In a recent episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, actor James McAvoy made an appearance to discuss his latest play and share some entertaining anecdotes. McAvoy, known for his roles in movies like X-Men: First Class and Atonement, describes his current play, The Ruling Class, as “Downton Abbey on acid.” The play, which was also made into a movie in the 1960s, tells the story of a man who believes he is God after returning from a mental hospital. McAvoy shared that the play is a challenging piece that requires a lot of performance to pull off successfully.
During the interview, McAvoy also talked about his Scottish accent and the challenges he faces when working in America. He revealed that many people are surprised to learn that he is Scottish, as they often mistake him for being American. McAvoy explained that as an actor, he wants to be able to play various characters from different backgrounds and not be limited by his accent.
Speaking about his role as Professor Xavier in the X-Men franchise, McAvoy discussed the challenge of playing a character previously portrayed by another actor, Patrick Stewart. He emphasized the importance of ignoring previous portrayals and making the character his own. McAvoy also revealed that for the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse movie, set in the 80s, he plans to incorporate a mix of accents and borrow influences from Harry Enfield’s characters.
Aside from his acting career, McAvoy shared his love for bike riding and his experiences riding motorcycles. He even mentioned a time when Rowan Atkinson took him for a ride on a motorcycle, going at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour. McAvoy admitted to feeling terrified and amazed by the experience.
Overall, James McAvoy‘s appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show was filled with humor, insights about his current play, and thrilling stories. Fans can catch McAvoy in The Ruling Class, which opens on January 16th. It promises to be an unexpected and entertaining evening that showcases McAvoy’s talent and versatility as an actor.