McGregor, Ewan (1971– )

Scottish actor. One of the leading talents of his generation, he rose to fame with his performance in Shallow Grave (1994), the first of a series of collaborations with director Danny Boyle, writer John Hodge, and producer Andrew Macdonald, which included Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997). He also featured in Todd Haynes's glam-rock film Velvet Goldmine (1998) and in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005).

McGregor has switched from comic to dramatic roles, featuring in both mainstream and low-budget independent productions in the UK and the USA. His other credits include The Pillow Book (1995), Emma (1996), Brassed Off (1996), Little Voice (1998), Rogue Trader (1999), Moulin Rouge (2001), Black Hawk Down (2002), Down with Love (2003), and Big Fish (2003).

He first demonstrated his versatility in two television miniseries, Dennis Potter's 1950s nostalgia piece Lipstick on Your Collar (1993) and the BBC costume drama Scarlet and Black (1993). A guest star appearance in the US hospital drama ER in 1994 confirmed his celebrity status. With a diversity of roles and the alternating of period and contemporary pieces, he has avoided the pitfalls of being stereotyped. His stage roles include Malcolm Scrawdyke in David Halliwell's Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against the Eunuchs (1998).