James misses acting 'meat market' - Dec 10 2007
Directors are flocking to cast James McAvoy since The Last King Of Scotland, but the Scottish actor insists he misses the "meat market" of auditioning.

James made the confession in Hollywood at the premiere of his new movie Atonement.

"I like the meat market, I like the challenge of it and I've always liked it, I miss it slightly," said the actor, who co-stars with Keira Knightley in the film.

"Although that's not to say I haven't auditioned recently, so I may still be going back to visit the meat market. You never know, my next movie might be terrible and I'll be in the meat market for the rest of my life," he joked.

Since being nominated for several Best Actor awards last year, including a Bafta, offers of work have come flooding in for James.

"They come to me, up until recently I've had to audition for them so it's not like they come to me that much. I don't know how I choose them. I don't strategise, if we could strategise we'd all be hugely successful which we're not, so I just take it as it comes," he said.

James insists he's not being self-deprecating about his work.

"I have a hidden arrogance," he smiled.

James: Meeting Tom was weird - Dec 6 2007
James McAvoy had a lucky pick of co-stars, from Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon, and his luck continues in his next film, Wanted.

In that, the Scottish actor, who currently stars in Atonement, plays the son of an assassin alongside Angelina Jolie - and he reveals that they got very well.

"We both know different parts of Africa really well, so we talked about that. But other than that, it’s all fairly normal stuff, like she’s a parent and I’ve spent time around kids at various stages of my life," he tells the New York Daily News.

But it seems that James was more excited when he was introduced to Tom Hanks.

"I met Tom Hanks, which was weird, lovely and exciting," he continues.

"He directed Band Of Brothers, which was my first big TV gig. Later, he cast me in Starter For 10, which he produced, and that was doubly exciting because now you’re walking in his genre - he has done more romantic comedies than I’ve had hot dinners."

James in talks for new Dambusters movie? - Nov 26 2007
James McAvoy is reportedly in talks to star in the new 100 million US dollar Dambusters flick.

The Scottish actor, who is tipped for an Oscar for his role as Robbie Turner in Atonement, has met director Christian Rivers and producers David Frost and Peter Jackson, according to the Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old will play Wing Commander Guy Gibson who led the 617 Squadron, who dropped three bouncing bombs in Germany during the Second World War.

The film - which may also star Ian McKellen as Barnes Wallis - will be shot in Wellington, New Zealand.

Stephen Fry, who wrote the screenplay, wouldn’t confirm James was in the cast, but said: "He would certainly be the kind of person one would naturally think of. Gibson was young and glamorous and fresh-faced. It would be stupid not to look at an actor like James McAvoy."

King of Scotland crowned at Baftas - Nov 19 2007
The cream of Scotland’s film and broadcast industry gathered for the annual Bafta Scotland awards.

The Last King of Scotland, starring James McAvoy, came out top at the awards in Glasgow, claiming three gongs in total.