Let's talk about: James McAvoy

James McAvoy was born on April 21, 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland. 

His was raised in Drumchapel, Glasgow by his grandparents after his father abandoned his mother when he was 7. 

 "My grandparents were always very strict with me, my mother, too. I know it may sound as if things were quite difficult, unstable or whatever, but in fact they weren't at all. I was very happy as a child, even though I was never let out of the door on my own until I was 16. In a way I think that stopped me from getting into mischief, but I don't think I was ever that mischievous anyway."

James considered becoming a Catholic priest as a child until a visit to his school by the actor David Hayman sparked an interest in acting when he was 16. 

 David offered James a part in his film The Near Room. 

 

 

James enjoyed the experience and continued to act as a member of PACE Youth Theater. 

But he still wasn't considering acting as a career. 

He applied to the Royal Navy and was accepted. But at the same time he was offered a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 

He chose to take the place at the Academy of Music and Drama. 

He worked as a confectioner in order to fund drama school.

 

After graduating he moved to London in 2000. 

He had a few roles on TV by this time and continued to work in TV as well as a few movies. 

He caught the attention of many in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 2005 and has starred in many movies since then and recieved quite a few awards.

James married his Shameless co-star Anne-Marie Duff in 2006 in a very quiet ceremony at Drumtochty Castle in Aberdeenshire. 
They didn't invite any co-stars because "he didn't want the day to be about being famous".

 

"We keep our noses clean and keep our stuff private. We don't have affairs, we don't turn up to parties, we don't fall out of places drunk. We're not that interesting. I don't wear a dress where you can see my knickers when I'm getting out of a taxi. Do you know what I mean? I find all that weird."

 They had a son, Brendan, in 2010. 

About fatherhood he has said: 

 "I take fewer risks. I would love to do a skydive, because I like anything to do with heights. But that will have to wait for now. But I do still use my motorbike. After the birth of Brendan I was all set to sell it, but my wife insisted it was a part of my personality. However, I do drive on secure tracks - it's much safer than in normal traffic."

I have liked James in everything I have seen him in. 

He seems very earnest and charming. 

My favorite roles James has played are: 

#1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I just love his portrayal of Mr. Tumnus. 

I think Mr. Tumnus' inner conflict of what he feels he has to do and what he feels he should do really comes across. 

 

He has said that while filming this movie, Georgie Henley (Lucy) did not see him in his costume before they filmed their scenes together. Her scared reaction upon seeing Mr. Tumnus for the first time is genuine surprise. 

#2. Penelope

 James is so charming in this movie. 

Penelope is one of my favorites. 

I love this movie. 

It has a lot of heart and James delivers so much of it. 

I definitely fell for him right alongside Penelope. 

My favorite scene: when he is playing all of the musical instruments. 

 

#3. Becoming Jane

He is a bit of a bad boy as Tom Lefroy, the man that romanced Jane Austen.

But still so charming. 

Was I the only one that really wanted to change history so that they could be together forever? 

 

#4. X-Men

I am not saying which one in particular because I have loved him in his role in every X-men movie he has been in. 

He has been in the news this week as he shaved his head in preparation for the next one. 

I can't wait to see it!

I think he plays a young Charles Xavier so well. 

The movies are so much fun. 

And just for some more fun let's see Xavier, Magneto, and Wolverine dancing....

 

And responding to the card James threw hitting a woman with a splint in the arm. 

 

Makes me laugh every time. 

James also has a lot of movies that I haven't seen yet and really want to. 

He has proved himself to be a very good actor and a good man. 

*Do you have a favorite James McAvoy movie? 

Let's talk about: Tom Hiddleston

Thomas William Hiddleston was born in Westminster, London February 9, 1981.

His mother is a former stage manager, and his father, a scientist, was the managing director of a pharmaceutical company.

He has two sisters  (one older, one younger). 

His great-great-grandfather was Sir Edmund Vestey, 1st Baronet, an English importer who became a Baronet for supplying food to British troops during the First World War.

 "I gave myself permission to care, because there are a lot of people in this world who are afraid of caring, or afraid of showing that they care because it's uncool. It's uncool to have passion. It's so much easier to lose when you've shown everyone how much you don't care if you win or lose. It's much harder to lose when you show that you care, but, you'll never win, unless you also stand to lose. Don't be afraid of your passion."

 He grew up in Wimbledon and Oxford, England. 

He attended preparatory school at The Dragon School in Oxford. 

By the time he was 13 he boarded at Eton College (Prince William was one of his schoolmates.)

He got into acting at this age to cope with the divorce of his parents. 

He then went to Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge.

He played Rugby but gave it up for his love of acting.

He earned a double first in Classics and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2005.

Whilst at University of Cambridge, he was seen in the play "A Streetcar named Desire" by the agency Hamilton Hodell and landed his first TV role in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. 

 His first feature film was Unrelated, in which his younger sister also made her film debut.

 

 

 One thing every fan of Tom can tell you is that he loves to dance.
He says he took up dancing as a teenager to impress girls.

Tom speaks French, Spanish, and Greek.

He is well known for his celebrity impressions including my favorite, a Jurassic Park raptor. 

In January of 2013 he traveled with Unicef UK to Guinea, West Africa, to visit children, families, and communities. He continues to remain involved with the organization.

 

The first movie I ever saw Tom in was Return to Cranford but I didn't know who he was at the time. 

I first really noticed him when I went to Avengers in the theater. 

Throughout most of the movie I didn't really realize how handsome he was and then he did this laugh/smile and I've been a fan girl ever since. 

 

 

He quickly surpassed Henry Cavill as my #1 celebrity crush and has stayed there ever since. 

He is handsome, extremely talented, smart, and above all a really nice guy. 

He is known for apologizing. And when someone brought that up to him in an interview, he apologized. 

He has shown up to a red carpet on a cold day with hot soup for a reporter. 

He has come back to take a picture with a fan after feeling bad about rushing past her. 

He is a truly kind person.

 It is hard to pick favorite roles because I have yet to see all of his films or TV shows.

But here are some of the standouts to me. 

#1 War Horse

I love this movie. Love, love, love this movie. 

It is fantastic in just about every way. 

Tom's role is quite short but very important. 

And in those few minutes he is on screen he makes a large impact. 

 

#2: The Hollow Crown

This series is incredible. 

Very dramatic. Full of great actors. 

Tom is great as Prince Hal in Henry lV parts one and two and outstanding as King Henry in Henry V. 

 

He brought me to tears and months after watching it I would still find myself thinking about it. 

I doubt I will ever get to see Tom doing Shakespeare in real life so this is the closest I can get to it. And it is spectacular. 

He was made to do Shakespeare. 

 

#3: Thor/ Avengers

Tom originally auditioned for the role of Thor but thankfully Kenneth Branagh decided he would make a better Loki. I think he would have been great as Thor but personally I think there is so much more to the character of Loki. And I think his talent is really suited for the deepest of characters. 

When Thor first came out Tom did a family and friends screening, bringing toys for all his younger cousins. 

 

#4: Cranford Returns

He played William Buxton. 

He just has one of those faces that works great in a period drama. 

#5: Miss Austen Regrets

He plays the very earnest suitor to Jane Austen's niece to perfection. 

In short, I think Tom is awesome. 

*Do you have a favorite Tom role or quote?

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