We’re celebrating the actor’s 45th birthday with a list of our favorite Ewan McGregor movies!
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is one of those rare actors to have great success in both indie films and blockbusters. From his breakout turn in 1996’s Trainspotting to his singing loverboy in 2001’s Moulin Rouge! to his turn as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, his appeal hasn’t faded. Even those who routinely denounce the prequels rarely have a negative thing to say about McGregor. Especially after hearing that he couldn’t stop making lightsaber noises while filming fight scenes. McGregor will next be seen in the Beauty and the Beast live-action movie and recently confirmed Trainspotting 2. We’ve got a list of his best work. Which one is your favorite? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments. McGregor turns 45 today. Happy birthday, sir!
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Trainspotting (1996)
This film, directed by Danny Boyle, was McGregor’s international breakout role. Transpotting deals with a group of heroin addicts in 1980s Edinburgh and is about to get a sequel all these years later. It frankly depicted the cyclical nature of addiction and the difficulty getting out of that lifestyle, even when you want to. Despite its dark subject matter, the film has some darn funny moments (and two very disturbing scenes with a baby) and has remained a cult classic all these years later. McGregor has a scene with a toilet that he still gets asked about in interviews today. If you’ve seen the movie, you know why.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Velvet Goldmine (1998)
This film about the glam rock era in the 1970s starred Jonathan Rhys-Myers as singer Alex Slade, a David Bowie-esque rock star who is the subject of reporter Arthur Stewart’s (Christian Bale) latest story. McGregor plays Curt Wild, inspired by Iggy Pop and is Slade’s on-again-off-again lover. You see a lot of McGregor in this film. Like, all of him.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (1999)
McGregor played probably his best-known role outside of Moulin Rouge! when he took on Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels. (Attack of the Clones opened in 2002 and Revenge of the Sith in 2005. His voice appeared in Rey’s vision in The Force Awakens as well.) Taking over the role from the late Alec Guinness, McGregor played a younger version of the wise old Jedi and both teacher and close friend of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Though the films aren’t widely loved (or sometimes even tolerated) in Star Wars fandom, McGregor’s performance is largely lauded. This was his first big budget movie and when asked about it he said, “Well, it’s Star Wars.” He is also famous for making lightsaber noises while shooting fight scenes even after being repeatedly told that they’d be put in with effects later. We get it, Ewan. We totally get it.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Black Hawk Down (2001)
This brutal film about war, directed by Ridley Scott, featured McGregor in a small role. It was based on the true story of a rescue attempt by the U.S. military in Somalia. McGregor plays the role of a clerk who really wants to experience combat. The character of Grimes was based on real soldier SPC John “Stebby” Stebbins. The name was changed because the real man convicted by court martial for a pretty horrific crime. His famous line was about hearing the “bells ringing” during a fire fight.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
This Baz Luhrmann-directed musical fantasy is definitely on the love it or hate it list. Those who love it cite the brilliant use of modern music to tell a story of love between a Scottish poet named Christian (McGregor) and a courtesan named Satine (Nicole Kidman). Those who hate it aren’t exactly thrilled with their singing talents. The musical, the first to be nominated for Best Picture in 10 years, nabbed eight nominations, winning for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. It’s often Shakespearean in its scope and celebrates love despite its tragic ending. (No spoilers here. They say that right at the beginning of the film.)
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Down With Love (2003)
Continuing with his song and dance films (McGregor is a musical theater man, starring in Guys and Dolls for two years), McGregor starred in this romantic comedy, directed by Peyton Reed and co-starring Renée Zellweger. It’s a sort of a pastiche of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day sex comedies of the late ’50s and early ’60s. McGregor plays notorious ladies man Catcher Block who writes for a magazine. Zellweger plays Barbara Novak, a writer whose latest book tells women that they don’t need men and marriage. He’s her one road to publicity. She uses him as an example of the worst kind of man, so he sets out to prove that all women do want love and marriage. Gee, I wonder how this will end.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Big Fish (2003)
A film that’s a big one if you have daddy issues. McGregor plays a younger version of Albert Finney’s Ed Bloom in this Tim Burton-directed film. Bloom is dying and tells the story of his life in a fantastical way that is both charming and absolutely heartbreaking to his estranged son, played by Billy Crudup. You will need tissues for this one. We guarantee it. Maybe just call your dad.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: Beginners (2010)
Written and directed by Mike Mills, this is the story of Oliver (McGregor) who is dealing with the death of his father (Christopher Plummer), who came out as a gay man five years before his death. Meanwhile, he’s working on a relationship of his own. Told through a series of flashbacks, it’s a look at how the secret of his father’s life affects his son, as well as the joy with which his father lived the final, open years of his life. Plummer received a 2011 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: The Ghost Writer (2012)
Co-written and directed by Roman Polanski, this political thriller adapted from the novel by Robert Harris tells the story of a ghostwriter (McGregor) who’s life changes when he helps the British Prime Minister, played by Pierce Brosnan, on his memoirs. He discovers some things that put him in serious danger.
Ewan McGregor Movies Spotlight: The Impossible (2012)
Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and written by Sergio G. Sánchez, this film told the tragic story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Many critics had issues with the focus on a white family and their search for each other instead of the people who lived there. However, the performances by McGregor and his co-star Naomi Watts were lauded during awards season.
Let us know your own favorite Ewan McGregor movies in the comments below!
