on here as well. He is just too brilliant for words in a long catalog of films.
Love James, humble and one of greats! How he doesn't have an Oscar confounds me
Tumnus was my favorite character!! I loved him so much! I know he was meant to do something bad but he definitely made up for it
I can’t explain just how brilliant this man is
This channel is the ultimate proof that students at school love to learn about the history but schools don't know the right way to teach the kids. Literally it would be so cool if you were my history teacher 🙏🙏🙏
Good thing there is part 2 because I started loving this human after watching him in Narnia. His role there made me remember him for decades now
It's quite interesting, I watched Shameless US first, I didn't know there was even a UK one until like 3-4 months ago, and I really liked the US show. It always felt quite foreign to me, because the US generally doesn't do the edgy stuff, like with the Office US they tried some of that David Brent energy in Michael Scott, and it just didn't work on American TV.
So Shameless US just didn't feel like a typical American show, which is why I definitely liked it.
So couple of months ago I found out from English friends that it originally came from them, and I was just baffled that I didn't know, but at the same time it made sense. I still have to watch it though, but life has been way too busy, but it's on my list.
PS I'm from the Netherlands, so we do actually get a lot of British TV over here, but with me going mostly streaming, I just don't see those shows, and I haven't seen it on any of the streaming services here.
From UK who watched and grew up with UK og shameless I hate how they handled some of the character arcs in USA version. Lip is more annoying in comparison. Debbie character was butchered. Debbie was way better in the UK version. She actually evolved to be better. Fiona and Steve are endgame in uk version. One thing USA did right was keep the focus on the gallagers and kept the characters like Carl,Kevin,veronica,Mickey,Frank and Ian quite cool. But they ruined Fiona in later seasons by dating guys who weren't noticeable.
I agree! We need stories 👍 and such extraordinary actors 🥰
James is the brilliant human being who has so much respect to other people and their job☺️ love him deeply ❤️
James as Mr Tumnus introduced me to fantasy. I found the character so loving and so intriguing...
I remember noticing him really for the first time in the CHILDREN OF DUNE miniseries : he was great as Leto II.
It really warmed my heart listening to him talk about Georgie ❤️
Brilliant philosophy, we do indeed all need stories. It was how it all began through the verbal passing on of history and families. Great actor. I think he would write a great book.
Fantastic interview. Great actor and a very thoughtful guy!!
Imagine going from Mr. Tumnus to the Beast. McAvoy is a true artist and sometimes harshly underrated
Didn't care for him until I saw Filth. So much respect for him now, he made you feel very uncomfortable in that movie, he played it so well. Really good actor!
I will watch ANYTHING this man is in. He is an absolute LEGEND.
The only stuffed animal I still have from my childhood is a stuffed bunny I named "Mr Tumnus", after him. His portrayal of the character was my absolute favorite ❤
such a GREAT actor and person. Love his movies and shows. Just amazing.
Because of how much I loved him as Mr Tumnus I followed his career. He was in it, I watched it 😆
This man is 🥵‼️ I don’t think I even realized he was in Narnia before lol! I do looooove him in His Dark Materials. Such a fabulous show!
Mr Tumnus forever.The best role in the movie history
I’ve always been a huge fan of this Talented Actor..I wish him well in all of his endeavors..on and off the screen..I wanted to see him on Stage..unfortunately lockdown etc made it impossible..one day, perhaps..
I don't know if they'll include it in part 2, but the first time I saw James McAvoy was on the Sci-Fi channel as Leto the Second for Children of Dune in 2003 and thought he was incredible.
I became a fan of this actor after watching him in Atonement.I got really connected with his character in the film .
James is one of those guys who always seems to nail whatever character he's playing.
James is an excellent actor I enjoy watching him. He is one of a kind.
I absolutely love him in Narnia. Perfect for the role
The original novelisation of Filth was told in part from the POV of a tapeworm inside Bruce's system after eating a chippy, so I can see why that never made it into the film and instead depictions of tapeworms in the Doctor scenes.
Love James as an actor and what I've seen of him being a real person.