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Top 10 Ewan McGregor

Expertly straddling the hollywood and arthouse divide, Ewan McGregor has serious credibility in both camps. From heroin-addicted Renton in Trainspotting to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, McGregor attacks every role with visible committment. He's also got serious theatre, even musical theatre, chops. We pay tribute to the multi-faceted Scottish icon.

His Top 10 Films

Shallow Grave (1994)

Shallow Grave debuted at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and such was the demand that three extra screenings had to be arranged. The budget was so tight that various props were auctioned off so they could buy essential film equipment and finish the project, which marked the first collaboration between director Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor – McGregor's mum, Carol, has a cameo as one of the prospective flatmates.

Rent

Trainspotting (1996)

Based on Irvine Welsh’s 1993 novel of the same name, McGregor was the first choice for the part of skinny heroin-addict Renton. To prepare for the role, he cut out alcohol and dairy products to lose weight. He also read up on crack and heroin, met recovering addicts, and even learnt how to ‘cook’ the drugs. A prosthetic arm with pulsing veins was used for the close-up shots of McGregor injecting heroin.

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Brassed Off (1996)

Pete Postlethwaite and Tara Fitzgerald starred alongside McGregor in this comedy-drama set in the mid-90s, which was well received for its accurate portrayal of the declining coal mining industry. Part of Postlethwaite's speech at the end of the film was used by Brit band Chumbawamba in their 1997 anthem Tubthumping, for the spoken section at the beginning.

Rent

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

After the success of Trainspotting, Danny Boyle set his sights on the American market. But despite an impressive cast that included Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo and Stanley Tucci, and McGregor leading opposite Cameron Diaz, A Life Less Ordinary failed to drum up a box office hit. It marked the end of Boyle and McGregor’s collaboration; the director’s next project, The Beach, would see Leonardo DiCaprio in the central role.

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Velvet Goldmine(1998)

Based on David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character, Velvet Goldmine is set in early 70s. Although Jonathan Rhys Meyers and McGregor both sang their own songs in the film, some of Meyers' vocals were re-recorded by Radiohead’s singer Thom Yorke. Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell was Oscar-nominated and a BAFTA-winner for her work on the film, but it wasn’t a box office success, making just $1.5m from a budget of $9m.

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Little Voice (1998)

In 1992, Jim Cartwright wrote the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice for actress Jane Horrocks, and her then-boyfriend Sam Mendes directed it in London’s West End. Mark Herman took on the directorial role for the film adaptation, reuniting with McGregor (having worked with him on Brassed Off), while Horrocks reprised her leading role, winning rave reviews. Brenda Blethyn was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role.

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Star Wars (1999-2005)

Taking on the role made famous by Sir Alec Guinness in the original trilogy, McGregor became the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi for Star Wars: Episodes I-III, finding it hard to resist making lightsaber sound effects as he duelled. These noises had to be removed during post production. Episode II - Attack of the Clones was shot on the same stages used by Moulin Rouge!, also starring McGregor.

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Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Filming had to stop for two weeks after Nicole Kidman fractured ribs during a dance routine rehearsal and, as a further consequence, some scenes were shot from the chest up while she recovered in a wheelchair. The film’s signature song, Come What May, was originally written for director Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, but was never used. As it had been written for another film, it was ineligible for inclusion in the Oscars' Best Song category. Moulin Rouge! opened the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Rent

Young Adam (2003)

Known for his penchant of getting naked in front of the camera, McGregor's full-frontal nude scenes were going to be cut from the American release but, after he objected, they stayed in. Young Adam swept the board at the Scottish BAFTA Awards, winning Best Film, Best Actor for McGregor, Best Actress for Tilda Swinton and Best Director for David Mackenzie.

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Big Fish (2003)

Producers cast McGregor as the young Ed Bloom after noticing the uncanny resemblance between him and pictures of a young Albert Finney, who played the older Ed Bloom. Steven Spielberg was originally attached to the project, but had to drop out because of other commitments, which meant Tim Burton took on directorial duties. Big Fish was Marion Cotillard's first American feature film and Miley Cyrus’ film debut.

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Tegan Kniveton