Perth-born actor Ewan Gordon McGregor has long been a distinguished figure in the entertainment industry. Born on March 31, 1971, in Perth, Scotland, McGregor has cultivated a global reputation as a versatile and committed performer across film, television, stage, and even the world of motorcycle adventure documentaries. His career spans more than three decades, marked by critical acclaim, award-winning performances, and influential cultural moments.
Early Life and Education
Actor Ewan Gordon McGregor was raised in Crieff, Scotland. His mother, Carol Diane (née Lawson), was a teacher and later a deputy head teacher, while his father, James Charles Stewart "Jim" McGregor, served as a PE teacher and careers adviser. Ewan's early fascination with storytelling and performance led him to leave school at age 16, working as a stagehand at Perth Theatre before studying drama at Kirkcaldy College of Technology. At 18, he moved to London to attend the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
His family’s connection to acting runs deep—his uncle Denis Lawson is also a noted Scottish actor, further rooting McGregor in the world of performance.
Breakthrough Roles and Rise to Stardom
McGregor’s professional career began even before graduating from drama school. He landed his first major role in the 1993 Channel 4 series Lipstick on Your Collar. That same year, he appeared alongside Rachel Weisz in Scarlet and Black. His breakout film role came in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle—a collaboration that would later lead to his defining role in Trainspotting (1996), where he played the iconic Mark Renton, a heroin addict navigating life in 1990s Edinburgh. The performance catapulted him to international stardom.
One of McGregor’s most enduring roles was as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas's Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005). Although the films received mixed critical responses, McGregor’s portrayal was widely praised, and he would later reprise the role in the 2022 Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Versatility in Film and Television
Actor Ewan Gordon McGregor quickly proved himself to be more than just a leading man. His wide-ranging roles include the romantic poet Christian in Moulin Rouge! (2001), John Grimes in Black Hawk Down (2001), and Edward Bloom in Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003). Other notable performances include Young Adam (2003), The Ghost Writer (2010), and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011), the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
McGregor has also ventured into directing with American Pastoral (2016), in which he also starred. He delivered a dual performance as twin brothers in FX’s acclaimed series Fargo (2017), winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.
More recently, he starred as the adult Christopher Robin in the Disney live-action adaptation (2018), portrayed Danny Torrance in Doctor Sleep (2019), and played villain Roman Sionis (Black Mask) in Birds of Prey (2020). In 2021, he starred in Halston, a Netflix miniseries about the legendary fashion designer, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance.
In 2022, he lent his voice to the role of Sebastian J. Cricket in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Theatre Work
A trained stage actor, McGregor has starred in several critically acclaimed theatre productions, including Guys and Dolls (2005–2007), Othello (2007–2008), and Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing (Broadway, 2014). In 2025, he returned to London’s West End in My Master Builder, a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s The Master Builder.
Motorcycle Adventures and Documentaries
A passionate motorcyclist, McGregor has combined his love of travel and philanthropy in a series of motorcycle documentary adventures. Alongside friend Charley Boorman, he undertook journeys documented in Long Way Round (2004), Long Way Down (2007), Long Way Up (2020), and most recently, Long Way Home (2025). These expeditions, covering tens of thousands of miles across continents, also spotlighted his charity work with UNICEF.
Philanthropy and Humanitarian Work
Since 2004, actor Ewan Gordon McGregor has served as a UNICEF UK ambassador. His extensive humanitarian work has taken him to remote regions of Africa, India, and Nepal, often focusing on vaccine distribution and children's health. He has supported organizations such as GO Campaign and the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland and participated in educational projects such as GivingTales to benefit global charities.
Personal Life
McGregor was married to French-Greek production designer Eve Mavrakis from 1995 to 2020. They have four daughters, including two adopted children. In 2021, he welcomed a son with American actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whom he married in 2022. McGregor has acted alongside his daughter Clara in several films, including Christopher Robin and Bleeding Love.
A dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States, McGregor became a naturalized U.S. citizen after 2016. He is a vocal supporter of Scottish independence and identifies as a feminist. In 2023, he joined a group of artists calling for a ceasefire during the Gaza conflict.
Recognition and Honors
Throughout his illustrious career, actor Ewan Gordon McGregor has earned numerous accolades, including:
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A Golden Globe Award
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A Primetime Emmy Award
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The Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award
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The French title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2010)
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An OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2013 for services to drama and charity
Despite his acclaim, he remains one of the most respected actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
Legacy
With a career that spans genres, continents, and mediums, actor Ewan Gordon McGregor has established himself as one of the most versatile and respected talents of his generation. Whether on a film set, the theatre stage, or riding through remote landscapes for charity, McGregor continues to captivate audiences and contribute meaningfully to the world beyond cinema.
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